Posted on May 23, 2016
What do you tell young people who are thinking of enlisting?
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Personally, I ask them, "Do you think you can consciously and willingly take another human life?" I ask them this because this is the one topic they DON'T think about when contemplating enlistment, and in my opinion, it is the FIRST thing they should consider, as military service at it's core is all about combat, regardless of what their MOS is going to be.
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Damn Good Question! Even if you are not directly involved in Combat your actions can result in the Death of Human Beings. It sure is the Nature and Core of our Industry. Merchants of Death Unfortunately. My NECs 9182, 9185, 9187, Telecommunications Management, Computer Communications and Tactical Intelligence but my actions have resulted in deaths and I've been called a Baby Killer before.
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PO1 Brian Austin
I've heard that more than a few times. Especially when i was contracting in Iraq. "How does it feel to have innocent blood on your hands?", "How can you sleep at night?", "How does it feel to be working for blood money?", etc.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
PO1 Brian Austin - I've got more than a few Holes burned in my Soul but that is my Problem.
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Honestly, I've never thought of that. The ability to take a human life is not something I've thought of. Granted I may have only had a "desk job", I understood my contribution to the fight and knew that if I made a mistake, it could cost the lives of others.
To me, if I were talking to young people about enlisting, I would be asking them if they were prepared to sacrifice every aspect of themselves for the mission at hand. I may have never killed someone, but I can't count the number of birthdays, anniversarys, funerals, weddings, graduations among other events that you miss.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have any regrets about my service. I knew I'd be making sacrifices, but I never imagined my family would be burying both my dogs before I even reached the Fleet. That was just how my service started. There was plenty of other things that were missed.
To me, if I were talking to young people about enlisting, I would be asking them if they were prepared to sacrifice every aspect of themselves for the mission at hand. I may have never killed someone, but I can't count the number of birthdays, anniversarys, funerals, weddings, graduations among other events that you miss.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have any regrets about my service. I knew I'd be making sacrifices, but I never imagined my family would be burying both my dogs before I even reached the Fleet. That was just how my service started. There was plenty of other things that were missed.
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Dugles, I see nothing wrong with your question of potential enlistees... it's a valid concern that MOST don't consider.
In addition to that, I'd tell them to get EVERYTHING in writing - if it is promised, get it written and SIGNED before you think it's a done deal - and it may STILL be changed (needs of the service, baby!).
Then I ask what they WANT to do - and to research the services intensely. While you REALLY may want to be a XXX in the Army, the Marines may have an MOS that more closely fits your career goals... or the Navy. Compare and contrast all five branches to find the one that is the best fit for YOU. Then go talk to folks that are IN the service and aren't Recruiters. Your Uncle Ernie that was in the service in 1985 doesn't cut it, because EVERYTHING has changed since then. Talk to someone that went to recruit training recently and is now doing their job.
There are some hard-and-fast rules.
1. If you want to see the world, NOBODY beats the Navy.
2. If you want to be treated the best, NOBODY beats the Air Force.
3. If you want to be a generalist instead of a specialist, NOBODY beats the Coast Guard.
4. If you want chances to be stationed anywhere in the world, NOBODY beats the Army.
5. If you want to learn discipline and to get some order in your life, NOBODY beats the Marines.
In addition to that, I'd tell them to get EVERYTHING in writing - if it is promised, get it written and SIGNED before you think it's a done deal - and it may STILL be changed (needs of the service, baby!).
Then I ask what they WANT to do - and to research the services intensely. While you REALLY may want to be a XXX in the Army, the Marines may have an MOS that more closely fits your career goals... or the Navy. Compare and contrast all five branches to find the one that is the best fit for YOU. Then go talk to folks that are IN the service and aren't Recruiters. Your Uncle Ernie that was in the service in 1985 doesn't cut it, because EVERYTHING has changed since then. Talk to someone that went to recruit training recently and is now doing their job.
There are some hard-and-fast rules.
1. If you want to see the world, NOBODY beats the Navy.
2. If you want to be treated the best, NOBODY beats the Air Force.
3. If you want to be a generalist instead of a specialist, NOBODY beats the Coast Guard.
4. If you want chances to be stationed anywhere in the world, NOBODY beats the Army.
5. If you want to learn discipline and to get some order in your life, NOBODY beats the Marines.
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SSgt Dugles Cherry
Amen! I do tell them to talk to ALL of the different branch recruiters. See who is offering them the closest thing to what they want, and yes, make sure EVERYTHING is in writing. That first question I ask them is important in this day and age as there really is no such thing as a "Front Line" and a "Rear" anymore. Seems to me that as long as you are in the AOR, you are on the front! Which means you may be called to pick up a rifle and defend your position at any time, regardless of MOS.
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MCPO (Join to see)
When 9/11 hit, I remember service members scrambling to get out for ANY reason, because they never actually thought they'd have to do their jobs to get the benefits they were working for. I remember an Army E-7 screaming at his CO, "I'll come in here with a 3' dildo hanging out of my azz to prove it (claim he was gay). I enlisted to get the GI Bill, not to go have to kill people!!"
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SSgt Dugles Cherry
On the flip-side, I was at HQMC during Desert Shield/Desert Storm and I remember my OIC telling me how Officers were cutting themselves orders to the AOR just so they could get the campaign ribbons, which means we had a lot of Officers standing around the C&C serving no actual purpose there.
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