Do only poor people join the military?

Its not me Its u

"Only" is too absolute, i doubt whether guys like Pat Tillman can be considered poor....

kickrocks54

i work with a couple rich white kids from orange county actually... people in the army come from EVERY walk of life....

its actually a little insulting that you think we are a bunch of dumb poor folk.

Maybe the rich white kids i know grew up with some values and wanted to validate the fact that they live because of sweat blood and tears of our hard working military.

JoeDaBro

Not everyone joins to Military for financial reasons. I am not rich, or rather my parents are not rich. But i'm not poor My household income is around 100K. I can afford to go to college, I am currently in the process of enlisting right now. I took my ASVAB and am getting my physical done tomorrow or Friday. I love my country, and want to serve my country. If you go in for monetary reasons, you may end up somewhat disappointed.

Alli

Maybe because the "rich white kid" wants to join. And in answer to your first question, no there are many people from diverse financial backgrounds who join the military. Where on earth would you ever get this idea?

Yo it's Me

Well all the Medical Officers (doctors) in the military are volunteers, I think they have a lot of options and aren't poor (according to the Democrats, the amount of money earned by the average doctor qualifies them as rich, since they are subject to the AMT). I know an enlisted female MP from a VERY rich suburb of Philly (her family's houses are worth about $7 Million), I think she had a lot of options. A lot of the people I know in the military are middle to upper middle class to begin with, so not just poor people.

Rawbert

I was from Orange County CA and I joined to do something for my country, not for college money or because I was poor (I wasn't).

desertviking_00

The rich white kid would join because he wants to belong to something bigger than himself and support his nation as a member of the armed forces. Those serving aren't inner city poor. They represent a cross-section of our economy.
When you see one in uniform ask him or her what got them to join. I think you'll be surprised by the answer and be able to put that big bag of sterotypes out at the curb for pickup by your trash service.

Yhoshua

no, im upper middle class and im joining the Marines, so you cant stereotype us all. A rich white kid probably grew up with everything, they think nothing of honor, duty, commitment but only of the $

Mary Jo W

my rich sisters son is a fighter pilot in the Air Force.
so much for your theory.

YA Namster

Pat Tillman was pretty damn rich and he joined the Army.

wichitaor1

I don't know about rich, but there are people from families that could have paid for their college, but they joined the military instead.

BTW Nick K, the have been many officers that have been killed or wounded in Iraq and Kuwait. Where you do get off questioning their bravery?

Stone K

ummm no, lots of people from every social background and race join up.

and as for you comment about rich kids from orange county. you must not know that general Patton was insanely rich (the richest officer in the US military at the time) and was a land owner in California (he and his wife owned Catalina island).

A number of my relatives who had rich parents (they own land in Oregon) went in to the military as well.

Any one can and should join the military if they so choose to do so.

A Balrog of Morgoth

"Why would a rich white kid from Orange County join the Army?"

To serve your country. DUH.

jeeper_peeper321

Very few poor people join the military.

A smaller percentage, than represented in the general population.

The majority of those who enlist, come from solidly middle class back grounds.

And actually, the percentage of enlistees who come from families making between $75,000 and $250,000 a year, is higher than thier percentage in the general population.

Those numbers are for enlisted personal,

If you include officers, who make up 20% of the military,

The percentages coming from wealthy or upper middle class families would increase.

Don't buy into the myths that were started during Vietnam, about who joins the military.

James M

Thats funny, i am in the army, and work with a rich white guy from Orange county. Kind of puts a kink in your theory dont it.

pinkreb004

no, have you ever heard of pat tillman, #40 arizona cardinals? people join from all walks of life.

Theresa W

No. My husband had a full running scholarship to college but chose to join the Marine Corps instead because he wanted to serve his country. He now wishes he would have taken the scholarship and then joined because working on his degree and working full time is hard but he managed. So although he was middle class he had another alternative. It was his personal decision.

bill s

although, joining the military is a way to get an education threw the G.I. bill, it is not the only reason to join. In my family, we were raised that as a male, it is our privilege to join the military, and as far as my father and grandfather was concerned, not even an option. I grew up lower middle class, and white, and I joined the Navy, spent 10 years in special opps, was released after 5 purple hearts, the last one put me out of commission for 18 months, My father spent 7 years as a P.O.W. in Vietnam, and served 2 consecitive runs in Kerea, my grand father recieved 2 purple hearts, and a bronze star in WW2. We all are proud that we had the oppertunity to serve our country. Now I have 4 sons in Irac. I am very proud of them. Remember that freedom isn't free, and this the greatedt country in the world, needs devoted men and women to keep it that way. But the idea of only the poor, and the non-white should join, is a bunch of crap. Only a bigget or commie would think that. Maybe you need to join and see what a true American does to keep this country free.

boredwithyou

Ah look, another uneducated idiot.

C-Town Dawgs

People join the military for many reasons, some join because they feel a sense of duty, others to see the world, others for the discipline it teaches, and some for the training and opportunity it provides.

Sean G

I'm from a Very well off Family, and I joined the Army at 18, never regretted a second of it.

It is the price one pays for Freedom, I'm willing to uphold that.

Joe C

Yes rich kids join the navy. I served with many some good others not so much.

Tall black sexy

No, There are more middle class white people in the army.

KNUCKLES57

Uh, buds, that is a really idiotic statement. Some people do use the military to pay for college, or to enter the job market, but most serving members will tell you that they joined because of love of country, or they believe in the causes that their country is defending or fighting for.

Think before you speak.

water_skipper

There are reasons to join the Army besides not being able to get a job. In fact, if you want to join the Army I'd highly recommend taking out student loans and getting a bachelor's degree first, then joining.

tallerfella

The answer would be no

Yet another worthless question from some whiny little brat from OC who thinks the world owes him everything without a thought of giving something back............

Brian C

I could have went to college right after high school and my parents could have afforded it. I didn't even think about a pay check when I enlisted in the Marine Corps. I wanted to do something for my country just like millions of others have done. I served my country and then went to college. I now have a engineering degree. I would give my degree back before I would ever take back the time I served. I didn't look at the military as a job. I looked at it as a way to give back to my country. I have more pride in knowing that I served my than in anything else I have ever done.

Gotta have more explosions!

Heck no! Most people join out of a sense of duty or service and a desire to live the military lifestyle... although some idiots join solely for university subsidization or housing, food and money.

Most people who join are from the average middle class, with under-representation from the upper and working classes.

I'll admit that while pay in the Australian Army far exceeds that in the US Military, there are far better ways for me to go out and make some good dollars.

Razor Jim

No that is an argument floated by democrats, looks like you bought it. I was in the military and proudly served with people from all stations in life. Its just a tired old generalization and not true.

As You Were 85

I joined the Army and I'm not poor i joined because there was nothing for me in my home town in NY so i figured I'd get away and do something new i didn't go in for the money or the college money that was a givin...i went in to the military for the experience and let me tell you it is an experience plenty of discipline and mental challenges. You end up becoming physically and mentally tough trained and proficient in you warrior tasks and skills.I'm an American Soldier and that's all there is to it.

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