Why do people enlist?

[Weaver]

I'm Canadian for reference.

I know a friend who wanted to be a pilot, and the Air Force basically told him "We'll pay for your entire education, so long as you give us 5 years of service". His service is paid as well. So he basically got his education as a pilot for free.

I believe there are also tax benefits after you're service period is up.

 

[Alon Doron]

If I ran my own private country, I think we would have some sort of draft (maybe not exactly a draft but say like 4-5 months in your last year of high school). Mind you I don't know how the Isreali draft is, but the one I envision would be like a mix of physical activity (continuous for the couple months), and a mix of basic survival stuff like:
- swimming
- first aid (the kind that lifegaurds get since it covers strokes, heart attacks, etc)
- maybe some basic self defense or some martial art
- Other stuff that you really should have at least a basic grasp on

After that you're free to go, and we'd have a standing military composed of volunteers. Honestly it would be more of a lifeskills draft than a military draft. Teach the basics so that the students leaving will be well enough equipped to deal with problems life might throw at them.

The Israeli service differs depends on the unit you're assigned to. What you say is taught here during the years of school (swimming at elementary, first aid at high school, encouragement to train in some kind of martial arts). An army service is different than what you describe. A military is much more (in my opinion) than what you speak of. It's a state of mind, with all of it's silly uniforms and customs.

I still don't understand why one would put one's life at risk, when his or her country is in no imminent danger. I've seen that there is a variety of reasons, but still, for economical reasons? If only my draft would be so beneficial...

 

[Ickorus]

I don't want to enlist in the army so I can't give you a proper answer but from the few guys I do know who have done so they do it for the adventure and because they want to be like the soldiers in games and books and such.

I did have one friend who wanted to join the RAF but he wasn't the type you'd expect to do it, actually, thinking it over he kinda reminds me of Captain America in that regard; he was a chubby short guy who suffered constant bullying through high school yet it was pretty much his life's dream to join the RAF and become a pilot.

Last time I saw him he was going for some tests to see if he could join and I haven't seen him since so I really hope he got in.