Reply #20: For what it's worth... [View All]

Learn more before you join. Different services have different deals. For example, I think you can still enlist in some services for a specific specialty. If you dig electronics and/or computers, you can acquire excellent skills. Don’t assume that you have to be a rifle-toting ground-pounder. One of the keys to success in the military is to make informed choices. Talk to as many vets as you can.

Navy or Coast Guard are probably your best choices right now if you want to avoid occupation duty in Iraq. You want to avoid that if possible. Urban “peacekeeping” is being a duck in a shooting gallery.

Being in the military is like working for a large corporation, the benefits are good but the work environment can suck. On an annual basis, I spent more time away from my family in my last job than in most years in the military. There are hardships but, depending on which service you’re in and your job, they usually amount to some sleep deprivation on occasion, and boredom.

Is there bullshit in the military? You betcha. There is also a lot of bullshit in the land of corporate stupid. If you want to totally avoid bullshit, become a hermit. If you absolutely loathe authority and discipline, don’t join the military. Of course you won’t enjoy most civilian jobs either.

And, contrary to what you may read here and elsewhere, the military is not a pack of bloodthirsty, slavering, right-wing fundamentalist Orcs. The military is a cross section of society in general. You get all kinds. And most people in the military are anti-war at a very fundamental level – they have skin in the game. Yes, there are liberals in the military. And yes, there are some combat-happy, kill-a-commie-for-Christ types. Most of them are cases of testosterone poisoning, adrenaline addiction, arrested development, or some combination of the three.

When I enlisted in 69 (2 days ahead of my draft notice) I was very liberal and anti-war (more specifically, against imperialistic wars of aggression; I am not a pacifist). Twenty years later, I walked away; still a liberal (and still against imperialistic wars of aggression). I had good times and bad times. The benefits outweighed the bullshit, most of the time. It is a different lifestyle though, and you can't resign unless your an officer. So look before you leap.

Hope this helps