Question from a military spouse

My wife just asked me an interesting question, I know the answer inside, but I can't express it in words and would like some opinions from all of you out there.

You have two men, one is passionate about joining the military and then you have another that is just as passionate about not joining the military. In your opinion what is the difference of this two men? Is it something inside? Is it something in the personality?

What is it that made you join is guess is the basic question?

Some people are very nationalist and cannot stand by and watch while others are almost the opposite if it means risking themselves they head for the hills. I guess its like marriage some will jump right into it others have cold feet or would never do it. I guess it comes down to the person and how they feel about things.

Most of them is because their relative are in the military...

FOr me my Dad was infantry. I joined in 89 when there was no jobs and for the lack of knowing anything else. I could have tried university, but I wanted to be electrical ingeneer. Not an easy one to get. I am presently Avionics Technician. I teach avionics for 404 Squadron, for the Aurora aircraft. I am taking university to obtain my technologiste, and to Persue RF engineer.

Now there is a question........hmmmm

I know why I joined. Mainly a deep sense of wanting to serve and support the country that allows me so many things in so many ways. Patriotism by any other name I guess. A feeling of owing something back?

By the same token that does not mean that the guy who does not want to serve does not appreciate those same gifts or is any less patriotic.

Like you ArmyMan, I know in my gut why I joined but to explain it is damned near impossible.

Maybe if we can get some posts from folks who have never felt the urge, to explain why, we can come up with an answer.

Those that join belive that they can make a differance in the lives they come in contact with and that their sacrifce of time will mean something.

Those that don't join do not believe that this line of profession as noble or worth the effort. ( this is a guess not someting I would know as fact but I think is a reasonable assumption)

WOW!!

Well, I left this alone for a day or so to see if anything happened to it. I'm guess all the "armchair generals" out there didn't read this. It would be nice to see what they have to say about it all, seeing that they appear not to be willing to comment why they don't defend our way of life.

It seems to me that alot of the comments on this forum that are against the troops being overseas are made by folks that are not in the military, they haven't had to stare down the sights of a rifle at a fellow human, one that might be wanting to shoot you. They beak off about that we should be there, but they still love to live in a country where you can walk down the street without getting your ass shot off, where you have the right to worship whom you want, women are not second or third class people.

I'm reminded of the book, "Starship Troopers". The book, not the movie. In the book, only people that have been in the military are allowed to be called citizens and are able to vote. Maybe we should have started that here.

I'm sure I've rattle some cages, but so be it.

All I can say is that we who were in and or are in our nations military fight our countries battles. To me that shows a far greater dedication to our contries ideals then those who sit back and protest and run theirs mouths and then wonder why they are looked down upon. Yet still I joined to insure that they would continue to have that right.
PDT_Armataz_01_34

At no point did I say that you had to join the military. The military is definitely not for everyone, for various reasons. Maybe I didn't make myself clear....but when it comes to the military, it is alot like politics. If you decide not to vote in an election, then you forfeit your right to complain down the road about any issue. With the military, unless you are in the military, you have no business commenting on what we do and don't do. You have no idea what it is like to be a part of the military, the stresses, the pressure, the willingness to die for your country. I am not saying that those in the military are better than anyone else, I am just saying, it is a different way of life and unless you have a direct link to the military, whether it be through a family member who has served or is serving, you can't possibly form an opinion on it.
I respect the fact that everyone has the right to an opinion. Just remember, it was due in large part to our Canadian military that you have that right today. Many people (civis') have no need for the military, except for when something tragic happens on our soil, then you are quick to call upon the military for aid. As much as that pisses off many in the military, we do our job because we took an oath.
When I made the comment about "armchair generals", I think you understood my meaning. There are those of you who, for whatever reason, didn't join the military, but feel you have the right to sit back and pass judgement on those who did/do serve. I don't pass judgement on those of you who don't serve, do us the same courtesy and lets us do our job!

Honestly, I was not so passionate about joining the military. That's 24 years ago. Wow.

Anyhow, joining the military is like getting married...more so because you can get out of a marriage but you are not getting out of the military!

As I was saying, it is like getting married.

The first day you get married is the day you and your spouse will love each other the least. The next day you love each other more, and then so on and so on.

The Corps means much more to me today than it did when I joined. I'd go back if I had to but I'm also happy to be inactive again.

Yes, people can be passionate about joining and then others can be equally passionate about not joining.

Their reasons will vary.

For those whose religious beliefs or deeply held and thoughtful personal convictions bar them from military service I have nothing but respect for them. Those are the people that the military fights to protect. Still, they can serve as medics (and many do) and still serve their country while not bearing arms. There's no shortage of conscientious objectors who've served as medics who then later requested to be moved to a combat unit after they've seen the enemy.

The majority of conscientious objectors who served as medics in the Pacific War were moved to combat by war's end after witnessing the barbaric behavior of the Japanese on the battlefield. The Japanese routinely murdered medics and the Pacific War became the first war where medics were armed despite the Geneva Convention...mostly because the Japanese had nothing but contempt for the Geneva Convention.

To their credit, the Germans respected the Red Cross when they saw it and German medics were known to work side-by-side with Allied medics to tend to the wounded. Consequently, it was easier to be a CO in Europe than it was in Asia.

For those who simply hate their respective country and think that their military protects a way of life that is illegitimate I have nothing but contempt. If you hate your country so much that you would see your countrymen die and then think that it is a good thing then leave.

Then there are the cowards who hide behind religious belief or anti-(insert name of country here) to excuse themselves from doing their duty, being a man, or whatever ele you may wish to consider acts of national service.

The cowards are their own worst enemies and nothing I can say or do will make their life worse than it already is. They are the ones who look at themselves in the mirror.