Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: tony6789 on 08/08/2006 15:17:51
-
War...a terrible thing. But yet 9/10 pplz( rough estimate) say that every1 should go. i am thinking myself of going into the army am i making the right decision? please help me with ur advice:)
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
Tony, speak to your family, speak to your friends, speak to recruits...
....but the decision must be YOURS.....I don't think anyone here can tell you whether you are making the right decision or not unless well .....well...unless we were YOU.....
Personally, I have often thought that a tour of duty might be a good thing for me......may help me sleep !!..but it would not be for that reason....
I don't know...it's character building (and maybe character breaking too), you'll learn lots of skills, perhaps travel.....
the downside is obvious....you may be called to action.....and it's obvious what that could mean.
have you spoken to your family and how do YOU feel about it ?
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
-
quote:
Originally posted by neilep
Personally, I have often thought that a tour of duty might be a good thing for me......may help me sleep !!..but it would not be for that reason....
Help you sleep, or leave you with nightmares.
George
-
In general, I agree with Neil's comments. No-one but you can know what it right for you. I can tell you that it would be very difficult for me ever to have been in the military, or to have someone close to me in the military; but that is what is right for me, and it says nothing about you.
Be clear about what you are getting involved in. Wars can leave you with nightmares, and with lots of personal questions about right and wrong – but someone has to do it (whether or not I agree with the current war, nonetheless, I think it is the case that we will always need soldiers for legitimate wars, cases where maybe the issues are more clear cut than in the present situation).
I doubt very much that you are right to say that 9/10 people think you should go – I doubt you really can know what the figures are. What you might say is that 9/10 people amongst your acquaintances say you should go, but in each community you will find a very different balance of opinion.
At the end of the day, talk to the people around you; but it is not them going to war, it is you, and you have to be sure in your own mind that you are ready for it, and that you know what it is you are getting involved in. Once your out there, and your being ordered to shoot people for real, its too late to say that was not what you wanted to be doing.
Ofcourse, you might argue that if the only people who join the army are hothaeds who enjoy killing, then no wonder that many innocent people get killed, and maybe you might be able to take a more responsible attitude to the necessity of killing (although you have to ask what you would do if your commander asks you to kill someone that you think does not deserve to be killed – would you have the courage to say no, or do you think the decision must be your commanders responsibility and you should follow orders without question?).
You could also ask if you could join the military in a non-combatant role (e.g. medical corps) – I don't know how much flexibility exists for such choices – these are things you need to find out for yourself if that is your desire.
Don't go just because you feel pressured into going – you will never forgive yourself, or the people who pressured you into it, if that is what you do.
George
-
Tony - I agree with Neil and George. However, I am curious. Aren't you just 13? I realize it's never too early to be thinking about your future, but this just seems awfully young to be thinking about a military career. Do you have family in the military? I have a 13 year old son, and I would be mortified if he were to ever consider this as a career choice. Not that it isn't a perfectly honorable career. Don't get me wrong, I admire and deeply appreciate our military, but pray neither of my children choose this path.
Are you still in middle school, or are you entering high school now? And does your school offer ROTC? Good luck in your decision.
Carolyn
-
Do you guys have something like our T/A ? (Territorial Army) where it's part time and doesn't really interfere with your career......but I understand you can still be called to action (I think)........
......or perhaps some form of cadet school for people who want to ' try but not buy '
Perhaps Tony should consider something like that ?...
Like Carolyn said Tony..you're only 13 matey !..long way to go before you need to decide
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
-
The US has a National Guard, which I think has similarities, but also differences, to our TA.
OTOH, we now have both TA and National Guard personnel serving in Iraq – which was completely contrary to their original terms of service, but indicates the difficulties that Iraq has posed for the resources available to us. One of the issues after Katrina was that the Louisiana National Guard, who should have been at home available for exactly the kind of disaster relief that was required after Katrina, was in fact on active service in Iraq.
George
-
It used to be that going into the service was a good choice...of course then there was not as much chance of going to war as if you sign up now.....it is a good way to get an education and benifits, but it is also a very dangerouse place to be....my whole family is military background and so that makes Tony's entire family background on both Mother and Father's side miltary, but as his Mothier I have to say it scares the crap outta me to think of him with a gun in his hands or taking another life and having to live with those memories for the rest of his life.....but again...it will ultimatly be his choice when he is of age....One can only express "personal" thoughts and feelings about such matters regarding someone else's life.
k
-
Tony, Definitely join ROTC, it will help if you are considering going into the army giving you up to E-3 status...you will have a higher rank if you join, but it is important if you do ROTC, that you do it all your highschool years..it helped Michael get a better rank as a private and it equals more pay...I tried to talk Michael out of doing it, but he could taste it in his whole entire high school years...
I definitely agree with everyone on here, talk to family, friends, and recruiters...it is important to know what branch you will want to go into. Also, Neil you are right there is part-time reserves...
"Lo" Loretta
-
Well personally i would like to go into the army. I would also go to war if the situation called for it. I wouldnt mind serving my countrry in a war at all!!! but i am scared at the same time. scared of dieing because (i know some1 is gonna tell me i have a life time to think aobut this) i have my whole life planed 4 me. especially cause i wanna get married and have kids1 day. but what if the call calls me? wat if i have to go to war and leave my wife and kids behind. i would NEVER want to do that.... but then i am reminded of the soldier saying: Let there be war in my time so that my children may be safe in there time. *sigh* wat am i to do?
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
quote:
Originally posted by Carolyn
Tony - I agree with Neil and George. However, I am curious. Aren't you just 13? I realize it's never too early to be thinking about your future, but this just seems awfully young to be thinking about a military career. Do you have family in the military? I have a 13 year old son, and I would be mortified if he were to ever consider this as a career choice. Not that it isn't a perfectly honorable career. Don't get me wrong, I admire and deeply appreciate our military, but pray neither of my children choose this path.
Are you still in middle school, or are you entering high school now? And does your school offer ROTC? Good luck in your decision.
Carolyn
_____________________________________________________________________
Well i know im only 13 carolyn. but my dad, my grandpa, his dad were all in the army. so i feel i should continue the tradition. and my grandppa that has passed away recently had the highest U.S. military acsess. he could get into any base he wanted even area 51!!! he waz even better that Bush's body guards!!! and i am in high school now
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
It sounds like Lo's idea about the ROTC would be a good start.
You have a few years to think about it yet. Think not only about the career opportunities, but what the job itself entails.
If you get a chance to quietly talk to some of the vets who have seen active service, and get their perspective (not only the gung ho – 'we won the war' type people, but people who are willing to talk about the difficult parts of their job). Be sure you know the worst before you go in. If you know the worst, and are ready for it, then the choice must be yours.
George
-
Tony, I think you are a rational young man. You are exceptionally smart! I know you will make the right choice for yourself. You are a lot like my middle son, Michael, he thought the same way about everything the same as you have...he married the day before going to Germany and I still have some people to contact to get his wife with him as this is a timely process...but I am trying to see if there is a way to speed things up due to his circumstances right now! All people that I know, who have a military ID(retired)can get into any base to my knowledge...did he have a special clearance to access areas that were non admittance for regular military personnel?
"Lo" Loretta
-
yes moonfire but we anROTC anywhere near here some1
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
What city and state are you in?
"Lo" Loretta
-
ummmm...i guess i can trust u Fort Jennings,Ohio
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
I would never go into the army.
Because.
1. I hate authority lol.
2. I am a coward.
3. I usually disagree with the government
4. A soldier is supposed to follow orders immediately. I couldn't do that. I couldn't be a sheep.
How many members of parliament have their sons in the army fighting in IRAQ? In the USA how many Congressmen and Politicians have their sons over in the war?
This decision has to be yours.
Steven
-
quote:
Originally posted by tony6789
i guess i can trust u Fort Jennings,Ohio
Ah, but you trust the rest of us? [:)]
Jennings and schoolboys - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_%28novels%29 - probably just like you [:D]
George
-
quote:
Originally posted by another_someone
quote:
Originally posted by tony6789
i guess i can trust u Fort Jennings,Ohio
Ah, but you trust the rest of us? [:)]
Jennings and schoolboys - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_%28novels%29 - probably just like you [:D]
Or, you can listen to the books (at least for the next 7 days) at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listenagain/monday/rams/1145.ram
George
George
-
http://jennings.noacsc.org/
try this
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
quote:
Originally posted by tony6789
http://jennings.noacsc.org/
Don't know if my tastes have changed that much since I was a id, but the school dinners there, although they may be quite different to our school dinners, do not look any more appetising.
George
-
lol that is true lol
NEVER! underestimate youth
-
One always has to be careful in interpreting news reports, and I don't want to make too much of one report, but it may give an idea of the kind of stresses a modern soldier might face.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5285816.stm
quote:
A teenage soldier who killed himself because he feared having to shoot child suicide bombers has been buried.
Jason Chelsea, 19, a Kings, Lancashire and Border Regiment infantryman, died four days after taking an overdose.
Shortly after taking the overdose, he told his parents that as part of training for Iraq he had been warned he might have to shoot children.
Earlier this month the MoD released figures showing 1,541 soldiers who served in Iraq are suffering from psychiatric illness.
Last year, 727 cases were recorded, amounting to nearly 10% of the British deployment.
George