"What do you want to do when you leave school?" and people's reactions to my answer.

[Timmey]

its also not really a permanent career path

What ? people serve in the army their whole lives, how is it not a permanent career path ?

 

[nico74]

The recruiters around my high school are freaking awesome. To me it is just as viable an option as a university. In fact I wish I could join the military but I can't do to a heart condition I have.

 

[tomtom94]

Hatred against the army's been galvanised over a number of years. Wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. didn't help.

Personally, I say that we should hate the wars but not the people who fight them. If that's what you honestly want to do, then good luck.

 

[Vault101]

its also not really a permanent career path
the vast majority don't stay in the army very long
decade max maybe i dunno for sure
then you'll end up back where you started
if not worse

I don't know anything about the army but I'm pretty sure there's more to it that just "solders" like higher ranking positions that don't fight and other stuff,

 

[Vault101]

can anyone tell me what army is REALLY like? for some reason it facinates me, mabye too many games...

 

[Death God]

I don't hate the army and those who join it. I merely hate their methods of choice when dealing with issues. I hate how it is always "killed or be killed" rather than negotiations and spies. I guess I like the more peaceful thought of war than gruesome violence and severe mis-treatment of soldiers nowadays. But for me, I heading into teaching. If you think about it, there are always 5 major things a country needs whether or not it's economical status is going well or poor. Doctors, soldiers, government, farming, and teaching. I hate politics, not much of a hard worker and I get sick at the sight of blood. And I do enjoy teaching others anyways.

 

[BabyRaptor]

I just got out of the (US) Army last May. I don't know how different it is from your country's military, but I can honestly say I didn't spend TOO much time getting shot at, my 2 tours be damned.

I was a paper pusher, however. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Nope, a lot of people just generally dislike the army.

On top of this, a lot of teenagers (around yours, and my, age) like to think that they advocate peace because they're hipster chumps.
Therefore they hate all things army, unfortunately.

Just try to ignore the people who laugh at you for it, it's your choice; not there's.

 

[WolfThomas]

Well for 1 thing there are no current wars (well ones that desparately need soldiers anyway) and being a soldier is almost guaranteed to get you killed or seriously injured. It's seen as a job for the 'lesser' of society I guess.

Almost guaranteed? Yes soldiers have been killed and injured, but it's a fraction of the army not any kind of majority. The fact that there's no "major" war going on could be considered a positve, all the people serving are professional soldiers who are there because they're because they committed to being soldiers not just fighting the good fight.

 

[Nouw]

Well for 1 thing there are no current wars (well ones that desparately need soldiers anyway) and being a soldier is almost guaranteed to get you killed or seriously injured. It's seen as a job for the 'lesser' of society I guess.

Almost guaranteed? Yes soldiers have been killed and injured, but it's a fraction of the army not any kind of majority. The fact that there's no "major" war going on could be considered a positve, all the people serving are professional soldiers who are there because they're because they committed to being soldiers not just fighting the good fight.

Sorry, I got a bit carried away with showing the stereotype >.>

My actual opinion is that it's fine but just trying to act like an ignorant twat in that post <.<

 

[JazzyChazzy]

Being just shy of 16, this question crops up a lot from other teenagers, comparing notes on future plans, and adults, curious to see the direction I want to go.

However, when I answer this question truthfully, people react in a variety of odd ways. I plan on applying to Officer Selection for the Sandhurst Military Academy, as I want to join the Royal Regiment of Scotland, 3rd Battalion (my local chunk of the Infantry). Upon hearing this, despite knowing my character (while nerd-like, if I didn't play computer games I'd be about as stereotypical as British officers get in Scotland), people are invariably shocked, or at least surprised.

My friends tend to laugh it off a bit, my teachers seem too polite to say, "No, you're stupid, go write books." and other people in my age group either condemn me as some kind of murdering murderer, suicidal, or just wrong somewhere because I have no interest in studying a pointless degree at a university, before going into a depressing office job.

Why on Earth does this happen? Do people just hate the army now? Or do I look and sound different from how I thought I looked and sounded for the past 16 years?

I can sort of get behind the idea that I look kinda lanky, and my friends know I'm lazy, but in the cases for people who literally have no way of gauging whether or not I could successfully command men on a battlefield, or perform duty under extreme pressure, they still seem to think that either I'm wrong somewhere in the brain, or I'm just trying to sound heroic and impressive.

Any other hopeful recruits find this? Is it just a UK thing? The war has little support here, I know, but I'm unsure of things in places like the US.

Well I've talked with a few guys who wanted to go into the army and one guy he just said is there anything worth while doing im just a bit of flesh and bone, we live in the poorer area of where we live so fudge sticks and all that.
It's better than having no clue im just going through college hoping someone will tell me what im going to be , but i've never heard of people going into the army just to kill, it's a huge decision theres an academy in england where you spend like two years before your even considered to be allowed to look at a damn gun. some people believe in being noble some people believe in god eh.

 

[Timmey]

its also not really a permanent career path

What ? people serve in the army their whole lives, how is it not a permanent career path ?

basically most end up back in civy street around 40ish because they either can't perform as required in the field due to age or injury and can't advance up and out of the field.

their whole lives ? show me a platoon of 50 year olds.
you see marching Infantry and you'll only see young men.
there is a reason for that.
navy and air force is slightly less so.

I am not saying everyone does, but many officers choose it as a permanent career path and you merely have to look up the ranks in the army to see the higher you get the older, it is a valid permanent career. Still I am not arguing with you many of them do indeed leave the army after 10 or so years.

 

[Vryyk]

-snip-

I think that's a damn good idea. Military training puts you in a good spot (college benefits and the like) as well as teaches you stuff like discipline. Throw that on top of the fact that you are protecting the way of life of your friends and family and I think it's a pretty smart move. Good luck man.

 

[Bernzz]

I see your choice as an honourable one, and I commend you for having the courage and resolve to have decided to undertake it when many, me included, have not.