Thought I would pass this on for discussion. I just a mother say, on the radio, "My son joined the Marines to get an education, not to fight" I seem to be missing something in this kind of attitude.
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02-16-03, 06:31 PM
moe257
I heard that one along with a couple of other winning statements from families of servicemen. Guess they didn't realize it's not boarding school. My son recently told me that when he first joined six years ago, he knew what he was getting into and accepted it. It also accepts the fact that he is an "acceptable target". I don't LIKE it, but it's a fact I accept.

02-16-03, 07:21 PM
honilov
Carr, a lot of young men/women joined the Services for reasons like that. When they graduated from high school, their parents and teachers would tell them that if they didn't go to college, to join the Army or something, but don't just 'do nothing'. These are intelligent, smart young men that don't want to engage in combat. You can see the expressions on their faces when they talk about it. The people that love to fight are still here, like the thugs and gangbangers, that's shooting and killing everyday.

02-17-03, 04:37 AM
moe257
Honiv – There may be a few people who join the service that like to fight, but most do join for reasons you stated. The point here is that you can’t change the structure of the military to accommodate people who don’t understand its' purpose If anyone is so naive when they enlist, maybe they shouldn’t enlist. There’s a commitment agreement behind all that free education. You can’t just change your mind when class is over Today’s military consist of a lot more that “fighters” and many positions require extensive training they’re not thugs and gangbangers.
We can't divide and say "OK they guys who will fight for us stand here, all the rest move on to your classes"

02-17-03, 07:15 AM
Yankees15
The ultimate purpose of a military is to kill people and destroy things.

The GI bill for education is a wonderful thing, but one must be prepared to engage in combat when one joins the military. That is what the military is for.

If a person is only out for a free education, they should apply for grants and scholarships, not join the military and then expect to never be called to arms.

02-17-03, 08:12 AM
steve
The G.I. Bill was enacted as a compensation for those men and women who sacrificed their normal college years for duty in service to our country. Why anyone would think otherwise is a matter of ignorance. I ALWAYS thought that service in the military was personal sacrifice (once mandated sacrifice through the Selected Service) for the defence of this country.

02-17-03, 08:53 AM
sonnet26
I agree...statements such as those show how ignorant (or mentally lazy) some of our citizens are. Nothing is free.

I thought the ultimate purpose of our military was to protect and defend our country. That they are called upon, at times, to kill and destroy is only secondary. While I abhor violence of any kind - physical or verbal - I understand that there are times when force is the only option. Thank God those times are few and far between.

02-17-03, 10:14 AM
Prothero
I believe one clue might be in the mother's statement - Her son joined the Marines to get an education?
If that was all he was after, the obvious choices would have been Navy, or Air Force, possibly the reserves or guards. Whoever her son is, I believe she is in denial of "his" goal in serving his country. Either that or her son is been so protected through his life that he didn't have sense enough to grasp the differences of each branch.
Having dealt with many young men, and women, who want to enlist, few have done so simply for the education, while only one could have been said to be joining for the opportunity to kill (he did not make it through basic training.)

I admire that those who join are usually doing it from a desire to serve something beyond their own needs ~ a need to apply themselves to the service and hopefully, good of society. If politicians abuse this trust, that is unfortunate.
There are even a number of enlistees who are tired of the pampering of such mothers, fathers or others. The military services are freedom from self indulgence and a chance to learn the value of effort.

If we could all, each day, ask ourselves what we have given, versus what we take, would we find our balance sheet favoring anything beyond self? The average soldier, sailor or airman, whatever their motivation, knows they have given more.
I can also appreciate the individual who dares to ask themselves what they would kill for, and what they would die for ~ not because they will do either, but because it is a reality within us all and they are willing to understand it.

02-17-03, 10:38 AM
dogspit
Just sounds like a concerned mother
who is adjusting to the thought that
her child is going to war. There are
many reasons to join the service, the
branches recruit and advertise the
educations as a prime reason, but all
who join are aware they are soldiers.
I can harbor no ill-feelings to an
emotional parent who speaks out about
that in such a way, she is scared, as
well she should be.

02-17-03, 05:02 PM
moe257
OK dogspit I can understand this mother may have spoken our of disbelief and emotion. But what about the couple who is going to challange to government in court regarding the war in Iraq being illegal? I heard it on the news but I can't find a link for it. I sure feel sorry for their son. I really think a lot of parents today think the military is a paid boarding school.

02-17-03, 05:39 PM
honilov
Actually this is just life. It's really sad to join just for the education, but have you seen anything lately that was fair? I wouldn't agree to join just for training, but it's being done.

Why do you think so many men are getting married, just before they are shipped out? It's for security back home. Either way you go, it's all about surviving.

02-17-03, 06:38 PM
samantha
I agree the main purpose of the military is for protection of our country. There is something I would like to see if anyone else knows. Years ago when my dad was in the navy he said you were not allowed to "quit" the military and if you left it then they hunted you down for desertion..now, he knows several who have joined and decided that this isnt what they want to do and get out. Have they relaxed the laws on the military so much? I also know that its harder to join than it used to be. Thanks

02-17-03, 06:58 PM
moe257
They do currently have an entry level seperation during the first 180 days for people who can not "adjust socially or emotionally to military life or cannot meet the minimum standards of your training program" I don't think it's something you can "apply" for. I think that's something they always had, but it's probably used more often currently. After that time limit, you pretty much have to finish your enlistment.

02-17-03, 07:02 PM
honilov
Sam, almost everything these days are just like a rubber band, there's always room to stretch. It wouldn't surprise me if the rules has been bent or stretched.

02-17-03, 07:29 PM
samantha
that could be. I didnt know that Moe thanks for telling me.

[This message was edited by samantha on 02-17-03 at 07:39 PM.]

02-17-03, 08:49 PM
SeattleRon
i tried to join the military also because of the GI Bill. I don't wanna kill nobody, but I accepted the fact that I would be putting my life on the line. If I had to Whack somebody then its a part of my job.

02-18-03, 02:49 PM
Koz
Another mother's view

"For all of those that have son's or daughter's at bootcamp let me pass on what I found. Let me give you a little back ground first. When my son left home he had no motivation, he was lazy, slobby, no pride, no self worth. This is the boy that got off the bus March 18th at Parris Island. The man that I met on Thursday for parents day is AWESOME. There is no way I can describe to you all the difference. He looks different, he walks different, he talks different, he has such a sense of bearing and pride all I could do was look at him in awe. Oh yes, the training is hard, what he went through is unimaginable to any one that has not been there. They are definitely taught to be Warriors. Let me tell you the surprise of what else they are taught. My Marine son has better values, better morals, better manners than any one I know. It is so much more than Yes Sir, Yes Mam...so much more. He cares about how he looks, he cares about what he does, and its not a boastful, bad ass thing. He is a true gentleman. I saw patience, and a calmness in him that I have never seen. I could never express my gratitude enough to the Marine Corps for what they have given my son. I know this, I have an 11 year old Devil pup still at home. When the time comes for his turn if I had to I would take him kicking and screaming all the way. Although I'm sure that will not happen. The hero worship I see in my younger sons eyes for his Marine brother tells me I will have two Marines in the family, and I will be one very proud mother."
"Cybil", Mother of a Marine writing to the myMarine Group

02-18-03, 07:54 PM
moe257
Koz that's great to hear. A lot a parents have said the service did a lot for their sons. My son's been in the Air Force for 6 year, Whenever he gets home, it takes a10 minutes for his room to look like he never left. But all kidding aside, the education he got was beyond anything I could ever dream about paying for. The self dicipline he aquired is great (except cleaning his room)

02-19-03, 05:40 AM
SeattleRon
hey Koz, no offense, but your a woman?

02-19-03, 07:32 AM
Koz
Oh SeattleRon Roll Eyes, if you noticed the quotation marks you would have seen I was quoting someone. If you made it all the way to the end of my post (I know it was a little long, hard to pay attention Roll Eyes ) you would have seen who I quoted.

No offence taken Razz Big Grin

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,