Enlistment
The "Letter from Fort Benning" post and discussion thread has got me thinking again about the issue of national service, in particular military service.
So let me ask our readership this two-part question: under what conditions (and be specific) would you enlist in the United States military; and into which branch of service? Just my curiosity more than anything else.
posted by Joshua @ 3:33 PM
5 Comments:
I think it'd be kinda fun to join the marines. Although I'd have to be ya know....healthy.
As for why I'd join..maybe if we had to go to war with France.
Funnily enough, I'd actually be most motivated be enlist should a war start with China, because I feel that I would contribute the most to the war effort in that situation. Otherwise, I'd totally sign up for the Marines should Osama reorganize Al Qaeda and rename it COBRA, although with their Islamist anti-hottie agenda, there would pretty much be zero chance of having the Baroness as my personal nemesis but with tense romantic undercurrents to our rivalry.
President, no, but we do elect movie stars and musicians to be Governer or Senator just because someone thinks it'd be badass to vote for The Terminator. Ideally I think the Defense Secretary should have some sort of military service. Then again, I also think the Secretary of State should have a good knowledge of foreign customs and foreign languages, and that the UN Ambassador shouldn't hate everything the UN stands for. So clearly I'm a little crazy. (Not that Condoleeza isn't qualified to be SoS, but I'm sure there are many in the State department who couldn't pick out Sudan on the map if asked).
I agree with Prometheus that I'd join the military in some capacity if the US was directly threatened with invasion or attack by another country (Not the vague threats and occasional bombings by Al-Qaida, which may or may not be hindered by our current strategy). Due to my personal issues with many elements of the military and of war, if we were under attack I think I'd rather train for an EMT-type position, or volunteer at hospitals, or do something to help organize the flood of wounded and dying rather than being at the forefront of the killing itself. Yes, I realize how much of a hippie I sound like there.
Been there, done that, as you know. Served in the Marines, four years active duty and one year reserves.
The motivation was a general sense of service to the country (that was the last years of the Cold War and the Soviets were still the enemy) and a specific sense of adventure wanting to do something unique among my peers.
I guess I'm jump on the "Credible Threat" bandwagon... or maybe if I got bored enough. Or went bakrupt.
I'd want to join the Air Force. I know the Navy has pilots, too... but the Air Force seems to me a little more techie than the other branches—at least to my admittedly limited understanding of them.
I think flying a fighter jet would be quite the thrill. I love going fast. X-D
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