Veterans and why someone joins the Military - Episode 43
just wanted to clarify something
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I believe Kristin made a comment on the show about why someone joins ('volunteer')the Military.
I (being a 4 year vet of the US Navy) believe that the Majority (>90-95%) of 'volunteers' of the military are there because their other options in life are not that great. MANY join due to the benifits, the VA Home Loan, the GI Bill, the travel (at least for the Navy), the chance at a steady paycheck and food, etc... I can go on and on.
The wars in America are fought on the backs of the poor of the country, hands down. It can be shown in history and all you have to do is look at where the main Recruiting stations of the military are located. Of course, 'poor' can be a wide range of income levels as some 'middle income' young adults don't 'need' to join the military, but see advantages to doing such.
That is one reason some like having a Draft during war time conditions, since every person in America is affected. Of course, the Rich still find ways out of participating in the draft, but no longer is it just the poor, who fight the way. Those 'middle income' young adults start to think twice about signing up when they think they may die during the service time and choose otherwise.
About Patriotism, well, this does affect why some choose military service over other avenues. It will sway someone to join, if they were considering it, but did not need to sign up. It will pull in people, especially immigrants, who want to give something back to the country, which gave them 'the American Dream'. I would even venture to say that there are many immigrant families out there, who have more Patriotism that a lot of Americans, because they know what it is like to not have the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.
Enough rambling, back to the topic. Please keep this in mind for the future, although I don't expect Poweruser.tv to discuss too many military issues of the day, I hope I have enlightened you a bit.
I joined to get a better life, as my family had no support for me going to college. I have paid for it myself, partially through the help of the GI Bill and the rest through Student Loans. Had I went to college out of HS, I probably would have flunked out OR I could have done it and had a bit 10-20K more in student loans and would have been fine. I wish I would have taken that route in a way, because I could have still join the military afterwards, but with a high paycheck as well, had a I finished. That is my suggestion to any considering the military or college.
I (being a 4 year vet of the US Navy) believe that the Majority (>90-95%) of 'volunteers' of the military are there because their other options in life are not that great. MANY join due to the benifits, the VA Home Loan, the GI Bill, the travel (at least for the Navy), the chance at a steady paycheck and food, etc... I can go on and on.
The wars in America are fought on the backs of the poor of the country, hands down. It can be shown in history and all you have to do is look at where the main Recruiting stations of the military are located. Of course, 'poor' can be a wide range of income levels as some 'middle income' young adults don't 'need' to join the military, but see advantages to doing such.
That is one reason some like having a Draft during war time conditions, since every person in America is affected. Of course, the Rich still find ways out of participating in the draft, but no longer is it just the poor, who fight the way. Those 'middle income' young adults start to think twice about signing up when they think they may die during the service time and choose otherwise.
About Patriotism, well, this does affect why some choose military service over other avenues. It will sway someone to join, if they were considering it, but did not need to sign up. It will pull in people, especially immigrants, who want to give something back to the country, which gave them 'the American Dream'. I would even venture to say that there are many immigrant families out there, who have more Patriotism that a lot of Americans, because they know what it is like to not have the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.
Enough rambling, back to the topic. Please keep this in mind for the future, although I don't expect Poweruser.tv to discuss too many military issues of the day, I hope I have enlightened you a bit.
I joined to get a better life, as my family had no support for me going to college. I have paid for it myself, partially through the help of the GI Bill and the rest through Student Loans. Had I went to college out of HS, I probably would have flunked out OR I could have done it and had a bit 10-20K more in student loans and would have been fine. I wish I would have taken that route in a way, because I could have still join the military afterwards, but with a high paycheck as well, had a I finished. That is my suggestion to any considering the military or college.