MovieChat Forums > Tigerland (2001) Discussion > People in the military- do you hate it?

People in the military- do you hate it?


In my country, every single male will be drafted for 2 years of compulsory military service. Although training is not as though as Tigerland depicts it as (in the sense that they don't physically hit you and everything is more toned down), I found it to be somewhat similar to what I went through in my basic training. The shouting was there, the tension between conflicting personalities was there, the psychopaths were there (though not as serious), and most importantly, it is filled with people who hate the army and want to get out.

There are many true stories of people taking metal pipes and smashing their legs, or putting their trigger finger in the chamber and sending the bolt forward, or stripping and dancing naked in front of the OC, just to get out of it. The truth is, almost nobody wants to be there and most people are anti-military. There plenty of people who are similar to Bozz, who knows every part of the military law and can find a loophole to get out, or at least become a non-combat clerk.

The irony is, we have no war to fight, and the risk of dying is almost zilch (besides the occasional guy blown up by faulty ammo or crushed by a tank). The truth is, the military is almost never like how hollywood depicts it as. There is no joy in going for a forced march, or crawling the mud, especially if you do not believe in what they tell you to believe in (country, honour, freedom?). As a peacetime soldier in a peaceful country, I don't exactly hate the army to Bozz's extent, but many people do. My question to people in the military, especially those in the US Military who are fighting a war, is do you actually like serving in the military, with all the heroic facades removed? And for those in actual combat, do you fear for your life and want out?

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The friend who loaned me the movie was army.

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\o/ STEVE HOLT!

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I'm glad I don't live in your country. My social phobia would make service a nightmare.

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Ex-Army here. This movie provided me with many memories of my basic training and Infantry School experiences at Fort Benning. I did basic there in 1985 and my AIT in 1986.

The instructors shown in the film were very close to what I had at Benning. The training scenes were quite accurate. The main difference for me was that there were no draftees and all of us had volunteered. That made for better attitudes in the barracks and in the field.

I did like this movie. I think that’s because I had gone through a lot of what was shown and got through it!

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you didnt get rifle-butted in the jaw and/or shot at by a psychotic private though, i hope ;)

the worst thing that happened to me was getting punched in the stomach by a DI in San Diego. i sort of deserved it, though ;)

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Yeah military service is big fun.

In my company every morning around 5 people fainted/collapsed after waking up (no sleep over months is good stuff) and almost every day someone started crying for their mommie :)


I actually had luck and got a little promotion and my life in the military was really funny. Except for the pay of around 270 euro....

The irony is.... my country is neutral and not allowed to participate in a war :D

And going to a forced march was great fun. You have to look in other peoples faces. You have to look at people that cant make it. That drop to the ground. You have to feed on their pain to make it. Good fun.

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I think the key difference in mentality is between countries with conscription vs. all volunteer forces.

In Europe back in the days of conscription, there was always a large part of conscripts who thought they were wasting their time in the military and didnt want to be there.

I think its logical for people who want to be doctors, businessmen, tradesmen, you name it, but are forced to spend over 1 year in the military, which seems like hell to most people who did not want this life in the first place.

This is why I think in the West we mostly dont have conscription anymore.
After Vietnam and other wars, the government saw the flaw in that system.

Now with all volunteer troops, if you complain its almost like you're an idiot, as you chose to sign the dotted line, so to speak. Its like a work contract. You're a pro and you have to do your job. You can even get "fired" aka dishonorable discharge.

Big difference in mentality.

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