MovieChat Forums > Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016) Discussion > Why would anyone sane join the Military ...

Why would anyone sane join the Military ?.

posted 8 years ago by dreez-vector
17 replies | jump to latest

We've all seen how badly the veterans were treated when they came home from
"fighting for our freedom" in Vietnam, they were spit on, cursed at, called childmurderers.

We've all seen how badly the veterans are treated that came and are still coming
from the Iraq+Aphgan war is getting treated.

Homeless veterans everywhere that lost their house and families because they were
sent to "fight for freedom" and then totally forgotten by their government when
they come home with mental scars and/or limbs missing...

We've all seen the coverup's of friendly fire incidents that the military tried
to hide to keep the morale up and the sense of "we're never wrong".

We've all seen what Obama did to the veterans fund, when he took billions of dollars
from it, to give to refugees that exists due to the war that same military created.

If you can't give proper support and healthcare to returning troops, then you
shouldn't send them in the first place.

So why would any sane person join?... and please don't tell me its to "defend freedom",
because that didn't really work for the 50.000 Americans that died for nothing in Vietnam.

[–] isaldana2589-56-402445 8 years ago

Amen sir, tell it how it is

[–] Movie_Riggs 8 years ago

And no matter who wins the presidency, true freedom won't really exist anymore anyway, if it even does now. I remember the line from Jack Reacher where he talks about "which one of these people is free? Free from stress, humiliation, so on and so on... He's not wrong, really. It's not freedom we have these days, more like we have a lot more priveleges than other countries. Priveleges easily taken away if we're not ready.

[–] dreez-vector 8 years ago

Wasn't it Killary that said Freedom is a privilege, not a right ?. Scary.

[–] mav100000 8 years ago

Not a vet myself, but here are a few reasons:

1. Some people actually love the country and want to defend it (you asked for THEIR mentality, not yours).

2. Some believe in what the military is doing, or at least know they will do their part even if they don't agree with the decisions at the top.

3. Military has good benefits. Some people know they are not college-bound until they have money and the military makes sense for them.

4. Many want a challenge.

5. Some believe in service, or doing their time.

6. Some want to kill and learn that the military is about much more than killing.

7. Some want job training, and the military has plenty of that (actually, most roles are not combat-related).

8. Many joined after 9/11 in anger, the same way many more did after Pearl Harbor. (I considered this myself, but would not have been cleared medically - I checked.)

Cheers mate!

[–] Movie_Riggs 8 years ago

It is scary. Better safe than sorry; I'm fully prepared to move to Switzerland or New Zealand or Canada if I have to. Desperate times, desperate measures.

"We're not too old for this sh*t!" -Riggs and Murtaugh, 'Lethal Weapon 4' (1998)

[–] ShloneN 8 years ago

My experience was pretty good, was able to save up over 100k on two deployments. Got out after 6 years got a good job and pay 6o bucks a month for medical and dental for my wife and I.

[–] faididi 8 years ago

Sounds like you were pretty lucky. Let's hope that recent scandal about recruitment bonuses won't affect you.

[–] MrDKillian 8 years ago

If it has to be explained to you, you'll never understand.

[–] Dufus_Kane 8 years ago

The most convenient and lazy argument ever used in any argument

[–] ellennyc (27) 8 years ago

Right

[–] arnez88-237-649302 8 years ago

Brainwashed.

[–] sherbaum1985 8 years ago

The tangible reasons include: travel, steady salary, great benefits, college tuition assistance, job training. The abstract reasons include: being part of something bigger than yourself, challenging yourself, giving back to your country and community, camaraderie.

Personally, I've been in the military for about 12 years and the abstract reasons are a much greater factor for me. I'm enlisted but I do have my Bachelors degree. I just don't see the same attributes among civilian occupations.

[–] Sharky08 8 years ago

So true. I have a civilian job now. There's no sense of teamwork.

[–] smithmissy171 8 years ago

..simple answers; they are young and unsure what to do with thier lives, and money, period. the military offers these young kids money and a package deal for their so called future and schooling.

...but many people do not think it through before signing up.

....

[–] ellennyc (27) 8 years ago

truth

[–] alex898 8 years ago

http://www.snopes.com/obama-veterans-money-to-syria/