Thread: Military service = the best & only way to serve your country?

Originally Posted by fishjoel

I don't think that anyone is saying that military service is the only way to serve your country. What many might say is that it is at the top of the list. Military service belongs to a group of jobs that place the safety and well being of the country/fellow citizens before their own. Other jobs include the police force and fire fighters. One thing that separates the military from all the others, though, is you are not a civilian. You are a tool of the government. You are there to be called on...any time, for any reason, to any place. All of the other jobs you can simply quit. Not so with the military. The sacrifices abound beyond what is demanded of anyone else. This is not really contestable.

Additionally, the existence of our military provides safety, security, and freedom for the rest of the country. Sure, the military gets used in wars that are not directly related to national security but the safe guard is there, none the less. If not for the military than our nation would be prey to those who have ambition to take from those they envy.

So I'm not exactly sure that military service is the best way to serve our country but I'm damn sure that nothing beats it.

Interesting, and honest answer, Joel.

I'm not sure, though, how indenturing yourself makes your service "better" than others service. Does it make your service more effective? Do your hours produce more good for the country than equivalent hours served by someone else who goes home at the end of the day? Does a teacher who commits 40 years to serving in the toughest neighborhoods and working with the toughest kids make less of an impact for the nation than the average soldier with a 4 year enlistment? Why?

Originally Posted by GeorgeLaw

As a forner Major in the Us Army, I gave my ALL :rolleyes:,

simultaniously a Proffesor in the Dept of Medicine Univ of Colorado,

And I never worked fewer hours my entire life! :rolleyes:


Re: Vermont and their ilk:

The only good thing about New England is "The New England Journal of Medicine",

certainly NOT the Red Sox

Well, pram, i hate to disagree wid yu :rolleyes:, what the hell did yu say?

My mama said "Dont drik and post,my son"

Ok, i disobeyed once,hoy.

But i agree with Dick, about that more beer theory!!!! Nuthing else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Butt seriously, I am a Major(pain in the arsw), and as such I prob outrank any other deuchbag here. And I say, it is 5 o'clock somewhere, where is friekin Officers Club? I need to scientifically test the "More Beer Theory of Dick"
Oh yeah,,,I remember, I gave my ALL to da Millitary--hell I even tested that $600 terlit!!!
But, what can I do fer my country????? Hmmm.
You are all right: Run fer PRESIDENT,,,, President LAW. Impressive?
I can bullshit slightly better than BO. tho he be a Master(baitor) at the super con. Hell he fooled Con, totally and completely.
so pram- master, what yu tink,,,and stop lookin at me that way!

/administers 2 of Narcan

Originally Posted by pramjockey

/administers 2 of Narcan

Wha???? No entiendo. Amigo crapo. Ajudeme, craparino

Yo es todo Italiano,, Siciliano.

You know you cannot play my game at my level. The low road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Altho, yu wish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It must have been love,,, but it's over now: Roxette!!!!! Its over now,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by pramjockey

Interesting, and honest answer, Joel.

I'm not sure, though, how indenturing yourself makes your service "better" than others service. Does it make your service more effective? Do your hours produce more good for the country than equivalent hours served by someone else who goes home at the end of the day? Does a teacher who commits 40 years to serving in the toughest neighborhoods and working with the toughest kids make less of an impact for the nation than the average soldier with a 4 year enlistment? Why?

The point of the indenturing part is that you are at the call of your country. Any other job you can quit when the tough gets going. Most of those other jobs you will not be put in life threatening situations. Those who go home at the end of the day get to go home to their families and amenities. You get to reset. Now this is only in contrast to military who are deployed. If you are in garrison that factor goes away. Although, you can still be called on to leave your amenities, home, friends, and family at any time. No other puts you in that situation. You also lose some of you basic freedoms that everyone else enjoys. I don't even have freedom of speech. Who else doesn't have that right?

I'm not saying it's "better" I'm just saying that nothing beats it either. The amount of sacrifice you have to make to be in the military has no parallel.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

There have been a series of comments here on USPOL lately that seem to bely an interesting view - it seems that some here believe that the only way (or at least the best way, to the exclusion of all others) to serve your country is through the armed services.

I challenge this view. I would agree that serving in the armed services is one way in which an individual can serve his nation, but I would wholeheartedly disagree that it is the only way. I would also argue that it is not the best way ("best" being defined as the singular most effective) to serve your country - that other forms of service can and do have equivalent positive effect for the nation.

What's your take? Is the military the only way to serve? Is it the best way? Why or why not?


Oh, and lest it get started - this thread is NOT about why you dislike the military. This thread is NOT about why X military conflict is unjust or illegal. This thread is only about the benefits that service has to one's nation, in comparison to other efforts.

I believe military service is a great way to serve your country. I'm about this far *holds fingers together* from thinking that some sort of service (be it military or civil) should be mandatory for 2-4 years for all citizens (the only holdup being that would really suck cause my whole plan is already off schedule ) like many other countries have. I feel fairly justified in saying that this creates a more concerned electorate which is really what america is lacking right now.
But (as you may have surmised from the above) military service should not be thought the only option. Advances in science, mathematics, simply teaching, etc can serve your country as well as a soldier can.

Well, as a General (a general pain in the ass), I feel I should opine.

Remember the Alamo, those brave men against Santa Anna (how could we have lost to a woman?) million troops. Ah.

Me thinks ConLib is a Closet Missionary with his Peace Corps vote(Obama would pronounce that Peace CORPS)

And what is this "More Beer Theory of DICK" stuff all about- sounds like a wienner.

Originally Posted by pramjockey

I did not. I've served my community in other ways, as best I could, but I would likely not have been able to enter the military with my knees and ankles.

And you are far too young, quite precocious actually!

Originally Posted by Dick Martin

Here is my pet rant on that.
<rant>
I wish, I really wish, that the military would add one more feature to its robust history. It would be entirely voluntary but would reflect well on a career. I would like either a 3rd or 4th enlistment to be a sabbatical.

That sabbatical would be for them and their family to move to a distressed neighborhood and to live there for the sabbatical. They would get full pay and benefits, and if they get a second job, the money and benefits are theirs to keep. But the requirement would be that they participate in the neighborhood. Be highly visible, especially to the children in the neighborhood. The role model benefits would, in my opinion, go a long ways to break the cycles of defeat in those neighborhoods.

</rant>

WTF? Reward military service with placing their family in a shitty neighborhood! So that they can be role models? Why don't you and your friends go live in a "distressed neighborhood" and see if you can help break the cycle of defeat, rather than force someone else to do it.

What a weird thing to "wish, really wish".

My thinking echoes Fishjoel's. While certainly not the only form of service out there, nothing else really approaches the level of what is asked of those who serve in the ranks of the military.

Originally Posted by fishjoel

I'm not saying it's "better" I'm just saying that nothing beats it either. The amount of sacrifice you have to make to be in the military has no parallel.

I'd say the politicians for whom the military die for and are underpaid by, come out ahead.

Originally Posted by fishjoel

The point of the indenturing part is that you are at the call of your country. Any other job you can quit when the tough gets going. Most of those other jobs you will not be put in life threatening situations. Those who go home at the end of the day get to go home to their families and amenities. You get to reset. Now this is only in contrast to military who are deployed. If you are in garrison that factor goes away. Although, you can still be called on to leave your amenities, home, friends, and family at any time. No other puts you in that situation. You also lose some of you basic freedoms that everyone else enjoys. I don't even have freedom of speech. Who else doesn't have that right?

I'm not saying it's "better" I'm just saying that nothing beats it either. The amount of sacrifice you have to make to be in the military has no parallel.

I think we're missing each other, Joel.

I totally hear what you're saying as far as commitment goes. But, that doesn't answer my question as far as impact goes. The fact that those who serve in the armed services have made a sacrifice is clear. Some make incredible sacrifices in body and mind. But, the question I'm asking is - does this sacrifice serve the country in the best way? Are the results the best for the nation?

That's a whole different question.

Originally Posted by PerryPierce(PP)

And you are far too young, quite precocious actually!

I'm staring 40 in the face. Not sure what I'm too young for, except the AARP.