Welcome to our Post-Constitutional America.

**triggerhappy2005** · 07-09-13, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by -Lazarus-

Military pay is decent, and better than minimum wage. But it is FAR from being a "good deal" for enlisted personnel. Most people who enlist in the military are not there for the money dude. They have seen over the last 15 years what it costs emotionally, physically and otherwise, and they continue to do it. The majority of these people are there for the mission as you call it and the love of the job, and the ability to get paid doing it. Even in this economy.

You're entitled to your opinion.

Oh and it's not just that it pays better than minimum wage. Free healthcare for themselves and their family, free grub, college money, sign up bonuses, etc.

**dex71** · 07-09-13, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by SmokenScion

Youths in Rural U.S. Are Drawn To Military

It's been that way since Washington was a General.

My Dad was an alfalfa farmer (dirt fucking poor) in Southern California. At 18, he went to the best electronics school in the World, the US Navy. It wasn't for the stipend, it was for the free World-Class education. and the fact that it offered a career path that was a bit better than growing things in sand.

**triggerhappy2005** · 07-09-13, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by dex71

It's been that way since Washington was a General.

My Dad was an alfalfa farmer (dirt fucking poor) in Southern California. At 18, he went to the best electronics school in the World, the US Navy. It wasn't for the stipend, it was for the free World-Class education. and the fact that it offered a career path that was a bit better than growing things in sand.

Wait, I thought they joined for the 'love of the game'.

Seriously though, this just furthers my point. That world class education that his parents (your grand parents) probably couldn't have afforded was the primary motivation to join. And there aint nothing wrong with that.

Let's just keep it real.

**dex71** · 07-09-13, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by triggerhappy2005

Wait, I thought they joined for the 'love of the game'.

Many do.

Are you saying that none do?

**dex71** · 07-09-13, 04:55 PM

We must have been offering huge signing bonuses in the months after Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Recruitment seemed to jump.

**SmokenScion** · 07-09-13, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by dex71

It's been that way since Washington was a General.

My Dad was an alfalfa farmer (dirt fucking poor) in Southern California. At 18, he went to the best electronics school in the World, the US Navy. It wasn't for the stipend, it was for the free World-Class education. and the fact that it offered a career path that was a bit better than growing things in sand.

That may be, but he wasn't Building a better world from home he was sent to kill.

**triggerhappy2005** · 07-09-13, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by dex71

Many do.

Are you saying that none do?

I said they are the extreme minority. For every Pat Tillman there's a thousand Forrest Gumps.

**triggerhappy2005** · 07-09-13, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by dex71

We must have been offering huge signing bonuses in the months after Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Recruitment seemed to jump.

Clearly that was a war that needed to be fought. They attacked us, Saddam didn't.

Also, how long was WW2 compared to the Iraqi War?

**dex71** · 07-09-13, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by SmokenScion

That may be, but he wasn't Building a better world from home he was sent to kill.

He was on a diesel sub.....he didn't kill anything but brain cells when they pulled into port.

And he did help build a better America, directly from the training and education he got in the Navy. He was working on supercomputers long before most households had an electronic calculator. On one of the career days when I was in elementary school, i was screwing around with one of the first CAD machines......ever. The country of Japan had to rent time on it......they didn't have one yet. His military trainig opened many a door for him thanks to the education it gave him.