Poll: Ever Served In The Military?

[teh_gunslinger]

I got drafted back in 2001, and spend 9 months in the Signal Corps of the Danish Army. Does that count as having served?
Anyway, we started as recruits on Monday, September 3rd 2001. We were pretty spooked a week later and it kinda cast a shadow on much of the remaining time I spent there.

I would never make my living (or dying as the case may be) as a professional soldier. At least not figthing in the wars we got going these days. I'm not even sure I would want to defend my crappy country, as we already have an crappy corrupt government. How much worse can it get?

I enjoyed my time in the Army very much and it was an experience I wouldn't be without. But it was a silly system. I mean, it only works because I (and others) let it work. As soon as someone question why the guy with the silly stripes on his shoulder can shout at me it breaks down. So I got an insight into social systems and arbitrary threats of violence and force.

 

[TopHatTim]

piloting drones requires you to sit behind a screen miles away...cyberwarfare is still 100% posible, RC recon planes are usually launched by recon teams already in the field of combat

True, but it depends on which country you are talking about. In the US for example, only Pilots fly drones. But in Australia we realise that you don't need a degree and the training of a combat pilot to use a remote control drone. We, as in the people who maintain/launch, pilot them ourselves.

You do know when i say drone i mean like a predator gunship drone right?
or a reaper?
theres no way in hell that i can launch something like that...way to big

 

[chefassassin2]

I personally have not. I wanted to for years but about the time I was going to enlist I got hit by a car. Literally. Walking across the street a drunk driver plowed through a stop sign and nailed me. Screwed up my leg, back and shoulder enough to prevent me from joining.

 

[manaman]

Peace out! no war! resolve by non-violent means! ^.^

You keep doing that while I am punching you in the face and asking you, "how much do you like it *****?"

Just because you do not understand another persons need for, or use of violence does not mean it does not exist. There is not always a non physical means to resolve conflict. Thinking otherwise is great, I mean it would be nice if there was a world where everything could be solved with candy and rainbows, and nobody ever died, and sex fell from the sky. Sadly this is not it.

Hopefully you will see how unrealistic it is to trust that everyone is going to play fair, when you really thing about it.

 

[0p3rati0n]

I was in the US Army from 02-06. There were good times and bad times. It isn't nearly as difficult as everyone makes it out to be, though. And you definitely can get some training that just isn't offered anywhere else...not that any of it is really useful anywhere else. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

Here is a saying that I learned that is so true.

There are no atheist in foxholes.

Do you get what I mean by that

No, I don't. I was an atheist (and still am) throughout all of my deployments.

Well go back to WWII then come back then tell me what you think. The saying is from WWII not current. Today the enemy only gets 10 min gun training and they never aim. it's only a spray and pray thing. Our only f***ed if there's and RPG.

 

[gh0ti]

What I don't like here is the way people are so black and white about the military. Either they're paragons of justice and righteousness or total a***holes in the business for the sadistic pleasure of hurting other human beings. What I would say is that any organisation is made up of individuals - yes, the military sticks to a tighter code than most, but saying all soldiers are morons or heroes is like saying all Christians are fundamentalists or saints. People aren't like that.

I know a complete jackass who pen-pushes for the Logistics and thinks he's Rambo. On the other hand, I also know a Royal Marine who, despite being a double-hard bastard, is utterly self-deprecating and honestly one of the nicest blokes I've ever met.

As a generaly rule, I believe that the military for my country is a force for good. I also believe that for liberal democracy to survive in the face of totalitarianism a strong military is vital. Besides, it's not the military that decides which wars it fights, it's the government, and by extension, the people who elected that government.

 

[MercenaryCanary]

No, but I sure as hell want too.

Its the rush to be honest... I've been shot before, and it was a rush.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

No. I've had heart surgury, so they wouldn't want me to join.

 

[SoonerMatt]

No, I have not, but the US navy and air force have both expressed interest in me after I get done with my masters program.

 

[Insallah]

just 1 question...
Australian forces were in Korea/Vietnam??
this, was news to me.

and no, Ive not been in the army, tho finland has conscription in force I choose the alternative and went and served old people for an year. Served food, to be exact

 

[Artemis923]

I really wanted to join the Marines, but instead I opted to go Navy.

Going in as a Nuke, but I don't ship until Jan of 2010.

 

[Evilmonkeysniper0182]

i would serve in the army if they needed me, but please do understand l would not serve queen or country, i would serve with the guys who were next to me, cuz when they shit hits the fan they are the only ones you will care about

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

Yes. United States Army. I even got a couple of all-expenses-paid trips to the cradle of civilization out of the deal!

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

No, but I sure as hell want too.

Its the rush to be honest... I've been shot before, and it was a rush.

Clearly the gunman didn't do his job correctly.

I personally knew 5 people who were "wounded" in combat. One of them was just winged by a ricochet. Four were in a HMMWV hit by a platter charge. The driver was killed (and by killed, I mean the truck was shipped back to Kuwait to have him hosed out of it), the gunner lost his legs, the left, rear passenger lost an eye, and the vehicle commander (also known as the shotgun position) had his lower spine shattered by pieces of radio, armor and likely other people's bone fragments. I hardly think there was ANYTHING about that experience that was "exhilarating".

 

[Whoolpurse]

Im pretty much against war in all its forms and shapes. I did serve my country in a sort of conscription based emergency/fireman thing we got going for us in Denmark, but that wasn't the military much less the armed forces.

seriøst, Min kæreste er i afghanistan.

 

[Ignignoct]

I really wanted to join the Marines, but instead I opted to go Navy.

Going in as a Nuke, but I don't ship until Jan of 2010.

I'll pray for you.

Prepare for years of training, and subsequent under-utilization and lack of appreciation.

CHANGE YOUR ORDERS TO BE AN "IT", QUICK!


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To the rest of you bums:

You're taking this way too seriously.

More military die by mundane means than in battle. Of course, it's tragic, traumatic, and different people and for different reasons, but you get it. Normandy, this ain't.

Mortars. Mortars and IEDs are the problem right now, not the poorly trained "soldiers" with their AK's. If the enemy were plainly labeled and out and about, that's no issue at all: which is why we would totally destroy North Korea; that is, if China didn't whoop its ass first for being an embarrassing liability.

Spoiler: WARNING: Now I'm ranting about the downside of being a Navy IT.

The ENLISTED Navy, speaking from experience, is filled with people who just joined for the college money afterwards, job training, plea bargain, didn't-know-what-I-wanted-to-do, and maybe some to deliberately make it a career or out of patriotism. It feels like the next logical step for people who ran out of Unemployment checks, honestly.

I do not know any Info Sys Tech in the navy (my job), that stayed more than 10 years AND was subject matter expert on network administration. If someone gained technical, marketable skills in the Navy, they quickly see this isn't the place that rewards one's academic efforts, it's for people content with becoming managers of people who know their job, rather than being one.

Here's my chain of command:

Work Center Supervisor ("assistant manager type"): Doesn't know jack.
Leading Petty Officer (Manager): Doesn't know jack about jack.
Leading Chief Petty Officer (Manager+1): Doesn't know that LPO doesn't know jack.
Divisional Officer (Regional Manager): Knows his stuff, surprisingly, but he just got out of college with a comp sci degree, thus allowing him officer-dom.
Combat Systems Officer ("Corporate"): Doesn't know what he doesn't know.

My DIVO at this command is a fluke, my last 3 before him were largely useless, and just a buffer zone for "corporate" as it were.

To be fair, when I say they don't know jack, I'm just talking technical expertise. These people are by and large just managers for the kids 18-25 who have a drive to learn and work because they WANT the IT experience.

 

[soren7550]

I planed to, but came to the conclusion that no military branch would want me due to my physical and mental state. Also know that I'd never pass it.

Here's who I know in my family was involved in the military

Grandfather (father's side) - U.S. Army. Medic/Translator. Was deployed in WWII and might of been part of the D-Day beach invasion. Treated German POWs despite what everyone else thought.

Grandfather (mother's side) - U.S. Navy. Served on battleships if memory serves right. Drove a jeep off a boardwalk, which made him front page news.

Uncle (mother's side) - U.S. Navy. Served in the desert during peacetime and also was sent to a small island that was used as part of the postal service. Worked on planes as well.

Father - Was listed in the draft for Vietnam, but was never called in. Didn't stop the filthy coward from packing his bags and preparing himself for the journey to Canada.

Oldest Brother - U.S. Army. Was given a Honorary Discharge after breaking his knee durring Basic.

Older Brother - U.S. Marines. Discharged after nearly dying one and a half months into Basic during a training exercise, where his throat closed up causing him to stop breathing.

There's probably more, but that's all I know of.

 

[Ethereal]

Well, my reasons TO join are as follows:
-Get Fit. I'm already in really good shape, but it could be better.
-Learn skills you can learn nowhere else.
-Experience the comradeship which my family has been telling me about for years.
-Get some discipline. Everyone can use some more discipline, no matter how much you hate it at the time, you'll thank whoever gave it to you later.

The military pretty much carves you into a great person: Strong, Courageous, Good Morals, etc.
You can go in an average 18 year old, come out a better 19 year old with $40,000 in his pocket; for just one year of basic training.

Also, I think a lot of you need to harden up a bit ... not doing all of that because it's too hot ... or too hard? Well I'm from Australia, welcome to my world. If you grew up where I did you'd be killed with that attitude.
~Frosty.

-Why do you want to be that fit?
- What skills are you going to learn which you can learn nowhere else? How to use a rifle to effectively murder someone? Not particularly high on my to do list.
- Comradeship? WHat if you end up as the 'Privat Pyle' of your unit? The one who is not quite as good and gets bullied into suicide by all the others?
- Why do you want to be so diciplined?

The military carves you into a mentally damaged, physical cripple with no employable skills apart from how to kill people in a variety of interesting and creative ways. Either that or it carves you into a dead person.

The only thing you'll acheive by joining the military is the furtherance of economic dominance by the US and the EU. I hope you enjoy killing poor people

-Aside from the aesthetic and health benefits? Your right, strengthening yourself is a completely useless act.
- You mean things like piloting, demolition engineering, or advanced nuclear physics? Yes, they are technically accessible to civilians but at a cost, where as the military would pay you for your time learning one of hundreds of trades available in most advanced Militaries.
- You watch too many movies if you think that's what its like. Try talking to actual servicemen/women and ask them how many times they've seen someone pushed to the point of suicide. The military pushes you, yes, but it's so that you will find your limits and overcome them. The Military goes through great lengths to instill the sense of comradery into its soldiers because in the heat of battle the Military doesn't need two people who hate each other fighting for them.
- Discipline is a skill that few have and many employers desire.

Lastly, in regards to this statement:

"The military carves you into a mentally damaged, physical cripple with no employable skills apart from how to kill people in a variety of interesting and creative ways. Either that or it carves you into a dead person."

I am in awe of how uninformed and stupid you must be if you honestly believe this. Seriously.
I've met so many people who owe their success to skills they've acquired through the military.
One example, a former student in our school who went to West Point Military Academy and enlisted in the Army as an AH-64 Pilot where he made roughly 50K a year. After leaving the military he was accepted to schools where he wasn't before and ended up going to Harvard where he got a degree in Business. He currently works for a Fortune 500.

Yes, I know this isn't the typical story of an Army Soldier. However, he is the perfect example of a man who owes his success to opportunities and skills gained in the United States Military.