It is in society’s interest to give unusual rewards to persons who will take unusual physical risks in society’s defense, and respect is cheaper than money.
My original contention is that what I believe I am doing is contributing to the greater good - it’s something that I believe strongly enough in that I got involved. It was on the original statement made by…I believe Peter Morris, but I may be mistaken…that he doesn’t respect someone that wears a uniform but doesn’t “only to pay bills” or college. I was returning it by saying that it’s difficult to have respect for someone that calls out to people in uniform a challenge, but has not shown themselves to back it up.
IOW, providing you were not the one that made the original statement, of not respecting those in uniform that only see it as a job, then my beef isn’t with you…
Soldiers are human, falliable and may not always believe in everything their government hands down…but that is not the job. You don’t get to pick and choose. You only get to say, “I believe that my country is worth serving as a member of the military …”
Well sure, and I’m not going to attempt to argue on behalf of Peter Morris. I’m sympathetic to his arguments, I guess, but so what? In practical terms I do indeed direct my complaints towards the governments that sent soldiers to danger for no good reason. But that wasn’t my point.
My point was that I do not believe there is inherent value in joining the armed forces. Yes, we need hired muscle because everyone else has hired muscle - I accept that. I still don’t particularly respect anyone’s hired muscle.
Bullshit. They were soldiers. No more, no less. People who, as a default position, deserve our gratitude, but nothing more. No doubt some of them proved themselves to be heroes, but not just because they were a uniform.
Please do not perpetuate this nonsense.
I don’t think we’ll ever know just how many felt that way. I’m sure some fought simply because they had to (i.e., were drafted, yet really wished they hadn’t been).
Actually, I think virtually all if not all were volunteers.
It was an elite unit guaranteed to see combat.
Also, Stephen Ambrose interviewed many who freely said one of the reasons they signed up was because it paid an extra “fifty bucks a month” which would certainly mean they should be condemned as “thugs” using Peter Morris’ logic.
OK, I didn’t know that.
Of course more middle class kids are joining. College tuitions are grossly outpacing inflation. Yesterdays poor needed the military to go to college. Many of todays middle class do as well.
Though I’ve no doubt the monstrous amount of hero worship has had an effect on the young men and women.. They would have been absolutely inundated with that sort of talk right when they were kids. What better way to honor these brave heroes than to serve the same cause! Or so the mind of a child works.
You also get to say “I believe the compensation, training, and benefits this employer is offering is an acceptable trade for my time and labors.”
I’d say risk, but no 18 year old really thinks about that until its too late.
Per chance, did you watch many John Wayne movies as a child?
Actually, no. Lots of documentaries about space and history and general science, really. I was a giant hippie until about a year before I joined up.
Also though, I didn’t grow up with my mom. She was busy raising her other kids until I was nine.
- not everyone who joins is 18.
- The salary and benefits are NOT a good trade. The only reason to do it is because you believe it.
Many would have been drafted for the war, yes, but they volunteered for Airborne duty. Airborne is still a voluntary duty. Even after you join, they can’t just send you to Airborne school. They can send you to an airborne unit, but can’t make you jump.
And its $150 today… 
This is true. I remember once figuring out what i was making during basic training per hour…it was alarming.
I have a child at home - my time with her is precious and important to me, and the fact that I chose to work in uniform means that I accept a certain risk. I don’t have a death wish, or any desire to leave her without a mom, but I think what I do is important.
Considering that everything that you need is provided for you, it’s a pretty good trade.
Why was it alarming? Because you’re ‘working’ 24 hours a day during basic?
In times of great unemployment, the military is sometimes the only option a young person looking for a start in life may have. To assume it is some patriotic drive that makes people soldiers, ignores how often courts have made it or jail the choices. It ignores desperately poor people who see it as a place to get warm and be fed. There are lots of reasons people join the service. Some join because their family has a history of military service.
Yes. Also because it was something that occurred to the group of us after patrolling for a few hours and digging our trenches.
For me anyway, this job is about more than money, but I am well aware that not everyone has that view.
Does this really still happen?
Both of these comments show an ignorance of military life.
No. Since the draft ended, in America anyway, it has been all volunteer, and if the military gets wind you may have been coerced, you can’t join. It’s one if the forms you sign.