Enlistment?

DEATH

What's ironic is I truly believe in this country and the ideas of our forefathers. I believe it now as strongly as I did when I was twenty years old. At that time, I enlisted in the military when we thought there was no threat of war per se. We knew we definitely had interests in various parts of the world, El Salvador and the Persian Gulf, but really didn't think any of it would come to actual war.
Just a few weeks into my basic training we were informed of a small group of Army Airbourn who had been deployed into El Salvador for some sort of military action.
This brought home the realization that conflict of some sort would definitely be happening.
Just a few more months later, while I was in my "A" school, we were informed of mine hits in the Persian Gulf that our Navy had incurred.
When I finally got to my first duty station, I learned it was the home base for two of the boats that had run into mines in the Gulf. But nothing brought the actual understanding to me more personally than about a year or so later while I was engaged to be married and pregnant with my fiance's child, than hearing of the three Iraqi planes that had gone into international airspace and had been shot down by a US Naval ship...only later to learn that the person who had actually fired the misiles which took those planes down was in fact my fiance'.
I knew eventually we would be engaging on some level with these people.
About a year and a half later, in a different state, married and raising my son, war broke out in the Middle East.
This was the first Middle East war, what was originally called Operation Desert Shield and what was latter called Operation Desert Storm.
By this time I was already out of the military and married. Every morning my husband, who was still in the Navy, and I would wake up around 4:30am to watch the live shots from the 82nd Airborn base in Kuwait. I had a personal friend serving in that unit and knew he was there. So we'd watch as these guys would horse around and clown up for the cameras, but we were all too aware of what was actually going on.
A few more years and one divorce later, I was back in my hometown while my son was at school and I was getting ready for a job interview later that morning I was watching the Today show when all of a sudden they cut to a horrible accident in New York City. One of the World Trade Center Towers had been crashed into by a commercial jet.
I still remember my first thought; "What was wrong with that pilot?"
While watching the news broadcast we all watched as the second jet crashed into the second tower...and I remember my next thought: "What's going on with Air Traffic Control?"
Then we heard about the plane going down in PA and I remember my next thought: "OMG We're under attack!!! What's happening???"
By this time I had already switched to watching CNN and they showed the President sitting in that school holding a children's book just sitting there doing NOTHING. (What's worse was that he was holding that book upside down)

I was scared, infuriated and wanted to just grab my son, but knew he was in school and that was probably the best place for him right then.

About a week or so later, a family friend called me to tell me her son had enlisted in the Army. I got off the phone and just cried.

Durring Desert Shield/Storm I felt so proud of my country and what our soldiers were doing.
Eleven years later I was ashamed and angry as hell at what our country had become in the hands of this idiot who sat for a whole seven minutes before doing anything while we were being attacked.

No, if I was still young enough to enlist now, I most certainly would not.
My son is now nearly of the age where he must register with selective services and the idea of allowing this Monkey to get his hands on my baby simply makes me sick to my stomach.
I would sooner call my Aunt in Toronto and ask her for a room to put us up in than to allow "Shrub" to ever ask my son to die for his OIL MONEY!

Heather W

if you know there is the possibility of going to the sand box and that doesn't bother you and you still want to sign up then go for it. Just make sure your signing up for the right reasons.

a military wife

Shawna

I definanlty would becasue there is so much help you can offer. Just becasue there is the chance of going to the area does not mean that you will. There are so many other areas of help. And I think everyone needs to extend a helping hand. You never really know what you are made of until it is all on the line. (btw i am military and would not give up whta i have already done.)

ssgtusmc3013

oh course join, if you feel it is right. but don't let anyone pressure you . it should be your decision. i myself did for 10 years in the marines, but i felt i wanted to protect my people, and am very proud i did. and would do it again in a heart beat. i love this land , its people and most of all our freedom.

*Panda*

No matter what century you join there is always that chance of going "there"...I am not sure defending this country is even an option anymore...We are already so screwed in sooo deep in war that we are never gonna get out...There are no more right reasons...Nope...I would not join...Even if they paid me more than Bill Gates makes in a year...Why fight for what you already have?...Excuse me...Why die for what you already have?...

Maineiac

Absolutely!!! if you have a calling then you shouldnt pass it up. the military is a great way of life. people dont know how good it is until they join and realize all the benefits of being in the military.
Go see a recruiter, I would go Air Force, only because i am in the Air Force...

James B

Regardless of going "there", I would enlist without a problem. When you join any type of military there's that chance of that happening. So do what you think you want to do.

djack

By the way you ask that quesiton, the answer is YES! I usually tell people to do theier research & make an informed decision if it is right ofr you for the right reasons (not college money), and pick your job in a similar way. Good Luck!!! Plz come back & tell us what you decided & any advice you may want on jobs, services, etc.

whatever496

Yes come join us and enlist...we would be proud to have you...Iraq isnt that bad .....and if you look at it not many have died as previous wars.....were sustaining and protecting ......i think its the right thing to you...you wont regret it thats for sure

mrsstephaniekay

If you feel its right for you then do it.

I joined knowing the consequences. No regrets.

Melina

Yes, absolutely!

whiteboy10

Yes you should enlist...if you have an intrest in joining you should go and just do it. You can protect your country in the most of noble ways. Ive been in your position and i am joining the Marine Corps in October.

drock323

I say yes and no. yes cuz it is a hell of exprience and no if dont like being away from ur fam. i am in the army i have been deployed twice in 3 years

soldierstud

-if your planning to join the service, you need to ask yourself first why are you joining the service? What are the reasons? What branch of service do you want into? What are your expectations for joining in (military lifestyle)?

heather s

if its what u want to do, then go for it

The Boot

Do what is right: JOIN!

wizardslizards

Damn straight! The whole purpose of going into our countries military is to defend our country. Defending our country involved going into war when you are told to. I served in the Navy and never saw war (was in right between the 2 middle east wars), many times I have regretted not being there for the times when my skills would have been utilized to there fullest.

NONAME

i served 2 years in vietnam. i hate war. if they would take 58 yr old men in the Marine Corps...I'd go in a heartbeat.
God do I hate whiney babies who come up with lame excuses to blast the president...like he didn't have to wait for transportation. and ok from secret service to move...no damn wonder shes divorced.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: