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[Hawkfrost]

By "own you", do you mean that they can make you do whatever they say?
Because I can see the point of that.

"Ok men, return fire!"
"No way man, they have guns! I'mma go hide in the bunker back there."
"Goddammit Private, we need every man we have!"
"Naw, I'mma go drink some beer and read a book. Tell me how it turned out mmmk?"
"......"



Of course, as long as it is legal what they tell you to do.

[Leafsnail]

The main difference between being in the army and being in a normal job would be that you can't quit while you're on their contract (well, at least without being put in jail, that is).

Can't say I see the appeal, personally.  Call me a coward, fine, for valuing my own life over the misguided attempts my country makes to "keep the peace".

[Vester]

That's all well and good, since your country probably doesn't have serious internal threats yet (not sure if Leaf is American, so I'm just throwing that out there )

But in countries like mine, there's a cohesive, standing threat from secessionists and terrorists so honestly, our peace is constantly in jeopardy.

I don't like people dying, but the secessionists started shooting, so all our folks can do is shoot back.

[Leafsnail]

British.  We have a serious internal threat in Northern Ireland.  Everyone seems to forget that's part of the UK.  It has been better, but there has been violence directed at army bases by groups calling themselves "The Real IRA" and "The Continuity IRA" and so on.

Other than that... we're out of Iraq now, although there are calls for more troops to Afghanistan.

[GlassInMyEyeGuy]

If your country is fighting in the Middle East, stay the hell away from the Army. For the love of god, you don't want to get involved in that shit.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

As a former grunt in the US Army, i can tell you that the army is mostly a support mechanism.  For its sheer size, only a very small amout are actually combat personel.  That being said, it is possible to be caught in combat while providing support, but that means that a:  someone screwed up or b:  someones in trouble and the support must go, period.

If you want a cool combat job without the bullets, go for the "Kings of Battle".  Artillery rulz.  Just bring ear plugs.  Lots and Lots of ear plugs.

And yes, they own you.  Why this would seem unusual to someone, I dont understand.

Dont worry about the Drill's Sgt.'s.  By the end of basic training, you will be having the time of your life.
Also, the army will TRAIN you do do all kinds of things, and any civilian company with a brain will take a retired vet over a green college grad anyday of the week.  Heck, it will take an NCO with four years service over a college grad any day of the week.  Now I know someone will say, "but the army wont teach you "x" tech skill" or whatever, and no, it wont teach every "x" tech skill you can think of, but a company will hire you to be the "x" skill guys boss since you will have developed leadership training and proven your ability to manage very difficult tasks under very difficult circumstances.  Plus the schooling is great - Army vets get more school monies from the Gov than any other branch, all military get special home buying breaks.  Many colleges are offering up to 1 free year for service men and women now.  But, yes, you must be willing to attach yourself to something greater than yourself and be a part of something that affects the real everyday lives of people around the world.

Wow jude, do you actually believe your delusions?  how long have you lived in this fantasy world?  I strongly suggest disconnecting your tv for awhile and going outside to see how the world really works

If they really own you, then how long is the minimum term? I was going for 2-3 years,I'd like to try out for somekind of intel or commanding job but grunting will do finely.

In the US, the minimum term of enlistment is 8 years.  When I joined the Army I did 2 years of active service, 2 years for reserve service and 4 years of inactive reserve service (which means a person can still be called up just in case).  I believe the Air Force, Navy and Marines now have a 4 year active duty minimum.  I dont know if the Army still has a 2 year term.  In times of war, the goverment may also arbitrarily extend those terms to fit military needs in a crisis (see Middle East).  Do not join the navy if you think that will let you avoid combat.  Navy personnel are now being sent onto the ground in Afganistan to relieve the beleagured Army and Marines, with Air Force personnel to follow.
And yes, they own you.  When a person VOLUNTARILY raises their hand and swears the oath, they become goverment property.  The term GI comes from Goverment Issue Property.  They will ask you over and over if your sure.

[Jackrabbit]

Which, in my opinion, is totally fair. If they tell you what you're getting into without bullshitting you, you aren't being forced to do things. You've already agreed.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

Which, in my opinion, is totally fair. If they tell you what you're getting into without bullshitting you, you aren't being forced to do things. You've already agreed.

yeah, the last thing the military is to waste the time, effort, resources and money on someone who is gonna bug out later on.  Financially speaking, when i joined the Army in 91, it cost $18,000.00 per troop for BASIC TRAINING, which for non infantry is only 8 weeks long.  When you think about the time and invested resources, people who actually join and then cry foul dont really have a leg to stand on, and are tax-money pits.  Of course, the military also has extensive psychological evaluations of a recruit, without the recruit even knowing its happening.  So bad apples are rare, only about 1 in 30 really get through the screening, most of those wash out in training, the rest screw up something before they can cause real damage, leaving about a 1 in 5-10k bad apple rate.  but this was when I was in the military.  Right now, it has many more demands on it than it had back then.  But, surprisingly, recruitment is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy up the last 2 years, and has been high for most of the last 8 years (but not all).

[Jackrabbit]

Does anyone know the guy who was the first British Reserves soldier to be called up to fight?

Just interested.

[Gorjo MacGrymm]

Nope, but I know the story of a guy who joined the coast guard to avoid Vietnam.  He was on the first boat sent there and was the first casualty the coast guard suffered in the war.

A little research told me there was exactly seven total Coast Guard casualties. 

And on a side note to a post a few days ago:  here is something interesting for the "but the evil white racists made the blacks fight for them" argument.
American Casualties by Race (in Vietnam):

Race Recorded Casualties
Native American 226
Caucasian 50,120
Malayan 252
Mongolian 116
Negro 7,264
Unknown 215
Totals 58,193
 
visit this website for more http://www.militaryfactory.com/vietnam/casualties.asp

[IndonesiaWarMinister]

WHAT MALAYAN.

Why does my race there?

[zchris13]

People, from Malaysia, who have emigrated to the USA.  And gotten drafted.

EDIT: Oh, DUR DUR DUR SMILIES DUR.

[Vester]

WHAT MALAYAN.

Why does my race there?

Also I've heard there was a Malay contingent in the Vietnam war, mostly from here.

[Cthulhu]

Nope, but I know the story of a guy who joined the coast guard to avoid Vietnam.  He was on the first boat sent there and was the first casualty the coast guard suffered in the war.

Two of my dad's coworkers were friends during the Vietnam war and both got drafted.  One joined the Navy and one joined the air force, hoping that the air force wouldn't have any real combat(I believe it was the air force).

Anyway, long story short, the Navy guy sat at a naval base and fixed machinery for the duration of the war, the air force guy got sent into Vietnam as a search and rescue paratrooper.  Whoops.