General

Curious as to why you're resorting to open responses for statistics.

Unless that's the goal, of course.

Depends on what they do, a couple of my friends joined the military because they weren't smart enough to go to college and wanted to do something right out of high school, but some people like war veterans and people who go to war that are serious about it I have respect for because they see all the shty people in our society and knowing what they're risking their lives for still choose to do it.

I think they're good people and they deserve recognition for doing something most people don't wanna do.

I hope you`re not actually collecting formal data through basilmarket - if you`re just collecting ideas / general thoughts of the matter, then yeah w/e.

I respect veterans.

[quote=dbenbaruk]Inttersting perspective that you've brought to the table.
In terms of your friend, I can't speak for the Navy, since I am Army, but usually across all military branches, many junior enlisted(younger guys lower ranks) tend to blow their paychecks on booze, girls, and at bars. I guess it's been instilled as tradition/lifestyle since the Military's inception during our revolutionary days. So I can't fight you there as I have friends that are the same way.

In terms of why firefighters and cops don't get the same respect. I think that falls under perspective, because if you ask any veteran, they respect the heck out of those guys, because they understand the daily struggles that that kind of job entails, meanwhile many civilians just look at it as , "One goes to war, while the other does not." So I presume the way the media portrays it changes things as well. Considering since Cops/ Firemen are in your daily lives, people tend to take them for granted, but since military personnel is not something you see daily unless you live by a base, most people automatically label Us the hero first.

And just to swing a little fun brotherly punch to your Navy friend. He's very safe. Navy/Air Force are known as the 2 branches of the military where you can "serve" without actually "serving" since it's so laid back.[/quote]

Yeah I think you're right, the idea that people in the army literally fly overseas to combat our "enemies" in a far away land gives people back home a greater sense of appreciation than they do to cops/firefighters.

And yeah the stories I hear from his Navy experience makes it sound like he's on a cruise ship or something lol. You rarely hear of any sort of Naval incidents going on nowadays. People in the army are definitely the ones who actually get their boots dirty and take on far greater risk.

admire them except the 'gotta get rid of all dem ragheads nomsayin' ones

Following because i am an active duty Marine. Just curious to see what everyone says.

I CALL BS. Half the Vets I know are perfectly fine even after being bombed during gorilla warfare in Vietnam. It may be a bit much to say perfect but they do manage.

My uncle was a communist in the khmer rouge he was messed up bad. My friend is stationed as an Army Green Beret last I talked to him he was doing fine and has an amazingly sexy wife.

My four friends in the marines are pretty fine. When they comeback home it's as if nothings changed. Granted most of them aren't really in LIVE gunfire. Beside one who is infantry. We barely talk anymore. Don't even know if hes alive.

Last I heard from him he told me South Africa is great. I have an uncle who fought against Pol Pot AND nothing is(relatively) wrong with him even after seeing his mates blown up by mines.

My dad is OKAY even though he started out pretty bad but with a support group you can adjusted pretty well. It really shouldn't be the responsibly of the government to help you "adjust".

You have a resume that can get you far not to mention you are not lacking any benefits to seek social advising from a psychiatrist. They train you to be a world leader.

I suggest the Veterans go and find a military shelter. Granted there are acceptions due to the mental capacity and the pressure that was put on them. Every situation should be taken case by case so you can't really generalize.

The military invest so much money into you already. How do you expect them to invest even more unless the situation is required (Social Security and disability)? Who's can you blame for the paroxysm that comes afterwards? ONLY YOU.

[quote=trueatheist]The idea that people join the military for purely altruistic and/or patriotic reasons is a narrative that has been indoctrinated into us by the countries we are apart of; for good reason though.

While I'm sure there are people who do indeed enlist because they want to genuinely fight for their country, most do not initially enlist for this reason, it may become the reason later on but it's more of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

When you actually look at the statistics and where recruitment happens (especially in the United States) it happens in low-income neighborhoods. Do you really think a 17 year old who has barely finished high school, who spends a little too much time on his x-box suddenly wakes up and goes "I'm going to become a selfless hero!" No, most do not. They enlist because they are given incentives to do so, they are paid 30k/year which can be a big motivator especially considering you don't need a university degree or a college diploma to sign-up.

To be brutally honest, the people I know who have joined the military did so because either their grades weren't good enough for post-secondary education, or they didn't know what to do with themselves. My one friend who is in the Navy was a drunken idiot always getting into fights and lost a lot of his friends because of his lifestyle, yet as soon as he joined the Navy suddenly everyone is congratulating him and acting like he's their savior. No, it's not like that, he's the same drunken fool he was, joining the Navy doesn't magically change who you are as a person.

Now with all that being said, I absolutely respect anyone who serves their country in the military. It's an essential part of keeping us safe domestically and in control of global geopolitics. But I also don't know why firemen and police aren't given the same respect that veterans tend to be given, as they too are risking their lives for our safety.

It all boils down to the positive perception of veterans being a necessary narrative that we all must follow if we are to keep our nations strong.[/quote]

Inttersting perspective that you've brought to the table.
In terms of your friend, I can't speak for the Navy, since I am Army, but usually across all military branches, many junior enlisted(younger guys lower ranks) tend to blow their paychecks on booze, girls, and at bars. I guess it's been instilled as tradition/lifestyle since the Military's inception during our revolutionary days. So I can't fight you there as I have friends that are the same way.

In terms of why firefighters and cops don't get the same respect. I think that falls under perspective, because if you ask any veteran, they respect the heck out of those guys, because they understand the daily struggles that that kind of job entails, meanwhile many civilians just look at it as , "One goes to war, while the other does not." So I presume the way the media portrays it changes things as well. Considering since Cops/ Firemen are in your daily lives, people tend to take them for granted, but since military personnel is not something you see daily unless you live by a base, most people automatically label Us the hero first.

And just to swing a little fun brotherly punch to your Navy friend. He's very safe. Navy/Air Force are known as the 2 branches of the military where you can "serve" without actually "serving" since it's so laid back.

@FlushPhantom A lot of military guys/girls have trouble fitting into "regular civilian" life. I'm one of those people. I don't like at things the same way as civilians do, I do things differently, I walk differently, I present myself differently. Not saying one is better than the other. But a lot of guys just don't like to switch over to the civilian side and actually see the civilian side as undisciplined and don't want to associate themselves with that so they get this holier than thou attitude, or a "leave me alone" attitude. But a lot of us are nice people, just engrained into a different lifestyle.

For example) I'm still in the military, so I spend majority of my day on duty, but when I go to class twice a week, i'm just like wtf. Why are all these students talking? On their phones while the teacher is teaching? Why is that girl over there sleeping? Why did this guy just walk in 20 minutes late to class and act as if nothing is wrong?....Meanwhile in a military classroom, you sit upright, you're not allowed on your phone, or allowed to sleep. You have to participate and speak only when spoken to unless questions are allowed. You have to be 15-20 mins early or youre considered late. So take that difference in classroom example and apply it to pretty much 99% of all aspects of life and you get why military people are different.

From my experience (not gonna get into specifics, long story), SOME military dudes arent that kind. Ive met one or 2 that are totally cool tho, and i have deep respect for them and any veteran that puts as much passion and pride into respecting others as they do for our country. But for the ones that arent so nice, i dont see why they "fight and confront death for the country" when they dont have respect for the people in it.

The idea that people join the military for purely altruistic and/or patriotic reasons is a narrative that has been indoctrinated into us by the countries we are apart of; for good reason though.

While I'm sure there are people who do indeed enlist because they want to genuinely fight for their country, most do not initially enlist for this reason, it may become the reason later on but it's more of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

When you actually look at the statistics and where recruitment happens (especially in the United States) it happens in low-income neighborhoods. Do you really think a 17 year old who has barely finished high school, who spends a little too much time on his x-box suddenly wakes up and goes "I'm going to become a selfless hero!" No, most do not. They enlist because they are given incentives to do so, they are paid 30k/year which can be a big motivator especially considering you don't need a university degree or a college diploma to sign-up.

To be brutally honest, the people I know who have joined the military did so because either their grades weren't good enough for post-secondary education, or they didn't know what to do with themselves. My one friend who is in the Navy was a drunken idiot always getting into fights and lost a lot of his friends because of his lifestyle, yet as soon as he joined the Navy suddenly everyone is congratulating him and acting like he's their savior. No, it's not like that, he's the same drunken fool he was, joining the Navy doesn't magically change who you are as a person.

Now with all that being said, I absolutely respect anyone who serves their country in the military. It's an essential part of keeping us safe domestically and in control of global geopolitics. But I also don't know why firemen and police aren't given the same respect that veterans tend to be given, as they too are risking their lives for our safety.

It all boils down to the positive perception of veterans being a necessary narrative that we all must follow if we are to keep our nations strong.

I'm biased because my boyfriend is an Iraq War veteran. From what I know of him and his experience I think the young men that join the military genuinely want to help people and our country. I think when they join they tend to be a bit naive about our government and how it uses the military. I'm personally not a supporter of war, but I still respect the military and the men and women that serve. I don't think that makes me unpatriotic, I just prefer diplomacy. I don't feel they're to blame. Overall I have a love/hate relationship with the military. I don't like war and I don't like the lack of care for veterans; but without it I wouldn't have met my boyfriend.

I applaud them for doing what I probably wouldn't do. It's incredibly selfless and makes me feel as if I should be contributing more to the veterans that actually DO make it back alive. Even for those who have died fighting for what our country believes in, the family should be compensated in a way. It really annoys me when school mates are all "whatever" about those serving in the military, but it's the generation i suppose

they cool for defending our country with their lives because we all know , only death can pay for life.

but its super uncool how the people of this great nation treat them after they come back.
We really need a better system in place to help them.
It's really quite sad.

but then again, for most american , out of site out of mind.