Military or Not?

[abqdart]

Nice Photo Duster Five-O....I can tell your a proud Pop Tell the MAN welcome home!

[Duster Five-O]

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." - Winston Churchill

My all time favorite quote and words my family have lived by for the last four generations of military service followed by more public service in law enforcement. I am proud to say my boy is following in our footsteps so people like urchinhead can express their opinions. Freedom and being an American are so much sweeter when you have been at the tip of the spear.

You probably don't like cops either

[Duster Five-O]

Nice Photo Duster Five-O....I can tell your a proud Pop Tell the MAN welcome home!

Pappa and grandpappa. Thanks and I will.

[abqdart]

I agree that is good one. I also like :" Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." and this one too : "A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards." Both of these were from Teddy Roosevelt...one of the greatest Americans to walk this earth.I was toying with the Idea after I retire of being a cop.

[abqdart]

None of this is anything new, look back at the Bay of Pigs, Cambodia, etc. I just don't agree with it. If I felt that it was neccessary to run around shooting everyone in Iraq, I would be a part of it, but I don't. I would have fought against Nazis 60 odd years ago, but the situation is much different now - we're not combatting evil that's trying to take over the world. Saddam was no saint, but he actually surpressed the threee primary militant groups in Iraq, who are now wreaking havok beyond anyone's control.

    If you read abook called "An Autumn of War", written by Victor Davis Hanson you will see this is a different kind of war, BUT, they do want to take over the world. Go to any Fundamentalist Islamic website and you can see very plainly that THEY do want to populate the world with like thinkers...that means ANYBODY who doesnt bow to Alah must die. Youwanna know what they are calling this Jihad.....the 100 Year War. Do some research, you will see that this isnt going away, not for a long long time.

When it comes to signing your life away, that is exactly what you do. A friend of mine's bunkmate tried to get out of the Marines by breaking his hand in a locker. He was court marshalled for damaging "government property." Another friend of mine was in his 5th year in the Electrician's apprenticeship program, and the Army was trying to 're-activate' him after he watched his friends get blown away during his tour of "Desert Shield/Storm" some eight years earlier. 

   I bet EVERYONE who is Military that is on this post has thought at least one time when the going was rough, "what am I doing?" but you know what, they looked at their buddy next to them or they looked at a photo from home and KNEW that what they were or are doing is the right thing. Yes, the families suffer, the patriot suffers....But who gains? we all as free thinking westerners gain from this. The guy and gal who "get" to go to College and party with Rock Stars......It takes a very strong person to sign on that dotted line. If you dont have the Metal to face hardship so others may walk free then DONT. OKAY< now Im really done.

[urchinhead]

I figured that people would get pissed off by the things I have said, and I know that there are many enlisted and vets that are among members.

I'm not claiming to be smarter or better than anyone here, I just don't agree with America's current military situation. Unless someone here or elsewhere clues me in on a number of facts that I find support the U.S. invasion of Iraq, I stand firm as I have from the start. No, I would rather go to college than shoot or kill another human being. I find it disheartening that so many people around the world hate Americans for our overseas aggressions, which I continue to disagree with.

I sent myself all over Europe and the United States by busting my ass, working hard and saving money. My stories of traveling and partying are not really egoist braggadocio like it seems people think, but an example of how I was able to, "see the world," like many people believe the military will allow them to. I was able to go where I wanted to when I wanted to, and it didn't force me to sign my life over to anyone. People have repeatedly told me how this or that person, "got to go" here or there. They didn't "get" to go there - they had no choice!

If I agreed with what is going on in Iraq, and I believed that the people of Iraq are a legitimate threat to the United States, I would be in line to sign on that dotted line. However, I don't in any way. I personally find that the atrocities being committed are making things worse for this country both socially and fiscally. If the Muslim world didn't already hate us, they sure do now!

I admit that there are many things that I don't know about the conflict, being a civilian. But on the other side, there are many ugly deceptions that are perpetuated by the military. There is no one solution to what is going on over there right now, but the idea of this country going from the biggest surplus in history, to the largest deficit, and borrowing money from Saudi Arabia to destry Iraq seems rediculous. We are the country that trained Bin Laden in the first place.

If people want to sign up and join the war, they have as much right as I do to shoot off my mouth. I just disagree. I think it's sad that so many lives are being squandered ( on both sides ) in a conflict that will most likely be more disatrous and more corrupt than Vietnam. I'm lucky that my forefathers fought in the Revolutionary War, the French and Indian War, the Civil War and both World conflicts. But I fail to equate this action with any of those.

As I said, I don't know everything, and more and more facts about the truth behind the war are surfacing, all ugly. But I like to hear what people in different situations have to say, otherwise I wouldn't be on here mouthing off and pouring over others' rebuttals.

[Ciscodog]

Whatever - let's give 74DDS his thread back. 

[Steve DeTar]

I understand your feeling about being at "the- cross roads".  I joined in 1981 and got out after Desert Storm in 92'.   I wanted to do what I wanted in my own life instead of doing for something or someone else. The military is not bad, I just don't agree no more with everything that is going on now.  I have the right to bitch if I want to.  Some of us paid in blood for the freedoms we have here..and in other country's.  People who bitch about the military who have not been in it are cowards.  It takes a man to step up to the plate.  I don't regret anything I've ever done in the military.  I have lost many friends in the military because of war.  Good Luck... Make us all proud...you'll know what to do after you get out.  Just don't forget the sacrifice of others before you.

[fourspeed]

74DDS

I'm with Jim Lusk on this one. My advice is to finish up that Bachelor's degree. If you don't know what to major in, major in "Business". I have an associate degree in mechanical design, which I no longer do for a living. The problem is, some large companies have a policy to hire ONLY people with a bachelor's degree or better. Figure out what courses you need, put your mind to it, and git-er-done.

Once you have your degree, then join the military. If I had it to do over, I would. When you get out, you'll have your military training AND a college degree. That oughta hook you up pretty good. 

Mark

[74DDS]

I have pretty much decided on going in the Navy this summer, now it is what should I do while I'm in there, I think something like the SeaBees would be somethink of intrest because your not stuck on the ship all the time and when you get out you can go right into construction, or simlar field. About the college thing, you know some people jsut aren't cut out for college, or some people aren't the college type, I belive that I am one of them I went into college to please my parents. I've said it many times before to friends I have no problem being blue collar my whole life, I think that I'd take more pride in my life and work that way, and stay active a big plus. Also I cna alway finish my degree while I'm in the service or after i get out, i have the hardest part done now it's just findinga major that fits me, and if anyone was wondering how close I am our college requires 128 credits to graduate and I currently have about 93 or so so i'd be another year or so before I'd get out of here so....I don't know if i could do that, I've gotten bored of it I guess and lost my drive. Thanks for all the help and advice and let's keep this post going it's been informative to me and probably to others too. oh and BTW my name is Dan if you wanted to be formal about it.

[abqdart]

Dan,
Ive talked to you on the phone. You sound like a bright young man. I think you will do this country proud. We need more guys like you. Just DONT FORGET about your degree. Finish it while your in. Hell, Im proud of ya.
Darrin

[PinkE]

I'm proud of you too Dan, follow your heart, and believe in your gut feelings...there usually right....We all have major decisions to make that affect our lives, I've always followed my heart and my gut feelings, in my case they were right, I waited a long time to act on them, but in the end, I'm a Happy Camper....Taking other peoples advise will only work if deep down in your heart YOU feel it's the right choice...Be Happy in life, you only live it once...We're the ones that have to live on the Path We choose, so choose it wisely....

Sue

[krabysniper]

Dan (74DDS), If your decided that your going to go navy ( I also served in the navy years ago, I was an AME) I would strongly suggest getting into something to do with aircraft, whether it be in electronics (AE) or airframes/power plants(AP) or something of the sorts. It will give you a nice solid foundation for when you get out (if you decide to not make it a career) and there will always be jobs in the aviation fields outside of the military (most pay very well). It will also assure (or relatively more likely) that you will end up stationed with a squadron that will either stay ashore somewhere (P3's come to my mind, I wonder if they still fly them) or if you do end up out on a boat, it will be a nice BIG aircraft carrier (far superior to ANY other ship in the navy, and is the one least likely to be sunk by enemy engagement). One other thing, the NAVY has the BEST food, as far as the armed forces goes.

As many have said, military is for some but not for others, you'd better KNOW for certain which catagory you fit in, cause once you sign, you ARE government property, to do with as they see fit.

Good luck in whatever you do.

[68dodge]

The Navy is a great training place. Decide exactly what you want to do and tell the recruiter that. I was a MM1 and now work at a power plant doing the same job I did in the Navy. My Son was a auto mechanic at a Chrysler dealer, out of Tech school. Decide to go in the Navy a year later. I told him its his choice and make the right one for yourself. My son has been in almost 2 years now and it has its ups and downs He says.

[WRAITH]

I've got plenty of balls between my legs,...

... FAG!

[urchinhead]

I've got plenty of balls between my legs,...

... FAG!

Is that a proposition?

[Glow Worm]

A former Boss used to say this:

"A BUNCH OF U. S. MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DIED TO ALLOW YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DID YESTERDAY, WHAT YOU ARE DOING TODAY, AND WHAT YOU WILL PROBABLY BE DOING TOMORROW."

Some folks aren't able to comprehend the Military way of life, and never adjust to it.  It's better to find out BEFORE you join.

[Ciscodog]

I've got plenty of balls between my legs,...

... FAG!

Is that a proposition?

In San Francisco it might be

[Hotwheelsjr]

I just retired in Oct '06 after 20+ faithful years in the USAF.  I am in no way a recruiter, but I would highly recommend a taste of the military to any red-blooded American.  I can not change what my CINC (Commander in Chief for you non-mil folks...) tells me to do or where to go, but it was a way of life and made me who i am today.  I will honestly say I punched at 20 to avoid the BS we are involved in with today's military, but I don't regret a single day of my career.  I did my time and happy I did.  Go for it...

Me, on the right...the day I retired.

[urchinhead]

I've got plenty of balls between my legs,...

... FAG!

Is that a proposition?

In San Francisco it might be

You're right about that one...