Army

[bluesummer]

I think it depends on the person.

I would be a horrible candidate for the army. I couldn't handle their idea of structure and discipline. I think it's a good place for a person that lacks those things in their life.

[Lipp]

I was initially aiming to join the swedish army (everyone has to apply for the universal conscription, but only 10-15% is actually selected, so if you clarify that you're not interested you most likely won't have to) as a means to take a year off before deciding where I wanted to go to uni at (11 months when including international training, option open to pursue a helicopter piloting career).

At least there it's a good thing, the likelihood of being dragged into a senseless war is practically null, everyone who's there are there intentionally as while you make money it's not on a "job" level, and the practical experience/ discipline / physical training / social experience is pretty damn good, can even make a career out of it if its to your liking.

Won't know how it would've panned out, I wasn't allowed to apply as it was first delayed since I was living in sri lanka, and then I was exempted because budget cutbacks slashed 50% of the applicants, and when I could apply again I was overseas once more.

[Perryville]

As a former Army officer, I can say, that it is as beneficial as you make it. If you go into the Military and do your duty and take advantage of the educational opportunities, it can be very good for a young man's future. Unless, of course, you get KIA.

[doppelgaenger]

I don't think it's feasible. All my friends who are thinking about dropping out of college are considering military with a hint of optimism. All my friends who are in the army (One in artillery who has been in Kuwait, came home for Christmas to see his newborn baby boy) think it's a pile of shit. Recruiters are doing a good job of keeping interest. They paint a turd as if it's golden, you know. That's why everybody thinks it's a good idea at first.

Then again, some of my friends from other countries had to enlist in the army for 1-4 years. It was mandatory for them. Luckily we have a choice as citizens of the USA to choose.

[Petit Papillon]

Hehe now in Poland You don`t have to go to the army. They want just pro`s now. But it changed just 1-2 years ago . Anyway,none of my brothers went to the army. The oldest one payed for school till the moment he was too old for army .Middle one was doing studies plus he broke his arm really bad at the high school so he didn`t get category A = didn`t have to go to the army... The youngest brother used third solution to avoid army by applying for a social job . He needed to find a really good reason why he didn`t want to be a soldier and my dad wrote this letter saying he`s a christian and it`s against his beliefs to kill people which he would have to do in case of a war ,because if he didn`t do the order it could cause him death. It worked,they even didn`t ask further questions... My brother said there were a lots of big guys who tried to say bullshit like they are pacifists etc... Of course they didn`t get the job.
My father was a professional soldier enough for us all. It also destroyed his health enough for us all. If someone wants to join the army really bad, why not, it`s just stupid that some countries force their citizens to do it... I understand if there is a war, I would probably join the army myself


And if it`s beneficial? It has its pros and cons ... I think more cons especially in a war time...

[Sonrisa]

It looks like Russia and Israel have the screwed up mandatory service in the army.

[Perryville]

Universal service is a good idea. But you have to make it truly universal. Every citizen should go for training, the rich as well as the poor.

[Sonrisa]

Universal service is a good idea. But you have to make it truly universal. Every citizen should go for training, the rich as well as the poor.

what's the point though?

[Perryville]

If the sons and daughters of the rich had to serve, then maybe their parents wouldn't be so anxious to get our country into Wars.

[Petit Papillon]

If the sons and daughters of the rich had to serve, then maybe their parents wouldn't be so anxious to get our country into Wars.

Actually there are bigger things than children... Some people consider money and ideas more important than their own children.

[CAM]

My US Army service in the reserves was very beneficial.

I agree, AmeriCorps could also be beneficial, but you know...there's nothing like signing on the dotted line and essentially saying, "My life for my country's values." Hopefully, it doesn't come down to that--hopefully, as General Patton would say about war, you make the other poor bastard die for his country.

[Perryville]

That's easy for you to say , Cam. I've actually had to MAKE the "other poor bastard", die for his country, and then see the results. I'm not very Glib about death.

[shheadz]

I agree with Perryville and mandatory service, although I lean more towards reinstating the draft. So many of the people in this country that were gung-ho for invading Iraq may have kept their mouth shut if their own ass was on the line.

[CAM]

That's easy for you to say , Cam. I've actually had to MAKE the "other poor bastard", die for his country, and then see the results. I'm not very Glib about death.

Well, nobody would want to be glib about death, particularly when one has a disease that will eventually kill them. I'm glad to be alive---aren't you?

[CAM]

As far as civil and military service goes, that's actually an area that I've researched for more than a decade.

Perry...I'm not totally ignorant of what you went through. A good book: "War is Racket" by Smedley Butler, USMC. He won the Congressional Medal of Honor twice. He became a total pacifist...thought it did terrible things to young people's minds and bodies.

The link: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/War-Racket-Antiwar-Americas-Decorated/dp/0922915865/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262895892&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier (9780922915866): Smedley D. Butler: Books[/ame]