I should hope so, http://farm1.staticflickr.com/175/449119581_c137b5dc09_z.jpg?zz=1 don't drive themselves ya know

Being a contractor doesn't always mean doing secret squirrel stuff under the table. We had contractors in Iraq doing IT stuff on base making freaking [censored] good money...except they wore civilian clothing and didn't have to leave the wire.

three things determine wages with the companies;

-What you do.

-How dangerous is it where you have to do what you do.

-Who you're doing what you do for.


some contracts can fetch 5K a month, while other contracts can pay up to tenfold that amount.

You remind me so much of my Sgt.Maj. from MCJROTC. Your last name wouldn't happen to be Anger, would it?

Well I myself am not in the military, but I've always wanted to do it. I know I'm fit enough to do the training, and i would like to be able to say that I'm trained to go to war if the need ever arises, and in fact joining the army is my backup plan for life. So if for instance i lost my job, house and was gonna have to end up as a bum on the streets, then i would go join the army, and that would be my life.
But that hasnt happened yet, and now im running my own siding company making pretty good cash, so it doesnt look like im gonna be joining anytime soon. Although theres been a few times ive wanted to tell my business partners "hey um i want to leave the business in your hands while i go out and join the army for a couple years, but i want my spot back as director and owner of the company when i come back" haha.

What interests me about the army is the combat training, weapon training and over all fitness and endurance training. What makes me not want to join is i dont like the prospect of pretty much being the country's slave, and having to do whatever im told. Im sure the discipline would really help me out, but my personality is of a chaotic nature. I dont like being tied down to anything that i can just walk away at any time, and i dont like being ordered to do something that i wouldnt want to do.
What it really boils down to is the politics. There are a lot of bad countries out there that deserve our military attention more then the ones we are currently at war with. Here in canada, if i joined my army, id be sent over to afganistan, to do what? We've been done their for awhile. They got their own government, let them handle it, and if they cant then we'll come back again with force. Our army should be off [censored] some other to -be world power like Iran. If anyone needs to get [censored] up by military, its Iran. But no we're too busy attacking the weak guys that dont fight back as hard.
If i was able to join some mercenary company that contracted out their services to the country, then hell id join in a heartbeat, but i dont want to be fighting a war that i dont think is worth it or necessary.

Now as to why people join a lot during war, well isnt that question sort of self explanatory. I mean, you're at war, if your country is threatened, if you dont join the army what could happen. What if the other country wins, and comes in and boots you all out, then you'd really be regretting your decision to not join the army.
If canada got attacked today on our soil by another country, I'd be in the army by tomorrow morning. Why? Because if i do die, id rather die defending the country then as a civilian when the invading country walks in and shoots you in the face. And that way at least you're increasing the odds that you'll win the war by that miniscule amount, its still better then not contributing anything IMO.

for males, it's about being a male; confident, respected, responsible and whatever else, depending on the person. there is always the financial incentive and the opportunities to travel, see the world.

don't have insight into female minds, so can't say anything about why women join. other then, well, repeating that depends on the person and that there is always the financial incentive and the opportunities to travel, see the world.

*opens book titled "Everything Men Learned About Women"... stares at hundreds of blank pages... scratches head, makes face, closes book, shrugs*

Sergeant Major Anger?

That was his name, yes. And yes, it was legit, he was born into the Anger family.

I never made it past buck Sgt, so I'll take that as a compliment, Jerhicco

Not yet anyways.

Well, here in Finland every man has to serve in the army, and women can volunteer. It's about being able to defend our country should it come under attack, as our army did against a vastly superior force during our wars with USSR around the time of WW2.

Finnish soldiers also serve in peace keeping mission with the UN, so around here it's about fighting the good fight

Or so i'd like to think.

then this one will not attempt diplomacy.... *pew*

cookie for how knows who said that

"Bottom line: you can't touch the vorcha! **gasp** They've got diplomatic immunity!"



and I didn't even play the game

I think people should refrain from any talk of politics, here is my honest answers for why I enlisted and why I still do it.

I enlisted because I felt nobody else would, felt too many people sat around thinking about the military or politics, and ended up regretting never joining. I'm an infantryman so I'm your average grunt, whose job is to close and engage with the enemy. So I can't say it was job skills either, but I met some of the best people in my life here. To meet energetic, motivated people from all walks of life and experience the interesting things that happen around them is something I'd never have if I did not enlist.

There were really rough times, and that's made me appreciate the small things in life far more, as well as the important things. I decided I won't reenlist because I feel I have served my time to the best of my ability and am ready to return to my two kids. I've been all over Europe, the US and made some friends in Afghanistan as well. I have done and seen things in my 22 years of life that many other people will never experience, and will continue to do so in my last year. I've grown more dedicated to every task I try my hand at and find that I excell in tasks far more than the average citizen my age. Now I'm ready for college and to see more of the world, but above all else I will never wonder what it was like to have been in the military.

Sorry, I didn't see the moderator tag on your profile. My bad.

No need to be snarky. Would you rather have a friendly reminder from another forum member or end up with a moderator closing the topic?

lol, actually you can depending upon where you're stationed.

My uncle was an Army xray tech, and, since he enlisted instead of waiting for the draft, it was in a country other than Viet Nam.

You are a new member, but you have enough posts on your account to have been aware there are rules on this forum. One of which is we are not allowed to discuss politics. You seem to think you are more important than anyone else on these forums because you think your irrelevant political opinion is so important that a thread that is being enjoyed by many members should be closed because of your insistence on breaking the rules. Clearly you hold a higher regard for yourself than any other member of this forum.

Since nobody can debate with you on the subject you are bringing up, I don't know what you expect you will achieve?

I tried to be friendly to you despite this, but all I get is flamed. Since flaming is also against the rules of this forum, I am now going to report you for both infringements.

I am sure you can see my "Moderator" tag - yes keep politics out of the thread please.

MOS is 68W.

The military has jobs that for most people, truck drivers, laundry specialists, computer geeks. Engineers, firemen, cameramen and reporters.

We even have journalists.

Yes, it's that simple.

EDIT: Were I to provide a second reason, it feels like the only thing I'd enjoy and be good at; I think I'd make an okay soldier because I'm very emotionally insensitive and have a stoic mindset.

I knew a few persons in highschool who ended up joining the army (or tried to, I didn't keep in touch with them once I graduated). One of them did so because his father, grandfather and brothers had done the same, he was just following in their footsteps. The others were struggling with personal problems like drugs, alcohol etc and were hoping the army would straighten them out.

As for me, if my country were under threat of invasion I wouldn't want to stand idly by. That's the one scenario that would make me join the army; I may not be overly proud of my country but I love it and wouldn't want to see it invaded. I'd make a pretty poor soldier, though

I'd love to give an alturistic motive for joining, but it was just really a pretty selfish motive that prompted me to join. There was a sensei in my life who one once said that he didn't wan't to look in the mirror 40 years later and have the person looking back say "You shoulda, you coulda". I grew up building military models, watching military documentaries, playing strategy games, my dad was part of the occupation forces in Japan with the 11th Abn.. Add the fact that I wasn't doing well in a second attempt at college, so I joined. I joined to see if I could do it - not for patriotism nor to fight for my country. I talked the talk, so I decided to walk the walk. It was one enlistment with a line company in the 82nd Abn (peacetime). Closest to combat I got was taxiing down the runway to Haiti.

It was MY first life choice - college was just assumed by all. Glad I did it; glad it was over.

I decided to get out after the Pope Air Force Base (Green Ramp) Tragedy and when I got married. I didn't feel it was right to raise a family with the spectre of my never coming. So I got out.

I won't speak for those who join during war, but looking back, as a single 21 year old, I probably still would have joined. The physical nature in me probably would have still put in the infantry, but I'd give more thought to the airborne forward observer slot they offered me. Those choppers looked good while I was slogging through the mud at oh-dark-thrity.

And to the very last question:
1) the obvious answer revolves around apathy depleting the force, but
2) there's a second answer about the military being able to handle itself, power currupting, answering to a civilian governmen, or protecting a constitution. Great for debates, but probably too close to some mines for this forum...I'll let someone else lay the engineers tape for that one..

I joined because its what was expected of me and it felt like the right thing to do. My Dad and older brother are in the army too and now my younger brother too so I guess its a family reason too. In fact my older brother was overseas when I was sworn in.

As for joining joining during wars some people join for the signing bonuses, I never got them cause I'm Canadian. But others join cause they want to defend their countries and people who ask them questions like, "You could be shot in the face? Why would you do it?" will never understand why.