Forced military training....

Sandok

I hate my country... I live in the most boring and neutral of countries and they force all the men to go to the army for 1 year (either over 20 years of training or all in one year) and I REALLY REALLY REALLY don't want to!!!

I hate this place, honestly what's the point?

Asmoday

Actually we basically have the same system in Sweden, and I must say that I don't regret one bit being in the army. It's a learning experience to say the least, and you'll meet so many interesting people and make new friends some for life. Plus you youngsters sure need the dicipline the army can teach you!


EDIT: Oh, and you get to blow things up!

Sandok

But I don't want the discipline!!!

The problem for me is that it clashes with my studies and even though it will most probably be a good experience in the end, I don't want to sacrifice one year just for the army...

Falstaff

not everyone is suited for military service, I am sure you would find that out after some intensive training as well, perhaps your the sensitive and cerebral type, an artist, a muse, your role is in support. but serving your country is an honour..I did..
I hope you should never find an occasion to have to defend your homeland, whether you live or die, but it could happen, this is not a perfect world.
I spent quite awhile harnassing the will to kill, to destroy life, as well as following orders utterly to the point of total destruction, and I learned that I could if I had to, do what it takes to defend my unit, my life or my country, but it takes its toll.
If you never have to serve, and someone must in your place, then that is the price of freedom, because not everyone can truly call themselves a warrior.

OldBuzzard

Sandok: Maybe you don't 'want' the 'discipline', but I'm betting that after it's all said and done, you will appreciate it a lot more than you think you will. You will learn that you can accomplish MUCH more than you think you can right now, and you will be a better man for it.

Maybe your country is 'boring and neutral', but how would it survive and defend itself if some other country decided to ignore that and attack anyway? Is your country and it's way of life not worth defending? And just WHO would be capable of defending it if no one there is trained to do so? Is one year of service for a country that provides you safety, security, and comfort too much to ask?

Asmoday

Extremley well said OldBuzzard, I couldn't agree more!

mike2h

it is also returning something to your country. consider it a civil service.
personally i dont think anyone should be allowed to vote/have full citizen entitlements unless they do some sort of 6mth - 1yr of civil service to their country.

cozumel

How is being trained to kill and detroy a 'civil service to your country'?

To learn how to be a killer - are we saying that every civilization should teach this to their children?

mike2h

you think that is all there is to being a soldier & that all military personnell are killers?
get a clue.

OldBuzzard

I would be in favor of everyone doing 1 or 2 years 'service to the country'.

Start it with a military style boot camp. Then at the end give people the option of serving in either a military or civilian capacity. That way people would find out for themselves if they were 'cut out' for military life or not.

As for the military 'killing and destroying'...I guess you must have forgotten that it was MILITARY personel of SEVERAL nations that helped in rescue/rebuilding efforts in the Asian tsunami. And what the National Guard did on the Gulf Coast after Katrina. As a matter of fact, when I was in the USAF in 1965 based at Keesler AFB in Biloxi MS, we were sent to New Orleans to help after Hurricane Betsy. I DON'T remember killing anyone of destroying anything then

pr0digal jenius

i don't think military should be mandatory.

service, sure, but there should be other options then military, for people like me who are against much of what it stands for.


...ah well, there's always the coast guard

ferret2004

I pay taxes, that's my civil service.

Sandok

My country is one of the few that wasn't involved in either WWs (we guard everyon's money) and we've never had a war in the entire 1500 years of history this country has to offer...

The thing you guys gotta know is that I was only born in this country but I grew up in USA and another country and thus, I don't have much love for this place. The passport is just a piece of paper but honestly, I don't feel attached to this country and I don't really wanna defend it against a non existant threat. I completely understand what you mean but as PJ said, it shouldn't be mandatory. Many people would still do it but the military service clashes with university in a very very bad way and that is not a choice I think I even need to think about to make. I'd pick education over grunt any day of the week!

Falstaff

Sandok you are forgetting the history of your country? I sure havent. Your country financed many wars, and the spoils of those wars still lay in the vast coffers of your countries banks and financial institutions. Playing the middle of the road in politics has served your country well..LOL
Its all about choice man, whether you choose to learn to fight or serve or not, it is all about choices...

cozumel

There are many things that can be learned from miltary service. The ability to make decisions under extreme pressure and teamwork are two major positives that are learned.

However, the ultimate goal is to turn a raw recruit into an efficient machine that can kill without hesitation innthe most efficient manner possible. There is no way that any man or woman can say that this is useful skill to have in a CIVILISED world.

BWX

Military should be volunteer unless in a time of war. That's what I think.. but if you must do it, it will most likely be a very positive experience I am sure. Good luck. I was very close to enlisting but never "got around to it"... hehe.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta

go to india, maybe you might get some action against pakistan soon!

Falstaff

Standing armies are necessary in the world we live in, with power projected in so many ways it is necessary to remain vigilant against invasion or other hostile actions against the state. I hear so much whiney crap about "its somebody elses job to protect democracy" that it galls me to even attempt to explain it to someone that has nothing but selfish expectations. The price of freedom is high, and someone must always serve, it has always been that way. In my country we have professional military people that must rely on a steady pool of resources to keep the peace and fight the wars when necessary.
What can I say....
when the shit hits the fan, some of us have the courage to step forward and volunteer but we would not be able to sustain that momentum without the trained militias if you will that must step in when necessary and serve freedom as well....
God dont get me started with snotty nosed brats and their obligation to their society, it is just impossible to explain anything in these terms unless they were raised to have honor and a sense of duty to their families, their communities, their country and to freedom.
what the hell is wrong with this new generation of armchair warriors...
let them all play with their peckers and with their mouse pads and joysticks, and leave the real work to the professionals. Maybe it is good that the little bastards stay out of the battle for the peace as well as the war because they dont have the stomach for it.
Courage and honor are strangers to them....
I hope you never become one of those people Sandok..I honestly hope so....and when you recognize your obligation to do your duty, whether it is to your family, your community, your country or your freedom, that you take your plow and exchange it for a sword and do what is right and just to defend what all of us must learn to defend if we are to survive.
Whatever weapons we possess in our arsenal, it is time to put away the stupid video game crap and leave virtual reality behind and learn to adapt to a new world that really requires bravery and honor....
a world of reality...
whatever happens to you, I can truthfully say if you choose to learn "real" warcraft you would be in good company, and capable of really contributing to your world, rather than just wishing you had.....
from one old warrior to anyone listening, if you cant adapt to change and still protect what is important then you have no business complaining about learning to serve your country.
One day, and it always will, each and everyone of us will be required by circumstance to defend him or herself against a foe that does not care about who, what or where we came from.
From the criminal on the street, to the terrorist, to the armies that serve any interest other than freedom and democracy, the day will come.
I hope you can ball up your fist, take a stance, prepare for battle and do what is right.
My own son is facing a choice that he must make, like myself and my father before him and his father before him, when our country calls, we answer with a "hell yes" and we are not afraid.
Their are cemetaries with our own honored dead from Connecticutt to California that served with honor, and paid the ultimate price.
I hope in your world Sandok, that you are never faced with that choice, but if you are, I hope you gather your strength and courage and do whatever it takes.
My fondest wish is that you can live in a world of peace, of video games and silly boys and girls enjoying their perpetual springtime fantasy lives, working their boring jobs and riding the endless miles of train track and highways, putting in their hours and earning their paltry paychecks...whatever it takes to enjoy a life built on the sacrifices of others....
I hope you can....
but we know that just isnt true is it?
good luck Sandok..
what ever choice you decide to make....do it wth courage and conviction while many of us defend that freedom for you to make those choices....

H3X4D3C1M4L

Hey Sandok if you don't wanna join the military come to Canada

Yeah so what, our military may be a bit of a laugh. But we do good peacekeeping work. And if it came down to it and there was no ammo left in the world, everyone else would die in a timbit/snowball throwing massacre

Falstaff

I like the Canadian Navy...I fondly remember the Beer Machines...LOL

GeneralClaymore

I dont blame him I wouldnt want to join the army either, I not gonna die for some dude who hids behind a desk at the white house. If he wants to do something about it. Why dont he get out from behind that desk and fight.

Calling people who do not want join the war cowards is a stupid thing to say. Who are you to tell them if they dont join theyre kids. Not every one wants to go out there and shoot people or be in the line of fire.

If you want to then go get shot and let your family cry about loosing there son or dad in a war that shouldnt be happing.

Now if I was the one whos firing off nukes or sitting at a office chair putting in info, then it wouldnt bother me that much aslong i not in the line of fire. For one I not a coward I refuse to go out there and do something that I do not want to take part in doing. If they did a Draft in the USA, I would run to cananda or run to japan. Because I not gonna fight for some fat guy who sits behind a desk.

Joining the army should be a choice not a have to , they have no right to force it on you they have no right to control your life, you do, They didnt give birth to you.

If it wasnt a force I bet you people would join just to support the country.

BWX