Thread: Tough love for Iraqi Police Trainees from a US Soldier

Originally Posted by H?b

I think there are really only 2 MAIN reasons why people join the Military.

1.) They actually care about their country (and others for that matter) and want to defend it, serving proudly because that's what they want to do. And they believe it's the RIGHT thing to do. The perfect soldier.

2.) People who were pretty much fuck ups in school and couldn't make it into or through college. Or drop-outs from school who realized they need a job, but do not have shit for qualifications. Especially in the competitive world today. You can't live and support a family working at Mickie D's, Blockbuster, Burger King, American Eagle, etc.. Sometimes the fuck ups finally get it and they absolutely love the military and every thing they do for people, turning them into the 1.) category.

It's just a shame there are those soldiers out there just doing it for money, because that's not somebody I want watching my back.

I'm sure there are other reasons, such as coming from a Military family. It's just what the family knows and does, but that pretty much falls under the number 1.)

Not meaning to thread jack here. Carry on. I still think there are more #1's than #2's...

There are other reasons, valid ones too like...

3. Some people have big fat egos and think it would be so cool to dress up in camo and shoot a really cool rifle. Also, look how many 'look at me types' joined the Navy after Top Gun came out.

4. It really is a good career move. My father was a 'hurricane hunter'. He did a stint in 'nam and then afterwords was was involved in MAC (military airlift command). After 20 years and a rank of E-9, he retired with 75% pay. He was 42 when he retired and got a comfy G-12 job after. He's loving life right now.

I wasn't disparaging JMW for joining or being in the military. My point was just don't put in my face. I could care less why he joined, that's his business. It's not personal.

Originally Posted by Consultant

Originally Posted by triggerhappy2005

So you can drop the Lee Greenwood ideals and get back to reality.

rofl

Show some love and sigg it.

Originally Posted by H?b

Originally Posted by triggerhappy2005

Originally Posted by H?b

I think there are really only 2 MAIN reasons why people join the Military.

1.) They actually care about their country (and others for that matter) and want to defend it, serving proudly because that's what they want to do. And they believe it's the RIGHT thing to do. The perfect soldier.

2.) People who were pretty much fuck ups in school and couldn't make it into or through college. Or drop-outs from school who realized they need a job, but do not have shit for qualifications. Especially in the competitive world today. You can't live and support a family working at Mickie D's, Blockbuster, Burger King, American Eagle, etc.. Sometimes the fuck ups finally get it and they absolutely love the military and every thing they do for people, turning them into the 1.) category.

It's just a shame there are those soldiers out there just doing it for money, because that's not somebody I want watching my back.

I'm sure there are other reasons, such as coming from a Military family. It's just what the family knows and does, but that pretty much falls under the number 1.)

Not meaning to thread jack here. Carry on. I still think there are more #1's than #2's...

There are other reasons, valid ones too like...

3. Some people have big fat egos and think it would be so cool to dress up in camo and shoot a really cool rifle. Also, look how many 'look at me types' joined the Navy after Top Gun came out.

4. It really is a good career move. My father was a 'hurricane hunter'. He did a stint in 'nam and then afterwords was was involved in MAC (military airlift command). After 20 years and a rank of E-9, he retired with 75% pay. He was 42 when he retired and got a comfy G-12 job after. He's loving life right now.

I wasn't disparaging JMW for joining or being in the military. My point was just don't put in my face. I could care less why he joined, that's his business. It's not personal.

I never said those were the ONLY two reasons....

IMO, Those are the 2 MAIN reasons. Of course there are other legit reasons.

I didn't say you did Hub. I just wanted to throw those two out there as they are real and valid reasons why people join.

Back to this signing bonus thing...I might join tomorrow if the price is right.

Originally Posted by triggerhappy2005

3. Some people have big fat egos and think it would be so cool to dress up in camo and shoot a really cool rifle. Also, look how many 'look at me types' joined the Navy after Top Gun came out.

This is the only reason that I disagree with. I don't see it as a legitemate reason because; yes, there probably are people out there that are like this, but I wouldn't say that population would make a big enough impact on the overall statistics of why people join up. In my 5 years in the Marine Corps and hanging out with more than many airwing and groundside troops, I may have met a handful of guys who have that attitude.

I joined pre-911 so I definately didn't join with the group who were gung-ho about protecting america. The majority of the guys I served with joined because they were either "fuck ups" as Hub accurately described them, or because it was a good career move. In fact, the majority of them joined for the career move. Now, a career move means many things. It doesn't necessarily mean they join with intention to retire. It could mean they joined to learn a skill, to get a technical license while making money doing it, to get education benefits, etc. I initially joined for a combination of the education benefits on top of learning a skill to eventually obtain my A&P license to work on civilian aircrafts. After 5 years of working on planes, I decided to fall back on the education benefits, used it, and now I'm a civil engineer working to keep you folks dry.

edit:
While I didn't join with the intention to protect America, it came as an added bonus, free of charge