Are soldiers in it for the money or for their country?

Tom Jr

If you think it's easy, baby, I'd hate to see what you'd call "hard."

quasar

ITS NOT THE MONEY IN THE BRITISH ARMY the pay is disgusting

locksniffer

Only a soldier can answer that.All I say is thank you to them.

fr_chuck

If you think it is for the money then you have no idea of how low thier pay is.

And the standards for recruitment is high,

In general most enlist because they love america and support what thier nation is doing.

Obama4America

Well the average soldier came in the military for money to go to college or just to get a place to stay outside of their parents home. Now the pay in the military is so small that you cant really say we are in for the money. so people come in for the money, but they stay in becouse they love their country

Bob

There are some who go into the MIlitary for education purposes only... those are the ones I wouldnt want fighting for our Country, because those are the ones who would either turn on their own, or send cry baby letters home to mom.

SlapADog

A lot of people join for the college money but they know the risk going in, unless they are mentally inept but then they wouldn't be able to get in.

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=irishdictator

Confused

Do accountants go into the job for money or the job? Do teachers go into teaching for money or the job?

Some people want different things. You can't say everyone in the military wants to protect their country (although most of them probably do to be doing such a job) or everyone in the military wants to make money (which could possibly be true too. Everyone needs money to survive and denying it's worth is stupid.)

Don't harm your brain and watch Fahrenheit 9/11. There is a movie out there that disproves Michael Moore's lies called "FahrenHYPE 9/11"

Answergirl

The benefits and monetary compensation of military personnel is extremely low. I doubt that anyone would join up for that particular reason.

Leila R

I definitely don't think they do it for the money. I mean I am an E-2 in the Navy and I can tell you starting out, the money isn't that much, especially when you have bills to pay. A lot of people join for the college money though. I did it to serve my country, as did a lot of people I have talked to at MEPS and along the way. It's not an easy job. Not by any means is it easy missing Christmas with your family, or not being able to call in sick. Constantly being told what to do. Not being able to visit anyone your family unless you have enough leave saved up. Seeing your boyfriend once every 3 months. It's not an easy way to make money. It's hard to be in the military, but many of us gladly do it.

country nana

Is your head in the sand or what? Do you think our soldiers have an easy job these days? It's got to be very hard for them, and their money certainly is nothing to brag about. I'm very proud of our soldiers. Many young men have volunteered for the service after the war broke out. So what do you think they are in it for?

rich k

As a Nam era vet who retired after desert Storm, I got to say, if you're after money, the military is not the way to go. My pay as an E-1 in '72 was $270.00 a month. Getting hired as a veteran is an uphill battle, most employers don't want us, we don't have references they can call and talk to. I know this from experience. My family has a history of service to our country going back to the Revolution, and my daughter is on active duty now. If this countries citizens are not willing to defend it, then it does not deserve to survive. Our troops are there to serve their country, they are doing us all proud.

chattterus

A third option, soldiers usually have better security than most americans. Everyone knows that soldiers aren't rich. They don't do it for the money, many do it to get through the next decade.

katheek77

They may enlist for one of the above reasons, but, they re-enlist because of the guys who served next to them during the war.

My husband enlisted to serve his country. He's been in 8+ years; he reenlists and fights because of the guys he's served with. Most of the guys couldn't give a damn about the politics involved; they care about getting themselves and their buddies home alive.

Roadrunner58-79

It sure ain't for the money, but it is for their country. Most of the people in the military have had a college background and some are taking college courses while in the military. Go to a Military Recruiter and ask about the educational background of the Armed Forces of the United States of America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mugsy's Place

Well I guess you never served in the military if you can ask a stupid question like that. For your information most of the people who enlist are college educated. The military doesn't want losers anymore than civilian corporations do. If you ever tried to live on the pay they make in the military you would certainly have a better appreciation for our service men and women.

Our military are proud Americans who serve because they feel a duty to our country and our citizens. They make the sacrifices so that you and the rest of us can live here and enjoy our freedom that THEY make possible!

If you think the sacrifices they live and sometimes die for are an "easy way to make money", go sign up (if you're smart enough)!

Just Me

Let's see...pick up any comparison chart of military jobs vs. same/similair civilian, and even including our benifits we are usually well below what civs make. Yes, the education side is nice, but 35k in colleges nowadays is crap. Most of us, this includes everyone I've talked to in the AF, Army, Marines, and Navy, join for our country. The education and benifits are just things they give us because of the job we do. If we don't, who will? Think on it. Who would willingly go out and get shot at, put their life on the line, for less in a month than you can make working retail if it was for the money? We do it out of love, pure and simple, but I admit a few join for other reasons, they're the ones that don't reup when the time comes.

p_lo25

Ok first off; Fahrenheit 9/11 is one side of the story. Propaganda, if you will. So watching that movie will not give you the full picture as some people would like you to believe.
Second, I enlisted right after 9/11 because I believe that if you are going to live in this country and enjoy freedoms that you are given at birth, you damn well better stand up and do something to protect them.
To imply directly or indirectly that soldiers join for money is an insult that I'm not sure I would handle well if given to my face. I added it up one night while I was overseas. Being that I was on call 24 hours a day my pay averaged about $2.73 an hour....Does that sound like a lot of money to you?
As for fitting in with society...That has got to be one of the more moronic statements that I have read on Answers. When I came back from Iraq I jumped every time a car back -fired, and my heart skipped a beat every time I neared and over-pass or sped by a pot hole. Would you consider that "fitting into society much better as a veteran"? Or how about the fact that every time a fire cracker went off on The 4th of July I couldn't breath for a moment.
Your disillusionment toward today's armed forces is an embarrassment. Just rest assured that we are doing a job that statistically speaking less than 1% of Americans are willing to sign up for. You should be unquestioningly thankful, not suspicious of our motives.

The_Cricket: RIP Allecat

It's both.
Or at least it was with my husband, most of our military friends, and my father.

i was a soldier in my days . i was there 4 the travelling and money .

Leogirl0804

I can tell you, it ain't the money. If you look at the demographics of the military make up you will discover that most military members are from middle to upper middle class homes. Some just want a break from school. Most want to contribute to this country. They are definitely smart enough for college that's for sure. A college student is not smarter than the non college student and a degree is just a piece of paper that says you are trainable. It certainly does not guarantee any level of intelligence. Being a Veteran helps to a very very small degree, but that's not the reason they joined. The military is a great opportunity to be in and of the world.

pinoydj619

those that only think about the benefits more than serving
will realize they are unprepared for combat when put in the situation and that will be bad for operations.

they should(those that are in for money)
realize that if thats the case.

besides the pay is not much for lower ranks.

.

smack

...the sad truth is that most people that join the military do it out of difficulty in life and see it as a way out and a way to survive ... soldiers do what they are told and are indoctrinated to dehumanize the enemy .. whoever those in the high places decide that is ... imo the soldier on the ground is just doing the job and they are doing it for their country ... if they didnt believe that then they wouldnt fight but in my experience the soldier on the ground is the least informed of anyone and is told who is bad and who to kill without proof or explanation of why.

nashpaty

The new recruits going in the army to fight the war in Iraq are mostly doing it get money and to have 3 meals a day. There are very few new recruits who actually do it for their country, just watch Fahrenheit 9/11 and it'll become clear to you.

Amiga2780

it depends on their character...
- please pick me for your best answer i need points

Daniel

Oh, most of them no doubt join for the money. The soldiers today are not soldiers of character as in WW2. They're not soldiers who were drafted or forced to enlist. These people volunteer to be the face of the military industrial complex. If you've seen the wiki-leaks video of the u.s. killing that reporter in Iraq, you know what I'm talking about. They're completely desensitized to death, killing people from miles away or flying automated drones over head to kill peole. It's a video game nowadays. Same goes for Vietnam before technology though...soldiers collecting human ears on a necklace to keep count of their kill. This is not acceptable human behavior, nor heroic. I respect soldiers in a time of great need, and I'll even BE one when that day comes...but I deplore the idea of having tiny pre-emptive wars for eternity that cause hundreds of thousands of deaths. And because of that, I don't see how you can't partially blame the soldiers who continue to supply this system with never-ending bodies for them to do it.

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