Did you serve in the armed forces of your country?

[JD]

Money was actually one of the only reasons why I decided to join. In Switzerland, you're paid fairly well. so after I finished I was able to do some travelling.

[Pica Pica]

i meant Iceland wouldn't have much money to pay for an army

[Hypatia]

Iceland has some of the world's highest levels of economic and civil freedoms. In 2007, Iceland was ranked as the most developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index. It was also the fourth most productive country per capita, and one of the most egalitarian, as rated by the Gini coefficient.

Wow--how cool can you get? The awesomeness of not having a military. While the USA economy has been idiotically run into the ground by that insane war in Iraq.

Plus they have the first lesbian head of government in history. Maximum coolness. 

[soldierjane]

No, never have and never will. For me an environment of blind obedience and unquestioned loyalty has never been something to desire.

[Miniar]

Wow--how cool can you get?

-4°F or -20°c.

(Yes I know what you mean, I was being witty.)

[Hypatia]

No, never have and never will. For me an environment of blind obedience and unquestioned loyalty has never been something to desire.

The irony of this statement and username juxtaposed is delightful.

[cindybc]

Me I'm a follower, I can get more accomplished behind the lines anyway. I love and trust my love to make the right decisions with only a few suggestions from me. I would have never made a good soldier, a good mule maybe, I'm used to doing the menial stuff.

Cindy

[Genevieve Swann]

In the Navy for four years. Stationed at a secure comminications site in the jungle. After I was discharged I went back to work for them as a contractor. I have worked for the Navy,Army and Air Force. In Panama, Honduras, Virginia, Utah and southern California. Honduras is a great country and Panama is paradise.
Post Merge: February 27, 2009, 06:55:50 AM
Acronyms:  NAVY: Never Again Volunteer Youself                 USMC: Uncle Sam's Misguided Children

[tekla]

Sigh, sometimes I wonder if anyone (well except for Pica in this case) reads any real news?

While Hypatia decries the US economy, its Iceland that is running an almost third-world debt/GNP load balance, and in the group of 'major free democratic nations with open markets' is in the worst financial shape any such nation as ever got itself into. 

For Iceland, and this is just last weeks figures: External debt (as reported by Danske Bank) is now 300% of GDP, while short-term external debt is c55% of GDP, or 133% of Icelandic export revenues.

That is beyond broke.  And, that they did all that without military spending - well that kinda puts old tekla in a state of awe.  Furthermore, they are going to be hard pressed to do much about it, as their is extremely limited opportunity for economic expansion.  Iceland is facing an economic meltdown on an almost epic scale.  By contrast, the US debt, huge though it is, is a much smaller % of the GDP.

And Cindy, Armys are nothing but followers, with one leader more or less.  Everyone is following someone further up the Chain of Command.

[Miniar]

tekla hun, we're Icelandic, we shrug and keep on working, same as the last time something "absolutely horrible" happened.
Nothing's helped by panicking about it.

[Genevieve Swann]

Within the military may you resent authoritity if you want. Don't have to respect. DEMONSTRATE respect, yes. Don't have to carry a weapon. Someone else will do that. I was in during the cold war. Mutually agreed destruction. USSR vs USA. HaHa. What BS! Her is a great quote:                     

Owners of capitol will stimulate the working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses, and technology, then to take more and more expensive credit, until the debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and state will have to take over , which will eventually take the road leading to communism.   Karl Marx 1867

[imaz]

Within the military may you resent authoritity if you want. Don't have to respect. DEMONSTRATE respect, yes. Don't have to carry a weapon. Someone else will do that. I was in during the cold war. Mutually agreed destruction. USSR vs USA. HaHa. What BS! Her is a great quote:                     

Owners of capitol will stimulate the working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses, and technology, then to take more and more expensive credit, until the debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and state will have to take over , which will eventually take the road leading to communism.   Karl Marx 1867

Excellent quote and thank you for kindly posting it.

Never served in the Armed Forces and would have been exempted anyway if there had been conscription thank God.

[cindybc]

I did try to join the army when I was 16 but never made it past recruiting, I was to small. What I meant by I wouldn't make a good soldier is I was never good at being ordered to do stuff and I probably would have panicked and been of no use to anyone in a war situation.

I am a follower, in the sense that I am good at doing stuff I am *asked* to do, I once *was* a good pack mule. I wasn't scared of hard heavy work, just can not do as heavy type of work as I use to. Otherwise I don't shy away from a good days work, sweat and dirt washes off at the end of the day.

Cindy   

[Genevieve Swann]

imaz, The truth is after living,eating, showering,wearing the same uniform,etc. All together as enlisted folks and knowing that no one else is going to cover your ass, a person finds that those people are much closer emotionally than biological family and most outside friends. It is not a matter of chain of command or following orders. Break the rules and make sure you all have the same story. ->-bleeped-<-, The day I made E-5 I was caught with a quarter pound of marijuana and two hours later a JAG officer told me illegal search and seizure, go back to work. E-5 is a Petty Officer 2nd. In the army and air force it's some kind of seargent.

[sd]

Owners of capitol will stimulate the working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses, and technology, then to take more and more expensive credit, until the debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized, and state will have to take over , which will eventually take the road leading to communism.   Karl Marx 1867

Just because Ol' Karl said it, does not mean it will happen.

[Genevieve Swann]

Here's a true story: I was going to therapy last year for PTSD related bull**. My major malfunction is that I was deployed for over 24 years. All voluntary except four. I did not reintegrate into north american culture easily. MY feelings "Damn Gringos!" There was a person in our group, Ralph/Raquel who is intersex. Ralph was drafted and went to Vietnam. The army was in a hurry and overlooked something very important. Now the Veterans Affairs gets to pay for the remaining surgery and therapy for the remainder of Raquel's life.  P.S. Forgot to mention my shrinks work for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. They're good to me and understand. Also the therapy started in 2003 and is ongoing.

[imaz]

Not wishing to offend anyone but why did you all serve in the Armed Forces? Can't believe that it's nearly 50% according to the attached poll.

Back when I was young it was considered socially unacceptable except in the case of conscription and even then most managed to get out of it with the excuse of being druggies, Gay, "insufficient thoracic measurement" (Italian Army!) and so on.... In all my life I've only ever met one person who volunteered and he was my dentist back in Italy.

Edit! I forgot one important one, my father in law! He was a Colonel (different ranking system in that country) in Naval intelligence. He's lovely.

[Pica Pica]

i only know two people in the army not during world wars - one was my grandad, a psycho - and the other was a loser from school who thought himself action man.

[Sephirah]

Not wishing to offend anyone but why did you all serve in the Armed Forces?

In my case it was initially to escape the people and events that had happened in my life up to that point... particularly school and the misery that went on there. There was nothing particularly noble about it; I just thought that out in the middle of an ocean was probably the farthest away I could get.

[sd]

Not wishing to offend anyone but why did you all serve in the Armed Forces? Can't believe that it's nearly 50% according to the attached poll.

People never do it, seem to have a hard time with that question.

For me, I needed a job, I was laid off 3 times in short order, and things in my area were not getting any better. I also hoped it might straighten me out but it only made things worse actually.

Many LGBT have trouble with jobs, hope to be straightened out by it or need money for school and/or surgery. Some do it to leave a dead end town. Some of those apply to non LGBT people as well.

Depending on the branch you may or may not find the gung ho fighters people imagine the military to be. Air Force enlisted tend to be for the reasons I mentioned above. Officers typically go in for schooling, or to fly. Those that like excitement go for fighters, but its not really about going up and shooting someone.

The only branch that is seriously gung ho is the Marines, with the Army not far behind.


Most people do not actually join to kill someone. In fact some branches will try to weed those people out.
Most of the people I encountered just wanted a leg up in life.