Current Events > Anyone surprised that military enlistment is down big time?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm surprised fewer people are joining than ever before

I don't see why. It provides a stable career with great pay and full benefits. Not to mention, if you stay 20 years you get health insurance for life.

Why say no? Especially if you're poor

You gotta go back to your connections gimmick, I think the current gimmick has run its course and you should bring back the classics.

Not surpising at all.

A lot more people are realizing that joining the military means fighting for the interests of the rich and a system that doesn't give a fuck about them at all.

Instead of asking people on CE what they think of the military, go ask a homeless veteran.

Not at all

You go right on ahead, TC. Let us know how fulfilling it is when the next forever war inevitably rolls around.

Agent_Stroud posted...

You go right on ahead, TC. Let us know how fulfilling it is when the next forever war inevitably rolls around.

I'm too old to join the military at this point and I have 2 kids so it's definitely not possible for me

i hope its because the younger generation isnt willing to compromise their integrity by being grease in the fascist machine's cogs

ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

I'm too old to join the military at this point and I have 2 kids so it's definitely not possible for me

In this post: Literally the final paragraph of 'A Modest Proposal.'

I mean seeing how shitty the VA is and the way the government seems to treat retired military personnel in general, no I'm not surprised

Someone made a topic asking people if they'd join the military, everyone and their mother who came out of the woodwork had some sort of excuse.

Many these days aren't even physically eligible.

ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

I'm too old to join the military at this point and I have 2 kids so it's definitely not possible for me

I get the age but what does having 2 kids figure into this?

what the hell lmaaaaaaao

dameon_reaper posted...

I get the age but what does having 2 kids figure into this?

You seriously think my wife will be ok with taking care of the kids alone while I'm away on deployment for long periods of time?

Im not surprised in the slightest because the military and its 20+ year war is literally the reason why our entire generation gets $20k/year and a house is $700,000. Why would I want to join Shin-Ra?

This country has been fucking it's veterans over since WW1. Why would anyone enlist that absolutely doesn't have to?

Do you want to bleed to death in a squalid middle Eastern slum in a pointless war that will be forgotten 2 years later?

Do you like the needless (and likely illegal) invasion of impoverished countries defended by blokes with sticks because they refuse to trade in USD?

Do you want to return completely haunted by the trauma of the horrific, unnatural things you've seen and been forced to do, unable to get a job and end up homeless?

If the answer is YES, then join the military today, soldier!

ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

You seriously think my wife will be ok with taking care of the kids alone while I'm away on deployment for long periods of time?

Why use that as an excuse? Join the military. There's benefits.

Yeah why use your happy and stable family life as an excuse not to go and kill people for money!? You freak!!!

No, less people are falling for their propaganda.

a-c-a-b posted...

Not surpising at all.

A lot more people are realizing that joining the military means fighting for the interests of the rich and a system that doesn't give a fuck about them at all.

Not really. Most people in the military dont have anything to do with that. We just do a job. You have services who cooks to cleans working at the Dining Facility, Gym, or Hotel. You have personnel, who just work or all kinds of files for the people on base. Theres finance who supposedly works on your pay and stuff. And medical, whos works at the hospital. Its just like normal jobs, but you customers are mostly enlisted, and some officers

WilliamPorygon posted...

I mean seeing how shitty the VA is and the way the government seems to treat retired military personnel in general, no I'm not surprised

Its not the VA as a whole. Its certain people working for them. Most of them are pretty good, though

ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

You seriously think my wife will be ok with taking care of the kids alone while I'm away on deployment for long periods of time?

Depending on what branch you join, basic is only a couple of months. And depending on other factors, you might not have to go on deployment. Ive been in for coming up to 14 years soon. Never went in a deployment. Ive done TDYs, but by choice And even if you had to, many bases offer help to spouses with children Especially if you live on base

kurdt032 posted...

Do you want to bleed to death in a squalid middle Eastern slum in a pointless war that will be forgotten 2 years later?

Do you like the needless (and likely illegal) invasion of impoverished countries defended by blokes with sticks because they refuse to trade in USD?

Do you want to return completely haunted by the trauma of the horrific, unnatural things you've seen and been forced to do, unable to get a job and end up homeless?

If the answer is YES, then join the military today, soldier!

Thats stuff above only fits a very small amount of people in the military. Most do average everyday jobs

kurdt032 posted...

Yeah why use your happy and stable family life as an excuse not to go and kill people for money!? You freak!!!

Again, not a thing that happens to a majority of the people in. Its weird people think this is how all of the military is

ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

Especially if you're poor

Oh you're that clown that trolls about poor people all the time. Let me tag you on this alt too so I know never to take you seriously

I cannot imagine US forces having any expeditions for the foreseeable future

I think right now would be the best time to sign up all things considered

maybe people don't want to die?

LinkPizza posted...

Thats stuff above only fits a very small amount of people in the military. Most do average everyday jobs

Of course it's only a small number when there isn't a major war going on. But then there IS a major war going on, most men are going to be fighting in that.

I did my time, deployed, reaped the benefits. Def worth

LinkPizza posted...

Not really. Most people in the military dont have anything to do with that. We just do a job. You have services who cooks to cleans working at the Dining Facility, Gym, or Hotel. You have personnel, who just work or all kinds of files for the people on base. Theres finance who supposedly works on your pay and stuff. And medical, whos works at the hospital. Its just like normal jobs, but you customers are mostly enlisted, and some officers

I mean, all those jobs have something to do with that

there's issues with housing pay not meeting inflation, from even before the recent greedy corporation inflation jump. people who are forced to live in a certain area are either spending a lot more on housing or having to live in not so desirable areas, since they must live within a reasonable distance to the base they're assigned to
the high up leadership keeps dumping on lower enlisted. so as people leave, instead of asking why people are leaving, they just burden those that are still there with the work of the people that left, which leads more people to leave
people only enter to use it as a stepping stone. imagine going into a job that teaches you, pays for your certificates and clearances, then after 4 years you can jump to a contractor company and make 3-4 times as much money with way less responsibility. why would you stick with $40K and tons of bullshit when you can make $100K to just do your regular job and that's it?

Why are some of y'all acting as if every occupation in the military is combat based.

I'm not really surprised at this point. It's been down for years, and trust in the government is lower than ever.

emblem-man posted...

Why are some of y'all acting as if every occupation in the military is combat based.

Usually when I hear the word "occupy" I assume that means forcibly taking land. Did the US occupy Alaska? No, that doesn't sound right. Did Nazi Germany occupy Poland? Yes.

Chunky posted...

Usually when I hear the word "occupy" I assume that means forcibly taking land. Did the US occupy Alaska? No, that doesn't sound right. Did Nazi Germany occupy Poland? Yes.

..I mean occupation as in, job.

emblem-man posted...

..I mean occupation as in, job.

Ah, I'm a dumbass lol.

Chunky posted...

Of course it's only a small number when there isn't a major war going on. But then there IS a major war going on, most men are going to be fighting in that.

Not necessarily. Not these days, anyway. Most of the military still wont fight. Most will continue to do the job they have. They have probably learned by now not everyone is a fighter. Most maintainers are going to continue fixing aircraft. Most medical workers are going to continue working in the hospital. Same with all job. Most members are going to keep doing their jobs. The one trained to fight will fight. And then may get a few volunteers from other jobs. But most will stay in their job. Once they start taking people who dont know how to fight or shoot a gun, weve already lost

TheGoldenEel posted...

I mean, all those jobs have something to do with that

If you want to go that route, then a lot of non-military jobs have something to do with it to. Like the places where we get equipment from, the places we get our food from, etc

emblem-man posted...

Why are some of y'all acting as if every occupation in the military is combat based.

Because most people get their information from the media. They just believe what tv shows and movies show them Tbh, the tv show I remember that probably resembled the actual military closest was enlisted (which was just a bunch of enlisted members goofing off around, IIRC). And I think that one even had some problems

i don't join the military because i'm 30, and i have too much structure in my life. work, school, apartment, pets. it would be too inconvenient to stop everything for that. plus i would never make it out of basic training. so basically, im lazy but whatcha gonna do?

LinkPizza posted...

Not necessarily. Not these days, anyway. Most of the military still wont fight. Most will continue to do the job they have. They have probably learned by now not everyone is a fighter. Most maintainers are going to continue fixing places. Most medical workers are going to continue working in the hospital. Same with all job. Most members are going to keep doing their jobs. The one trained to fight will fight. And then may get a few volunteers from other jobs. But most will stay in their job. Once they start taking people who dont know how to fight or shoot a gun, weve already lost

Hypothetically if you were put in combat, would you do it? I personally wouldn't join because Im a coward, I don't like feeling physical pain and I don't want to be shot in combat (even if the chances of being in combat are low). I also don't feel loyalty to my country. I like it here, but I don't see myself wanting to defend it. Yeah I know that's shitty.

We just need to build robots to fight the wars for us.

pojr posted...

i don't join the military because i'm 30, and i have too much structure in my life. work, school, apartment, pets. it would be too inconvenient to stop everything for that. plus i would never make it out of basic training. so basically, im lazy but whatcha gonna do?

i mean, the age dont matter. We had a 30 year old in ours. Theres like a 50 year old that just went through too. Its honestly not hard at all looking back. The hard one might be marines boot. Navy, Air Force is cake, army wasnt bad either.

Chunky posted...

Hypothetically if you were put in combat, would you do it? I personally wouldn't join because Im a coward, I don't like feeling physical pain and I don't want to be shot in combat (even if the chances of being in combat are low). I also don't feel loyalty to my country. I like it here, but I don't see myself wanting to defend it. Yeah I know that's shitty.

Only if I had to. I wouldnt be good at it, though. Meaning that I probably wouldnt pass the test at the range to qualify to go. I did well in basic. But I havent used a gun, or anything similar, since And tbf, not many people like pain. None of them want to be shot. And depending on your job, youll probably be as likely to get shot as you would other places. Probably less likely, if were being honest. People who work at gas stations, and other civilian places have a better chance at getting shot. Weapons on base arent always super plentiful And honestly, were not really defending it. Were mostly just helping each other when it comes to people on base

a-c-a-b posted...

Not surpising at all.

A lot more people are realizing that joining the military means fighting for the interests of the rich and a system that doesn't give a fuck about them at all.

Instead of asking people on CE what they think of the military, go ask a homeless veteran.

homeless veterans say they would go back in if they could

ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

You seriously think my wife will be ok with taking care of the kids alone while I'm away on deployment for long periods of time?

Many of them do

Not the least bit surprised. The scandals showed just how toxic military culture is.

Godnorgosh posted...

I'm sure they do... because that would mean having shelter. But do they feel they got back from the system what they put into it?

Depends on what they put into it, I would think

I guess people don't want to further American imperialism.

Chunky posted...

Usually when I hear the word "occupy" I assume that means forcibly taking land. Did the US occupy Alaska?

Yes.

LinkPizza posted...

Only if I had to. I wouldnt be good at it, though. Meaning that I probably wouldnt pass the test at the range to qualify to go. I did well in basic. But I havent used a gun, or anything similar, since And tbf, not many people like pain. None of them want to be shot. And depending on your job, youll probably be as likely to get shot as you would other places. Probably less likely, if were being honest. People who work at gas stations, and other civilian places have a better chance at getting shot. Weapons on base arent always super plentiful And honestly, were not really defending it. Were mostly just helping each other when it comes to people on base

Fair. I like this response. If I ever did join the military, I would be looking at it for my own benefit, or the benefit of the people I directly interact with, not because I "love" this country. I'm not saying I hate this country either, for the most part I like it here, I'm not just super dedicated to it tbh.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Typical mindset of someone who loves something they do. "I love this particular activity, therefore everyone in the world should do it, and if someone doesn't want to do it, they MUST come up with what I think is a damn good reason for it".

SoTrue posted...

Yes.

I dunno about that lol.

I'm surprised anyone is joining at all.

The US government bled nations of their resources, passed up multiple opportunities at victory, and surrendered after two decades of fighting. Now, I have nothing but respect for men and women who put their lives on the line for what they earnestly believe is a good cause. But nobody should go out and die so that war profiteers can keep the money train running.