im in high school and currently considering joining the military when i graduate. the army or marines to be particular, i cant fly a plane because of my slight vision problem but that doesnt disapoint me too much.

anyways ive talked about it with a few people i know, some of which have served in the military at one point, and they all said something along the lines of making sure your joining for the right reasons.

the reasons i really want to join are as follows(in no particular order):

-an exciting job
-ive seen videos of combat in iraq and it seems like something i could and would enjoy on some level
-the chance to fight for and to protect the freedom of people who are unable to do so themselves
-a sobering life experience
-get out of my hometown and civilian life

do these seem like more or less the appropriate reasons someone would join, i feel like i have a genuine desire to serve in combat, but parents and friends say im going to hate the military as soon as i get my first taste.

can any1 who is serving, or has served please shed some light

thnx for your time.

I joined to avoid the draft. It all depends on what you really expect and who you are. Reasons can change with the wind. Do what you feel in your heart and enjoy the experience.

I joined after college. I got my degree like society said, and got a job as was expected.

I have more than one reason I joined. The most important reason was filling the void. Something was missing, and it was service to this Nation. I know hundreds of veterans. All of them seem to live rich full lives, and I thought thats what I was missing. I grew up in an Air Force household, and figured what the heck. I signed up in September of '99, and been doing it since. I joined a combat arms MOS and trained, and stood ready to deploy to a war. I just needed a war, and that would test my mettle. So I did. And will again. There is a certain breed of person that excels in the military environment. Those with a "make-it-happen" attitude, not a "let-it-happen" attitude. I am here for the comraderie, the esprit-de-corps, the pride in serving something larger than me, serving my fellow soldier, obedience, Patriotism, loyalty to my Nation, and the strength to defend our way of life. I am here because I want to be. I am here because the Nation needs me, and people like me. I am here because those before me served, bled, died, sweat, and cried under the same call to duty. I am here because the Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, Marine, Coast Guardsmen, is the last vestige of Freedom. We defend Liberty unto death. We fight for the world that isn't strong enough to do it alone. We face enemies abroad and here at home. The paycheck will come, but it doesn't buy the satisfaction of knowing "You done good today, men. Your Nation thanks you."

There are as many reasons for joining as there are people in the service. As my dad said (a former Marine) "you'll never meet more unique and different people that have so much in common than in the Marine Corps". Your reasons for joining are better than most-- "pregnant fiance and no medical insurance", "cool uniforms", "like the way Marines handle a gun, wanna bring some of dat back to the 'hood" --are just a few I've heard (and, BTW, that last guy was kicked out for psych reasons).
You have some valid reasons for joining, and some not so valid. Remember, combat is not a game, there is nothing glamorous or "movie-like" about it. It scares the shit out of you more than anything else. Of course, at your age I also had the same "can't wait to see combat" attitude-- though I don't think I ever said "would enjoy on some level". Which is where I think most of your family and friends think your argument for joining falls apart. There's nothing enjoyable about it. Living through it and looking back is a complete blast . You say your list is in no particular order, I hope so.

And here I was just gonna give my standard answer of joining to 'just eat regular'

You sign that contract and one thing is for sure, you will most assuredly 'get out of my hometown and civilian life'!

As for a sobering experience? More likely it'll be just the opposite. (at least on numerous levels and occassions)

As for enjoying combat on some level? More likely it'll be the feeling before combat that you will remember the most. Once your in it, things either happen with phenominal speed and clarity, or there is mass chaos and confusion for the uninitiated. The key to surviving combat situations is to make sense out of the situation and react according to your training and you more often than not, will have to curb or control your basic instincts and instead rely on those reflex instincts you obtained during your limited training.

Or you could simply meet the bullet cast with your name on it and have the opportunity to have the likes of Cindy Sheehan protest your funeral.

Some of us when exposed to the stress of combat have completely folded up and withdrawn from the situation, while others of us are able to grasp the situation, and make the right decisions and choices available and turn it to their advantage. You must understand one basic fact about combat situations: they are without a doubt, the most unpredictable situations one will ever find themselves in that will expose one to the highest levels of stress imaginable to a human being in an extremely short period of time. How you handle it will remain with you for the rest of your life.

An exciting job? WOW! Jumping out of perfectly good airplanes at high or low altitudes, Getting locked in a compartment while it is either flooding or on fire, entering a room full of people trying to kill you, driving down a road and having all hell break loose, driving a 50 ton armoured howitzer and being able to reach out and really touch someone with all of it's capabilities, lazing a target for supersonic aircraft and or smart bombs....the list is endless.

Now here's the hard question. Which branch of service is the one where you will:
a) meet your needs and expectations
b) meet the needs of the nation
c) teach you how to survive in this War on Terror

This message has been edited. Last edited by: thegunny,

I have never really understood why people say 'join for the right reasons', because there is no right reason.

Everyone has their own personal reasons for joining, some people join for the education benefits, other because they didnt want to work at Burger King and others because they want to 'be the first one on their block with a confirmed kill'. All are, IMO, legitamit reasons.

I think what you should be asking is 'Are you willing to make sacrifices and possibly lots of them?'
The military needs will come first, your schooling, your persnal time, your video game score, your second job all are far from the militarys concerns.

I want to be a Pararescueman and for the longest time I thought that I wasnt cut out for it because the reason I wanted to join was not necessarily to save peoples lives but to jump out of planes, work behind enemy lines and be in a 'cool' job. But at the end of the day no one is going to know why you joined unless you tell them and they are not going to care as long as you get the job done and get it done correctly and fast.

So please do not concern yourself what other people think of you joining, just make sure you are aware of what the military is like and make sure it is something YOU WANT to do.

And if you do join and decide you are not willing to make the sacrafices be prepared to be slandered left right and sideways.