War....

[DancingBear]

I'm curious why you felt you "had" to take that risk.

She didn't say she "had" to, she said she chose to. There are lots of jobs that involve risk--policemen, truck driver, coal miner, graveyard shift worker at a gas station.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

The empathy of some people amazes me.


And in order not to get points, I shall leave it at that.

 

[shrubber]

My cousins wife went to basic for the Air Force and it was BRUTAL!

...In the Marine Corps, they teach new recruits their battle cry: OOO-RAH!

In the Air Force, they too teach their battle cry: FORE!

 

[DizBelle]

She didn't say she "had" to, she said she chose to. There are lots of jobs that involve risk--policemen, truck driver, coal miner, graveyard shift worker at a gas station.

"had to take that risk" is directly from her post.

 

[Ponygirl]

Our military has a lot of underprivileged young adults who have neither the educational background or opportunity to pursue a higher education. Recruiters come to public high schools to sign up kids. The recruitment sales pitch does not always come with a warning of the horrors of war and how killing people during wartime can come back to haunt one forever.

Serving our country is a mostly thankless job and the sacrifices, not only for the servicemember but also their family, are tremendous.

 

[DizBelle]

Our military has a lot of underprivileged young adults who have neither the educational background or opportunity to pursue a higher education. Recruiters come to public high schools to sign up kids. The recruitment sales pitch does not always come with a warning of the horrors of war and how killing people during wartime can come back to haunt one forever.

Serving our country is a mostly thankless job and the sacrifices, not only for the servicemember but also their family, are tremendous.

Well, even though they won't hear me, I thank them. I AM grateful for these folks willing to do this job. I guess I just don't understand those that are not willing when they signed up for it. There is no draft, so they were not forced.

 

[Anjelica]

...In the Marine Corps, they teach new recruits their battle cry: OOO-RAH!

In the Air Force, they too teach their battle cry: FORE!

LOL - I was waiting for someone to say something similiar.....I think that when you graduate the Air Force don't get you get the preverbial "chair" (aka Chair Force)? To all those Air Force - sorry, couldn't resist.

My brother-in-law is Air Force and even he makes fun of his own branch, especially boot camp. My brother did Army boot camp - I believe Army boot camp is around 6 weeks longer than Air Force boot camp. I grew up as a Navy brat so I was ALWAYS around Marines and Navy and I know the Marine bootcamp is the hardest most brutual (in terms of intial bootcamps).

Sorry OP - I know its off topic but I found the above post quite funny....and for those that are in the Air Force please know I am only ribbing you - I have always respected those in the military and their sacrifices.

 

[Magic Mom]

The empathy of some people amazes me.


And in order not to get points, I shall leave it at that.

I'll be honest. I am very torn when it comes to having empathy for single parents who refuse to deploy. As a mom I understand, but my husband has deployed over and over and over. He doesn't get the option of crying "Oh, I don't want to leave my kids." He signed up, so he goes, period. No debate. Why should they be different? Do you think it's any less hard on him to leave his children? I guess it comes down to while I do have compassion and feel for the sacrifices they are making, I still think they are obligated to fulfill their commitment as every other Soldier, Sailor Airman and Marine are required.

 

[Anjelica]

I'll be honest. I am very torn when it comes to having empathy for single parents who refuse to deploy. As a mom I understand, but my husband has deployed over and over and over. He doesn't get the option of crying "Oh, I don't want to leave my kids." He signed up, so he goes, period. No debate. Why should they be different? Do you think it's any less hard on him to leave his children? I guess it comes down to while I do have compassion and feel for the sacrifices they are making, I still think they are obligated to fulfill their commitment as every other Soldier, Sailor Airman and Marine are required.

 

[DizBelle]

LOL - I was waiting for someone to say something similiar.....I think that when you graduate the Air Force don't get you get the preverbial "chair" (aka Chair Force)? To all those Air Force - sorry, couldn't resist.

My brother-in-law is Air Force and even he makes fun of his own branch, especially boot camp. My brother did Army boot camp - I believe Army boot camp is around 6 weeks longer than Air Force boot camp. I grew up as a Navy brat so I was ALWAYS around Marines and Navy and I know the Marine bootcamp is the hardest most brutual (in terms of intial bootcamps).

Sorry OP - I know its off topic but I found the above post quite funny....and for those that are in the Air Force please know I am only ribbing you - I have always respected those in the military and their sacrifices.

No apologies necessary. A little levity never hurt anyone.

 

[ginna74]

I'll be honest. I am very torn when it comes to having empathy for single parents who refuse to deploy. As a mom I understand, but my husband has deployed over and over and over. He doesn't get the option of crying "Oh, I don't want to leave my kids." He signed up, so he goes, period. No debate. Why should they be different? Do you think it's any less hard on him to leave his children? I guess it comes down to while I do have compassion and feel for the sacrifices they are making, I still think they are obligated to fulfill their commitment as every other Soldier, Sailor Airman and Marine are required.

I agree...

 

[Ponygirl]

I realize there will always be a few who do not feel they must honor their commitment, but is this a major issue?
If so, I was not aware. I come from a long line of suck it up and deploy type service members.

 

[eliza61]

Why do they lie? And why do people believe them?

Some lie for the same reason a used car salesman lies... Army, navy, butcher, baker, candlestick maker. These are regular people, folks. some are going to be unethical.

That reminds me of the Judy from "Private Benjamin" who was looking for the yachts at basic training.

That's was really fun.

As a whole, I think John Q. Public has a televison, sanitized version of any type of violence. I live in the inner city, my good friend is an ER nurse, she is amazed at the # of young kids who think getting shot won't hurt.

It's sort of like childbirth, you can get some one to try and explain it to you until they are blue in the face but until you actually go through it, no way do you have a real sense.

I do have a lot of empathy for anyone who has to deploy. single mom or not. All the men in my family served and it's a tough job with very little thanks. I don't know what would drive a single mom to join but the choices could not be easy.

 

[Stephanie218]

DD has a 16 y/o friend who wants to go to one of the military schools for college since tuition is free. Her father was military. Her canned statement is, "I'm not worried because officers rarely get sent to the front lines and I'll pretty much be able to pick my job." She is involved with JROTC and has visited a few military academies and this seems to be what they have led her to believe. Either she is interpreting their comments incorrectly or she is being mislead.

She's going to be pretty surprised the first time she gets her deployment orders, then! My husband's been home less than a year and heads back out early 2010 - and yes, he's an Officer. He also didn't get his top choices for MOS's either, and he was pretty close to the top of his class.

 

[natenapril]

Why do they lie? And why do people believe them?

Not all recruiters lie! Seems like that's a stereotype

 

[rparmfamily]

I've been around military familes and service members for the last 15 years. I've never heard anyone complain about actually being deployed to do their job or act surprised that they are deploying. In fact, the opposite. Most KNOW they will deploy at some time or another, and many accept that deployment as a necessary part of their job and know that their deployment means another service member gets to come home. It's all a trade off.

Where are you hearing these people complain? The news? I would never say that the media coverage of our military is ever accurate and this is one example.

 

[Rafiki31]

Stephanie, I love your wedding pic! Beautiful!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Are there many who don't really know what the military does?

A military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country (or by attacking other countries) by combating actual or perceived threats.

 

[DizBelle]

I've been around military familes and service members for the last 15 years. I've never heard anyone complain about actually being deployed to do their job or act surprised that they are deploying. In fact, the opposite. Most KNOW they will deploy at some time or another, and many accept that deployment as a necessary part of their job and know that their deployment means another service member gets to come home. It's all a trade off.

Where are you hearing these people complain? The news? I would never say that the media coverage of our military is ever accurate and this is one example.

I'm not going to say that all service members "complain" or are "surprised". Whether it's only one or all of them, I don't understand it and thought it worth discussion.

 

[princesspiglet]

My DH is active duty army- 19 years now. He signed up at the age of 18 and knew exactly what he was getting in to. He was also a recruiter for 18 months. He had to meet his quota of 3 recruits a month or he would "roll a doughnut" which means get a reprimand. It was "suggested" to him to not play up the possibility of going to war. To only emphasize the good parts, such as free college tuition, being able to see the world, etc. Thankfully he got out of that before 9/11.

He has been deployed many times over the course of his career. We usually "complain" when he gets his orders because it means our lives will be disrupted, but he and I both know it will happen and expect it to happen. He is happy to serve but does not look forward to leaving his family. He would never question his orders or question his committment. A True Soldier will always go where he is told to go without objection.