Men of ATOT: Why didn't you serve?

[Miramonti]

I didn't not serve, I just didn't serve.

 

[biostud]

6 months of conscription in the civil defense.

 

[norseamd]

6 months of conscription in the civil defense.

Danish Emergency Management Agency?

 

[Mai72]

It's against my religion.

 

[dawp]

tried the air force back in the 80s, luckily they rejected me. didn't really want to serve under reagun.

 

[Meghan54]

Too old for this war. (and I don't support it either...but that's a different subject)

I DID enlist for Vietnam.

I agree with your first sentiment completely.

And like you, I did the same in regards to Vietnam.

 

[vi edit]

Attempted Air Force ROTC while in college but was not medically cleared. I only have one kidney.

 

[JM Aggie08]

It just wasn't the life I'd envisioned for myself. I wanted to head straight into school and be done with it.

That, and the military really isn't designed for folks of my stature. My cousin of similar height attempted airborne and had to be medically discharged (which kind of worked out better IMO).

 

[Uppsala9496]

Baseball scholarship. And then after college my shoulder and elbow were a mess (still are).

 

[LPCTech]

Medical problems, gut stuff, skin stuff. Deserts or jungles or not the exact right diet would kill me. I'd be a burden to an army. Also, I was never keen on putting myself in a situation in which I would be shot at.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Americans still think joining military is some kind of patriotic steps?

Serving? The only thing you are serving is some rich prick or Corporate cause.

Hello

 

[Blitzvogel]

Graduated high school in 2005 and I still remember the Marine recruiter calling that summer. My dad was the one who answered the phone, said it was for me, and started yelling about all the bullshit that happened thanks to the Iraq War as I was talking to the recruiter. Obviously he was displeased with the idea of me going into the military because of the state of things at the time. He always wanted me and my brother to go to school, be well educated to make our way through life. I think after losing my mom to cancer in 2001, he didn't want either my brother or I getting shipped off to Iraq and killed.

Ironically, my dad is a retired Marine.

I had sort of considered military service before graduating high school, and it didn't help that I nothing planned as far as college goes. Still ended up going to a local university for a year, but I regret not joining up. Of course I'm now too old and also recently married.

I really feel I missed out on a wealth of skills and experience that military service provides and pays you to learn that is unavailable in the civilian world without going through a number of hoops. I very much wanted to be a pilot, but the combination of doing nothing in my high school years to get me to that point, and the lack of good natural eyesight pretty much shelved my hopes. Corrected eye surgery was not an accepted fix at the time.

My father was a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps (was flying AH-1J Sea Cobras in the early 80s), and of course was born with 20/20 eyesight.

 

[Tidekilla115]

Some admirable things in that. But you might want to prepare by reading this book:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Every-Person-Should-About/dp/0743255127

I'll buy it for you if it makes a difference in whether you'll read it.

It's an objective, informative book about many issues in serving.

The author is a longtime war correspondent.

Ok thanks for the suggestion I'll find and read it.

 

[Zargon]

Parents were totally against it.

wanted me to go to college.

Got into West Point and Air Force Academy, Im too short to fly anything(which i what I wanted to do).

almost went in 13c/11b in 2006, but ended up meeting my wife and thought life as a soldier with her at home would suck, so I got a 'real job' and got married instead.

both of my buddies who went in around the same time are both out and hated it, so maybe I didnt miss anything.

I have spent the entirity of my IT career working for local gov until a few years ago, where I moved to a state university. Serving in a different way

 

[Tidekilla115]

Americans still think joining military is some kind of patriotic steps?

Serving? The only thing you are serving is some rich prick or Corporate cause.

Hello

Yes the American government is corrupt and failing but serving your country isn't about protecting the government it's about protecting the people of America who the government is supposed to serve. There is and always will be people trying to destroy America without our soldier's we wouldnt have the freedom to have this discussion. So serving in the military is the most patriotic thing you can do especially now when you can't agree with the governments descisions you still step up to defend the people and way of life you love.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Americans still think joining military is some kind of patriotic steps?

Serving? The only thing you are serving is some rich prick or Corporate cause.

Hello

Your Che Guevara shirt is showing.

 

[Blitzvogel]

Yes the American government is corrupt and failing but serving your country isn't about protecting the government it's about protecting the people of America who the government is supposed to serve. There is and always will be people trying to destroy America without our soldier's we wouldnt have the freedom to have this discussion. So serving in the military is the most patriotic thing you can do especially now when you can't agree with the governments descisions you still step up to defend the people and way of life you love.

Very dubious statement. Hard to defend the country and freedom you love when you work for the very entity that is becoming increasingly belligerent to its own citizens, encouraging the sucking of it's own tit in a way to win over supporters, who should know better.

Even still I would not expect a group of soldiers to carry out anything extremely radical against the people, but soldiers can be lied to, brainwashed, or mentally unstable. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union may be extreme examples, but they did happen, never-the-less.

 

[nickbits]

I would never support the US war machine by choice. It is too big a it is.

 

[Tidekilla115]

Very dubious statement. Hard to defend the country and freedom you love when you work for the very entity that is becoming increasingly belligerent to its own citizens, encouraging the sucking of it's own tit in a way to win over supporters, who should know better.

Even still I would not expect a group of soldiers to carry out anything extremely radical against the people, but soldiers can be lied to, brainwashed, or mentally unstable. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union may be extreme examples, but they did happen, never-the-less.

Yes it has happened and it is possible but as for the majority of them from my experience don't like the goverment the way it is and if faced with a choice to hurt American people or rebel they would rebel. I'm not saying this is true in every case but in my family which is a military family and the soldiers I know which is a fair amount as I live near the redstone arsenal in Huntsville AL are not serving for the goverment but for the people. And if by belligerent you mean what's going on with soldiers and vets going against libertarians then your right about because I would be pissed to if I saw someone flying the american flag upside down or burning it.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Yes the American government is corrupt and failing but serving your country isn't about protecting the government it's about protecting the people of America who the government is supposed to serve. There is and always will be people trying to destroy America without our soldier's we wouldnt have the freedom to have this discussion. So serving in the military is the most patriotic thing you can do especially now when you can't agree with the governments descisions you still step up to defend the people and way of life you love.

So the government is not serving their country and you think that other countries/ people that are trying to destroy it are a bigger threat?

Your freedom is at a bigger threat from the government than ANY other entity out there.

Your "outside" threat is imaginary.....created by the government (and their buddies) to keep sucking your tax money out on weapons, security contractors and military companies.

There is actually NOTHING patriotic about being in military as you are just supporting the government and their ways.

Sorry

Our presidents have warned us about what's been happening past 60+ years....and it's going to keep happening (read up on Eich's Military Industrial Complex).

 

[FerrelGeek]

"It is well that war is so terrible - lest we grow too fond of it. Robert E. Lee, after viewing the carnage of the battle of Fredericksburg, 11-15 Dec, 1862.

War should always be detested. But sometimes it's unavoidable. But irrespective of our opinions on the validity of the reasons to fight, those who are willing to serve and put their lives on the line deserve nothing but respect. My dad was a Marine in WW2; he never wanted to talk about it much until he was older. Several in my family served at various times. I have a cousin that was in Nam and it messed him up. He tried to talk about it to his dad and the POS threw him out for being weak. But he always could find solace in talking to my dad.

I find the OP to have warped thinking. I think the normal healthy condition is to want to not have combat, and not to kill.

Studies in WWII found that something like 90% of the time soldiers did not fire their weapons when they were supposed to.

It also seems that while soldiers have a lot of guts and other qualities, combat has become awfully unequal. It's no longer a US soldier and Nazi soldier similarly equipped and trained in combat. Our guys have enormous advantages with many killed for each casualty on our side, and many of our casualties are things like IED's.

I find war something to detest - thank the people who make the sacrifice.

And even on that, there becomes the question about serving in unjust wars. I'd rather more choose not to serve unless there's a clear need for defense, like WWII.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Yes it has happened and it is possible but as for the majority of them from my experience don't like the goverment the way it is and if faced with a choice to hurt American people or rebel they would rebel. I'm not saying this is true in every case but in my family which is a military family and the soldiers I know which is a fair amount as I live near the redstone arsenal in Huntsville AL are not serving for the goverment but for the people. And if by belligerent you mean what's going on with soldiers and vets going against libertarians then your right about because I would be pissed to if I saw someone flying the american flag upside down or burning it.

I find it sad that ordinary American cares more about this country than the people that manage it......

Based on their actions, government and corps/business don't give a crap about this country.

Your flag is just a made up symbol to keep you blind buddy......

 

[ControlD]

I seriously contemplated it when I was nearing the end of high school. Pressure from my parents kept me away from joining however. Now that I see some of my old buddies retiring in their mid forties I sort of wish I went that route!

 

[Harrod]

Graduated high school in 1997, I spoke about it to my dad, and he said try college first and if that doesn't work out, then join the military or do trade school.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I feel this is a legitimate question that will cause a lot of hearth ache. I also feel that I am in a unique position to ask this of you: Why didn't you serve in the war?

To clarify: Most of you are millennials. You are between 20-40 years old, and you could have. But you didn't. What was it that kept you from doing so?

I don't want to downplay your answers but, as a male, I feel like, at least in my childhood, I have always been bred to fight a war. It was always my destiny to go toe to toe with another man and fight to the death. That sounds a lot cooler than it really was...but I feel that I am justified.

I am a big fan of these scenes:

DEATH!!!
KLENDATHU!!

I'm curious as to your reasons of not being there with your sword. I was there. I spilled blood. Most of you were not there. I feel kind of betrayed.

It really isn't any of your business and I don't owe you an explanation of why I didn't serve.

Feel betrayed all you want.