would you if you could?

[Northern Jane]

I tried to join the Air Force when I was 18 (Canada at that time was strictly peace-keeping) because I wanted to learn to fly but they wouldn't have me - they couldn't figure out what to do with me - clearly not a man and not quite a woman either  Just too much for the time (1968) LOL!

Ii would have been content to fly ferry service ...... Oh boy, there's an opening for misinterpretation ROFLMAO!

[jesse]

lol nj
hugs

[Miniar]

I'm Icelandic, ain't no military here.
And if/when me and my partner move to Canada, I would probably not want to serve there. Even if I was treated entirely fairly based on gender.
It's not that I wouldn't want to serve, it's.. a combination of things.
There's my Fibromyalgia...
There's my dislike of the whole "hand to hand combat"...
And there's the fact that I don't know how well I could be trusted with a gun in my hands...

[K8]

And there's the fact that I don't know how well I could be trusted with a gun in my hands...

[NDelible Gurl]

I tried to join the Air Force when I was 18 (Canada at that time was strictly peace-keeping) because I wanted to learn to fly but they wouldn't have me - they couldn't figure out what to do with me - clearly not a man and not quite a woman either  Just too much for the time (1968) LOL!

Ii would have been content to fly ferry service ...... Oh boy, there's an opening for misinterpretation ROFLMAO!

Too funny!

[Robin.]

Anyway I got to thinking about that whole world and military culture.. I think it would be good for a lot of people in terms of self discovery and discipline, in turn creating a healthier society and nation. So, if you could serve in your nations military as a member of your target gender, without discrimination, would you? Lots of people talk the talk, but not as many can walk the walk, and often times military service is looked down upon by this crowd...so I'm interested in thoughts on this.

There is no way I could make it through boot camp. For one I'm not athletic at all, short of riding my bike for exersise. But I imagine i could get over that. But mainly I don't think I could stand the meanness of drill sargents.

[MasterAsh]

Simple answer for me: no.

I feel more valuable to my country and society in general and more importantly the people around in me in specific as a civilian. The idea of being transformed into a living weapon to be wielded against dangers real or imagined against my will makes me cringe. Also, I saw the boot camp portion of Full Metal Jacket as a very young child, and while I understand the difference between film and reality, it left a mark on me nonetheless.

[rejennyrated]

It has been done postoperatively in the UK by at least two people. I know that for a fact, and though I have never been in that world myself, I have, postoperatively, been briefly involved in, shall we say somewhat related spheres of work, at one time in my younger career.

[Hannah]

mainly I don't think I could stand the meanness of drill sargents.

I volunteered once in boot camp for something, but I didn't know what. It was Sunday and I was bored and I figured what the heck. Turns out I was an object for drill instructors in training to yell at. That's right, volunteered. There were three of them who were having trouble learning to be mean and I sat there listening not only to them trying to "train" me (my instructions were to be belligerrent) but also to the techniques being used to train them. They were just a bunch of scared kids trying to do their best, just like the recruits.

Don't be scared of drill instructors, the Clinton administration pretty much defanged them.

[Robin.]

I volunteered once in boot camp for something, but I didn't know what. It was Sunday and I was bored and I figured what the heck. Turns out I was an object for drill instructors in training to yell at. That's right, volunteered. There were three of them who were having trouble learning to be mean and I sat there listening not only to them trying to "train" me (my instructions were to be belligerrent) but also to the techniques being used to train them. They were just a bunch of scared kids trying to do their best, just like the recruits.

Don't be scared of drill instructors, the Clinton administration pretty much defanged them.

I could probably stand to be in the military if I had to, but I would want to be a tactition or some sort of stratagist.