I tried to enlist when I was 17...but back then, the Army was picky.Quote:
Originally Posted by earthJoker
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I tried to enlist when I was 17...but back then, the Army was picky.Quote:
Originally Posted by earthJoker
I'm not what you would describe as the military type, so no.Quote:
Originally Posted by earthJoker
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Originally Posted by Aimless
Although I've never been to boot camp, I'm under the impression that serious military training is all about indoctrination and brainwashing. "Break ya down, build ya up ta be a killah" type stuff. Sure, there's the discipline that translates well into a work ethic and what not, but still.... I'd not like to have my kids subjected to that unless there was a need.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nessus
Not me.Quote:
Originally Posted by earthJoker
Guy asked me: "do you want to be in the military", I said "no" and that was the end of that. I had a moral objection speech prepared and everything but just "no" worked fine.
Honour, courage, camaraderie, death. It would permanently alter the mind-sets of your children, indeed their very personalities and values, into something you might or might not recognize, let alone understand or empathize. What kind of need would possibly warrant that?Quote:
Originally Posted by EyeKhan
A fight for our lives, our nation, etc. Like if the Canadian army come streaming across the border in an unprovoked attack... it could happen...Quote:
Originally Posted by Nessus
You know what the wise Germans did when the Red Beast was rolling forward? That's certainly preferable to a "life" of inhumane and uncontrollable circumstanceQuote:
Originally Posted by EyeKhan
There is no greater glory than to die in battle defending your home, your fields, your family.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nessus
House, car, some savings. Y'know, having equity and a little cushion, never living hand to mouth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Being
It's a rough definition, but it'll do.
Who said they would all go in the military? National service, not military.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nessus
Where's the "lamentation of the women" part?Quote:
Originally Posted by EyeKhan
With taxation, they're already working for the benefit of their nation in addition to their conglomerate-corporation over-lordsQuote:
Originally Posted by ']['ear
They'll take up arms and FIGHT! This is AMERICA motherfucker. We ALL FIGHT!Quote:
Originally Posted by ']['ear
Did civil service instead. The army physical (where everyone has to go to) was fun, though, and gave me an insight into the military mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by earthJoker
I told the first guy I met during this procedure that I don't want to go to the army and that I wanted to do civil service instead. He got angry and yelled at me that I had to undergo the examination like everyone else and then, at the end, I could make my statement again.
So I went through the exams and was met by another guy at the end, who proceeded to tell me: "Well, tank driving or Airforce is out of the question, but you could do Navy or other branches of the Army or ... blah ... blah." When he was done with his speech I told him that I wanted to do civil service instead. He promptly yelled at me why I had not said so right at the beginning!
Right.
I can't be the only one that went/goes to the army. :-|
Well, this is a pretty bright community here. In the US, smart kids generally don't go into the military unless they are poor, in which case it's a great road up. There are exceptions, but for most smart kids they're much better off just getting to college and starting their career.
*cough* West Point *cough*
I wouldn't do it again, but I could go to the medics in the hospital, so my actual duties aren't really hard. But it's the other military stuff that was really stupid.Quote:
Originally Posted by ']['ear
My high school was a public military-brat school. None of the advanced ranked students were in ROTC, and only a few of us were connected to military families. A hand full of us took the ASVAB on a dare, and that was a bloody mistake. Once you own the 4 year ROTCers the guys never get off your back. Our salutatorian signed up right before graduation, but only because he ran into trouble and was denied entrance into FSU (he was a living example of a van wilder).
I wonder about the population at places like West Point, and how many of those attending are because of family tradition, or connections.
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Originally Posted by Veldan Rath
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Originally Posted by ']['ear
Freakin awesome word. It allows one to express valid generalizations without somebody else pointing out the inevitable exceptions.
There are some very bright guys in West Point. There are very bright guys outside of West Point. I'd argue that Cain was one. But generally the sharper tools don't go into the military, because there are much more reliable roads to success in the US. The exception is people who have a particular interest in the military, i.e. the lifestyle or serving the country.
Please understand I'm not disrespecting the military or its personnel. My father and his brothers all served. but like it is a good road for a poor kid to move up, it's not that great a road for a smart kid with opportunities. Those kids are much better off going to college.
One perspective. I have no doubt others would disagree.
That's a myth: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Rep...ment-2003-2005Quote:
Originally Posted by ']['ear
Military recruits are actually slightly above average when it comes to socio-economic status.
Did I mention the word "mean?" No, I talked specifically about the bright ones, and even then was just generalizing.
Also, the military requires a high school diploma and no criminal record (well, those have been waived for a while due to the lack of warm bodies). So that's apples and oranges: there's a strong cutoff of the lower percentiles, which instantly puts them well above the mean. Congrats for trotting out a meaningless statistic!
HUH ? How old are you ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust
I'm not old, I'm 37.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazir
Heh, my dad went to work in Africa and didn't get drafted because of that. Seems your way was easier :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Ziggy Stardust
I read somewhere that the military prefers a draft, partly because it gets the good soldiers in who otherwise would not have joined. People who stay after being drafted apparently are (generally) better than those who volunteer.
OTOH, my uncle wanted to join the navy before he was drafted, but after his service he disliked it so much he did not pursue a career there anymore.