Why do we thanks Veterans when they didn't have a choice to begin with?

Iggy1962

First of all, we need to understand that service members most definitely have a choice - the modern-day military (since the early 1970s) is all voluntary, so no one is forced to enter.

Prior to the all-volunteer force and during the days of the draft (conscription), potential recruits had a few choices to avoid serving on active military duty. They could relocate to another country such as Canada, remain in college until they were beyond the draft age, or join the national guard or reserves who, by policy, did not deploy to the combat zones.

I believe that we thank modern-day service members because they volunteered to enter into and remain with the military. We thank the draft-era service members because they undertook the demands made by the nation and because many willingly volunteered. We thank all of the veterans because they cooperated and sacrificed their time, families, safety, and jobs by taking on an occupation that pays little and demands much.

rat_race_ditcher

You thank them because they die so you can post stupid questions like this online.

sfavorite711

We thank them because they did sign up. They may not have known what would happen but most, if not all, knew that they could go to war.

Also they didn't become deserters. They stayed and did their duty as soldiers.

BDZot

What planet are you from?

EVERY soldier, sailor, airman, marine, and coast guardsman volunteered. Not a single one of them was drafted, nobody forced them to join up.

When you sign the dotted line, you understand that you can not only be deployed, you can be shot at also.

ga4ljd

We thank them because it's the fact they had the guts and the bravery to join and go through what you have to do to just be called a Soldier/Marine/Airmen/Sailor. Whether they wouldn't have signed because of their fear to go overseas was true or not I still appreciate what they do for this whole country. Most of the people that join, join because the love and honor they have for this country and will do anything to keep that. That's why we thank them!

It's a sensitive question to ask to patriotic people it can be misleading any way you put it. Mines not meaning offensive to you but more of an explanation. It's not a fear of going to war, if that was so true why would so many people such as myself sign up for the past years when there has been two wars going on for almost 7 years knowing the chance of getting shipped on over.

Right they aren't expecting to go to war but they are willing if the time comes. There is no fear in this military such as myself I signed up right in the middle of Iraq and Afghanistan conflict for infantry. I have no fear whatsoever, I have millions of guys watching my back at all times and if it's my time to go then it's my time to go staying at home isn't going to stop that. Your as safe there as you are at home in this great country that our own civilians ruin more and more each day.

ant t

Because they had a choice and chose the most difficult one. I don't have to fight because soldiers are.

Lonya D

Because they did what you would never have the guts to do. Whether they wanted to do it or not is pointless--they did what they had to do. THey did what their country asked of them and many of them paid with their own lives so that you can sit around on a++ all day and ask stupid questions.
My husband is a veteran and don't worry, I'll thank him for you!

sa_spursfan4ever

We thank them because they are defending our country from terrorists and other enemies. Yes they did sign up on their own free will, but they have to follow orders, it's part of the deal when you join. We should always thank them and their families for the sacrifices that they make every day just so that you and I can speak freely and live freely in the Good Old USofA

Rayza

Because they volunteer.
And this day and age- any person going into the service does so with the knowledge that it is a possibility that they will be sent abroad for service.
I enlisted in 1994 with FULL knowledge that I could possibly serve in a war.
YOU don't have to thank any vet. You can just keep yourself ignorant- It's a free country. Oh yeah- it's a free country because of veterans. Hmmm

4everNlove

Who Say's they don't have a choice? They have a choice in signing up in the first place. That's the choice they make. They make the choice to join in a service where they get paid crap to risk there lives just so you can have the RIGHT to ask and discuss stupid subjects like this on line. What choice they don't have is serving unappreciative, immoral people like you. People who don't understand what it takes to go out there everyday and not know if you'll be coming home. That's what they don't have a choice over. We thank them because they choose to do this for YOU and ME and don't expect anything in return. We thank them because whether they wanted to go to war or not, they do and they fight with everything they have just for you and me to be able to have the rights we have. We thank them because that's what we should do. Every single one of the people who have the privilege to live in America should thank them. If you don't understand that then maybe you should take up residence in some country where you don't have the right to choose anything at all. Man, you must be as dumb as your picture looks.

GunnyC

The thanks is for volunteering and joining. I doubt if any one has ever joined the military and thought they would never have to go overseas and if they did they were not very smart or realistic. Speaking of the current military personnel it would be a very small percentage that have not enlisted or reenlisted since 9/11 and I would guess they all knew that it was likely they would be shipped overseas to one place or another.

Jeis C

Going into the military, you know that you're expected to follow orders, to stand and face bullets bombs and guerrilla attacks at anytime. You make the choice when you enlist, and you get to make the choice to stay before you graduate boot camp you also get choose to stay in or go back to being a regular citizen. The reason you thank them, is so you can choose not to, and question whether or not to do so.

Proud Republican

Hmm..... Maybe because they fight, bleed and die so that we can remain free in this nation.
The U.S. Armed Forces are a volunteer military.
You know what that means?
They volunteered to serve their nation.

We are in a time of war and those who join now, know the the risk and yet they still do it. Becaus they love this nation and are willing to sacrifice for it.
People like you can never see anything except whats in your own selfish little bubble.
So go find some hippie camp, plant flowers and snort cocaine.
And stop trying to disrespect our brave veterans.

Lucy

We thank them because they all knew, just as we all do now, that they would go to war. That's a part of signing the dotted line.

I have a clerical job, and I have been deployed. There is no such thing as a 'non-combat' job. You're a SOLDIER first. that is why we go to ranges and qualify on some kind of weapon (M16, M249, M9, etc)

And we thank them because they gave their life for your freedom to ask questions like this. What are you thinking?

htdrox0795

you and football girl are a couple of knuckleheads.....why would u ask something so stupid?

xuserx2000

you always have a choice...it's called free will.

Richard P

I had a choice even back in 1970 when there was a draft. I could have chose to flee to Canada, commit a felony and be sent to prison, lie and tell them that I was gay, or several other ways to avoid the draft and shirk my service. But instead I chose to enlist and serve my country when it called. I ended up serving in-country in Viet Nam and came home to many who directly insulted many of us veterans calling us "baby killers" or the like. Those who have served in the military do not join to kill but to help our country stay strong and, hopefully, avoid wars. Unfortunately, mankind can not avoid them. Now my one son and my daughter are serving in the Army. She has been in Iraq twice and my son is in Airborne training ultimately headed for Afghanistan. They have chosen to put themselves in harm's way to help bring the fight to the terrorists to try and keep them from our shores. I dearly did not want them to go but they made up their own mind and I love them and will be supporting their choice 100%. I can only pray that God will protect them in their endeavors and they will return home safe and sound. They had the choice to not enlist. She has her BA and is studying for her Masters. He could have chosen to go to college as he had earned three scholastic scholarships. For their own deep reasons, they chose to go. I was faced with the draft, they were not. They chose one of the branches that could put them into more dangerous situations. They are both highly intelligent so they knew what they were facing. With the all volunteer military of today and the current world situation, no one could possibly be unaware of the possibility of them being deployed into dangerous areas. To say that anyone could not be aware of that does a disservice to the great men and women serving our country. And to not thank them for keeping our country safe........ well I will leave that to everyone to ponder. I will love my children and definitely let them know of my thanks to them and every soldier, sailor, Marine, airman, and Coastie anytime I have the opportunity.

hemi

UUhh..because it is a 100% VOLUNTEER force...all freely and willingly signed up...there is always a chioce.......one must be willing to accept the consequences of their choice..but there is a choice for EVERYONE in ANY SITUATION...

Neutral Party

^^^no one knows they are going to war unless the sign up for a combat job after the war is already underway.

Football girl

get a grip, folks. I don't think she was trying to attack Vets. Its just a question.

(no reason to call her names and accuse her of stuff. Wow how immature)

It is interesting you ask, because I asked myself what I was being thanked for when I got out, too. I was a in the US Army 72L (secretary). I didn't go anywhere, but people see the uniform and are like "Thank you". I'm like...ok? your welcome?

I would have gone and did my duty without complaint, but am not ashamed to admit I was perfectly happy to support the American cause from right here in the States.

Got no interest in shooting anyone. I wanted to travel and get college, housing, and medical benefits.

I guess my point is not every person wearing the uniform did something to thank them for. I'm a paper shuffler, thats all. But it still supports the troops in its way.

People thank them for fighting for our freedom and taking the risk when they didn't have to sign up for combat arms in the first place. And yes there are A LOT of support personnel that will never see the front lines (like me). Civilians do tend to assume that every soldier is Rambo and shoots things up. Thats not true. Doesn't make it less glorious, everyone had their role.

Stop the hate, folks.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: