Is joining the military for you or a loved one? If you are having second thoughts, then read on. If you are not having second thoughts, I hope I can introduce you to some.
Joining the military may look cool….almost as cool as I do in this photo in Mosul, Iraq!
The Ultimate Question for Joining the Military
BEFORE YOU EVEN TALK TO A RECRUITER FOR ANY BRANCH, as yourself the following question:
Do I really want to go kill and possibly die for people who wouldn’t do the same for me?
How moral is it to ask someone to kill and die when the requester isn’t doing it?
I thought it is so wrong to ask someone else to go kill and die for you, I started The Hawk Bawk.
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My Top Reasons for Not Joining the Military
Sorry to get political, but you must look at your government when you are signing over your life. While I was recalled, I ended up becoming friends with another recalled soldier. He talked to me about Libertarianism. With the situation we were in, it began to speak a lot of sense to me.
As I did more research, I realized that I was a product of government-funded schools to give me the pro-government ideals the government needs its populace to understand. It didn’t help growing up in the Midwest, either. Here are some books that helped me gain a clearer understanding that what our government does is wrong:
- Blowback by Chalmers Johnson
- 33 Questions about American History You’re Not Suppose to Ask by Tom Woods
- Liberty Defined by Ron Paul
- War Is a Racket by Smedley D. Butler
If you read any of these books, and you remember what you were taught in school and on the news, you’ll start to question what the government is doing. The book that had a large impact on me was The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War. The Republicans and Democrats both revere Abraham Lincoln as possibly the greatest president. That’s where you should start asking questions.
The more research you do, the more you’ll learn money is at the heart of everything. I’ll save you from the economic talk, but realize how much is profited from war. For example, the government was buying bags of ice from a civilian contractor on my second deployment for $8/bag!
Reasons for Not Joining the Military – Part 1 – The Brainwashing
- I was taught in high school that World War 2 brought us out of the Great Depression. Then, much later on, I learned about the Broken Window fallacy.
- The Army started giving out money for referrals to enlist – up to $2,000 for a friend joining the military. If I remember correctly, it was just retirees and active duty, then it branched to future soldiers and possibly some other groups. The Army started giving out bonuses up to $40,000. They then raised the recruiting age from 34 to 40, then to 42. When the government isn’t getting the numbers it needs to fight its wars, it knows how to get its volunteers.
- Does it make any sense that you can go to war at 17, but to buy some beer you have to be 21? The phrase “Get’em while they’re young!” is the government’s creed. The United States is one of twelve countries where you have to be at least 21 to drink.
Reasons for Not Joining the Military – Part 2 – The Government
- It’s ironic that the U.S. has spent billions, billions, billions, billions, and billions of dollars while the “terrorists” probably don’t have 1% of the budget. They make us drain a bank account we don’t even have. Afghanistan had plenty of practice against the Russians a few decades ago.
- The only “just” war is a defensive war. By our Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war. They, and we, have allowed the president to gain numerous war powers. We allow these wars to happen.
- When I was deployed the second time (when I was recalled), I wondered why I had to go back and someone else didn’t. Why am I continually putting myself in danger for people who are sitting behind their desks in D.C.?
- Our government creates their own problems by meddling with countries and conflicts around the world.
- The waste is insane. In my last deployment, we were issued an expensive Gerber Multi-tool. It was awesome and helpful. Then we were issued a second one. Some were given out as prizes. Then we were given switch blades that, from what I was able to research, were retailed near $300 at the time. The problem was that these knives were completely useless for the mission – the unit just needed to spend the money so they can have their budget again the following year. In my IRR Recall page, I give another example of how much waste was put into vehicles.
Part 3a – The Culture
- Within the first couple weeks of being at Ft. Lewis, we had already done a week long training in the field. When we returned to the barracks, we had to clean our gear. I cleaned mine and hung some of it up to dry. I left my room, and when I came back, my chemical gear was missing. When I asked around about it, the response was “Did you leave a guard on it?” So, I quickly learned that if you don’t ask someone to watch your stuff or you don’t lock it up, it can be “acquired” by someone else.
- “Acquired” is just a term for “steal” without actually having to say you stole something, and “acquiring” things wasn’t questioned sometimes. The Army preached Integrity too, but people taking ownership of their actions didn’t happen very often unless caught red handed.
- Awards are a joke. They’re handed out like candy sometimes. For example, when I was putting deployment packets together for my unit, I ran across one soldier who got a medal for simply being in the vicinity of a weapons cache (no joke – the award line read that his unit had found it, not him). I also got an award for finding some mortar fuses. Ha!
Joining the Military – My Enlistment Journey into the Army
There were conversations with recruiters from most of the branches. The Army got my enlistment because I felt the Army recruiter was the only one who listened to me. Here are my experiences with most of the branches:
Air Force
After taking the ASVAB (I scored very well on it – scroll down for info on the ASVAB), one receives a call from the recruiter. I forget what the recruiter was trying to sell me on, but I told him I wasn’t interested in it. He then repeated what he had said, and I told him it wasn’t something I was interested in. “I don’t think you understand,” he stated before he repeated himself AGAIN! He didn’t rephrase or anything. I ended up just saying no thanks, and hung up.
Navy
I went to talk to the Navy recruiter. With my ASVAB scores, he started talking to me about the Navy’s Nuclear program. I didn’t want to have anything to do with nuclear anything! However, he kept on with it.
There was a presentation about Nuclear energy held at the school. The Navy Recruiter was in charge of it, and he had some Nuclear expert from the Navy there. They talked about Nuclear Power or something for a short time, then it essentially turned into a Naval Recruiting Session. When it came time for questions, no one was asking any questions. I started asking stupid questions because I felt bad for them. I remember asking if seamen can fish when they are on the ocean!
The Navy Recruiter took my questions as genuine interest in joining the Navy. Again, he came at me only talking about the Nuclear program. So that was a no go for me.
They say a Marine’s best weapon is his mind. I found out first hand this is true.
The recruiter called me and set up an appointment to talk to him in his office. When I arrived, I wasn’t sure if I was in the right place because it was at a building that was pretty run down.
The minute I stepped in there, the Marine recruiter was super excited. He talked to me like I was already a Marine, and pumped up everything Marine Corps. The love was infectious. Then he told me what a day in the Marine’s was like for him. Paraphrased:
I wake up, and I go to my office in Sioux Falls, where I get to talk to kids about the Marines. Then I go to lunch, and when I get to travel and talk to kids like you, I get to eat at Burger King. I get per diem, which means I get an allowance for food. I don’t spend all the money, so I get to keep that money for other stuff. Then I talk to more kids about joining the Marines. I then eat dinner, where I don’t use all my per diem, so I get extra money. I then go home, fuck my wife, go to bed, wake up, and then I do it all over again!
By the time I left the office, I had already signed some paperwork and was ready to be a Marine!
Being Young
THANKFULLY, I was only 17 at the time. If you are 17 and you are looking at joining the military, you have to have your parents sign you off. My parents refused to sign anything for me. They said I can make that decision when I graduate high school.
After about a week, I really thought about my experience with the Marine recruiter and how ridiculous I was for signing anything right away. It was even more ridiculous that I was so easily brainwashed!
Army
Basically, the recruiter asked, “What do you want to do?” We talked about what I wanted to do. I came up with a list of things for when I went to pick my job at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). When I got to MEPS, the Guidance Counselor looked at my list of jobs for a little bit. He then told me that out of the 10 jobs I had written down, the only one available was the last one on my list – Mechanized Infantry.
After I signed up, back at the recruiting station, they took my picture and put a nice little frame around it with “MOS: 11M – MECHANIZED INFANTRY”.
Halfway through Basic Training, Drill Sergeant Woods gathered about 20 of us in a room and asked us what type of infantry we were. We were all silent for a few seconds, and he blurts out “You are all 11 Bravo.”
There was no way. As soon as I got back to my locker, I looked at my contract. Yup, there I was, 11X – Infantry Recruit!
So my recruiter listened to me. Great. But then he lied to me. Fantastic. All part of joining the military I suppose!
Part 3b – The Culture
- On my second deployment, when an accident rendered me to an office job for a while, I spent most of my time putting together deployment packets for my company. When we got back Stateside, most of what I had worked on was pointless – no one needed most of the paperwork I helped put together for the unit. What a complete waste of time.
- In January of 2009, those of use who had been deployed in the past were told that there was going to be bonus money given to us for multiple deployments. From what I was told, I was going to be receiving an additional $5,000-$6,000. On the very last day when us recalls were signing out, we were woken up a little early and told to go to some trailer. In this trailer, we were told there was a mistake and we weren’t getting that bonus money. Wonderful.
- To me (and I know I’m in the minority here), there is only one reason for joining the military – to serve your country. I think it’s weird when people join for college money or to support a family. There’s plenty of ways to do those without putting yourself at EXTREME risk and away from friends and family.
The Beginning of Different Thoughts
One of the things I was told when I was joining the military, and then I passed on to potential recruits, was to not worry about the 8 year Military Service Obligation when joining the military. This meant that I can do my 4 years of active time, then I would be on a “call up” status for four years. I was told not to worry about this because this would only be utilized in the case of World War 3. I then passed on that statement to future recruits when I was recruiting.
And whoops, I got called back in, and this is when I started to really question the purpose of the government.
The year that I was out of the Army, I had a great life. I was a flight attendant with the freedom to go almost anywhere I wanted. Then, out of nowhere, I was back at Ft. Benning being told that I have to go back to the Middle East.
It really hammered me when we were told that if we didn’t show up, nothing would’ve happened to us because they didn’t have the manpower to go find everyone who didn’t show up. The Army preaches “Integrity,” but having it sure does get you in a bind a lot of the time.
Before Heading Back to the Middle East
We had to stop in Ft. Hood, TX for a couple months. Shortly after our arrival, we were briefed that if we go anywhere, we should take a battle buddy because there were more male on male rapes than male on female, and female soldiers sometimes assisted the male rapist in drugging the victim. Wonderful.
Our mission in the Middle East was a ridiculous, but necessary, one. All we did was escort supply trucks from Kuwait into southern Iraq on a route with no life-threatening incidences for years. If what I was told was true, the only occurrence was when a National Guard unit shot, unprovoked, upon a group of prisoners doing clean up duty.
The route was COMPLETELY wide open with nowhere to hide.
There were two problems
- When we turned onto the main highway going to our destination, hijackers would sometimes steal one of the civilian trucks. We would just let them go because we weren’t fast enough to catch them.
- The civilian trucks were maintained by third-party nationals (people hired by government contractors not from America/Iraq – a lot were Turkish). They were cheap, and the tires on the trucks were worn. Tires blew out often, and when they did, we had to stop the convoy until they got the tire replaced. But this wasn’t a big deal because nothing ever happened on this route.
Now, the Army had recalled us to do this mission. However, because we were recalled, the workload was ridiculously light. It was pointless and extremely wasteful for us to be where, and a new friend of mine started telling me about Libertarianism. Like I said earlier, it made so much sense to me after my new experiences.
The Enlistment Process of Joining the Military
This isn’t just some job. You are signing a long term contract. One can go work for the WWE. If it sucks, you can go home. You are locked into a long term contract. If you somehow break that contract, it can effect you for the rest of your life.
First off, near the end of my recruiting tour, know a new program took off called the Recruiter Incentive Program (RIP). It rewarded recruiters for consistently putting in new applicants to the army with money. I haven’t done any deep searching, but I did find this on www.army.mil. This could motivate to find more Future Soldiers for the Army – either by being honest, or by being more dishonest (my bet is on the latter).
You better see this at https://www.army.mil/aps/07/infopapers/123.html before the government takes it down – on my old website, the army took down a couple pages after I linked to them!
To my knowledge, civilian recruiters have always been on a similar incentive pay.
The main thing you need to remember
When joining the military, you are not obligated to anything until you actually sign back in to MEPS on the day you ship out. According to girightsonline.org, you aren’t obligated until you sign to be discharged from the Future Soldier Training Program (formerly the Delayed Entry Program) and moved to whichever military branch you have chosen.
According to lawyers.com, the government could technically order you to Active Duty. However, no one has ever been in any trouble for changing his/her mind. You might be 100% for it, but after you sign up, the reality of the military might hit you. Recruiters might pressure you, even harass you to ship, but you don’t have to go.
Steps to Joining the Military
1. Your first step is to ask the question at the top of this page.
2. If you can honestly say yes, then start your research. Begin by talking to friends, family, and neighbors about their experiences in the military.
Remember that you are literally signing over your life to the government. When you make a decision on which branch and what job you want to train in, you’ll do what’s best for you. Each branch has its own website with all the information they want you to know!
3. Your next step is to contact a recruiter, and ask him or her every single question you want. Some things do change. As much as I’d like to be able to tell you everything, I’m not staying up to date on everything. Take those answers you are given and research them.
4. One thing that is important to remember is that you never know if you are actually fully qualified for all jobs in the military. Here are the qualifiers for joining the military:
Moral
Have you been in trouble with the law? Certain violations can prevent you from working in certain fields. Certain violations can prevent enlistment. If you have a lot of violations, you could qualify for a waiver. Some recruiters don’t like doing those waivers because they require some work and time. Also, I had one applicant that didn’t have any law violations, but he got afraid during his physical (they will grind you and try to put the fear of God in you). He mentioned he tried smoking some pot once, and that immediately disqualified him from some jobs.
Medical
Your body might have something wrong that might bar you from enlistment. I remember when they had me stand on my heels and thinking, “Why did they have me do that?” When I was recruiting, another recruiter had an applicant get disqualified for not being able to stand on her heels.
The government doesn’t have access to your medical history, so you can tell them what you wish; however, if any of your past medical issues come up in your enlistment, you are at the bidding of the government’s wishes at that point.
Every station commander I had would take each applicant into their office before they went to MEPS for the physical and gave a talk about how they will say everything they can to get all the information they can out of the applicant.
Mental
When you take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), it’ll give you a score (1 to 99). Each branch has its own number that it accepts as its lowest. When I was recruiting, the Army lowered the minimum to 19 for a while. The number Army recruiters want you to hit is 50. That places you from “Bravo” to “Alpha,” which makes you worth more recruiter points, especially if you have your high school diploma. That’s all the overall score is good for – the rest falls on your line scores.
Each branch has line scores – the Army has 10. Every MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) has its own score requirements. On GoArmy.com, you can even punch in your line scores. It’ll show you what jobs you are qualified to do. If you fail, you are allowed to take it again. Fail a second time and the period of time is longer.
You can take the ASVAB and your physical in one evening/morning, then sign up after the physical (this is what recruiters want).
I would suggest taking the ASVAB first thing so you can review your job options. There are plenty of practice ASVABs. Recruiters also have one.
If you aren’t the smartest bullet in the magazine, the Army set up a learning program to teach you what you need to know for the ASVAB called March 2 Success.
The Guidance Counselors
5. After you have completed your physical, the Guidance Counselors will have your information and might try to talk you into picking a job they want you to have (it’s good for them to fill spots the military needs). They also might want you to leave as soon as possible (this decreases the chance of you deciding not to go). When I was recruiting, they also offered “Quick-Ship” bonuses to ship within 30 days! You can leave as short as a week and up to a year when joining the military.
I’ve heard the following from guidance counselors and recruiters when applicants have specific jobs they want:
- “The important thing is to get your foot in the door.” If you want to be in Civilian Affairs, you might be told that it’s just important to get in. Then you can re-class to Civilian Affairs when you reenlist. One recruiter I worked with told an applicant he originally signed up as a Laundry and Bath Specialist (now known as Shower/Laundry and Clothing Repair Specialist) before re-classing to what he loved – Field Artillery. Later, he left his Enlisted Record Brief – a summary of his time in the Army – on a printer. The only job he had ever done was Field Artillery. My guess is he chose Laundry and Bath Specialist because his applicant didn’t do well on the ASVAB. That job requires no score qualification.
- “I did all this for you.” A guilt trip may be put on you. Don’t let guilt be the reason you join.
- “If you don’t take what’s available now, it might not be here later.” True. Jobs can come and go by the minute. However, if you don’t want to take something, nothing forces you to take it.
One applicant in my recruiting station had one MOS he wanted. I know he went up to MEPS at LEAST 3 times before he got the job he wanted.
When you sign your contract, you’re only guaranteed what your contract gives. Job training, bonuses, college money, and maybe even station of choice are a few examples.
Possibly The Most Important Step to Know
6. After you sign your contract, you swear in, and then you are in what they call the Future Soldier Training Program (FSTP). Technically, you don’t have to do anything while you are in the Future Soldier Training Program. Some recruiters “required” their Future Soldiers to attend functions, training, and physical training sessions.
This program, I’m sure, is designed to make someone already feel like they’re in the Army. It won’t be so easy for one to change his or her mind. Remember that when you are joining the military, you aren’t in the military until you ship!
Future Soldiers get to do some cool things sometimes. We had ours for opening ceremonies for some events in downtown Columbus, which may have been pretty cool for them.
So, if you decide to ship after this whole process, that’s your decision! Good luck to you if you do!
Reasons for Not Joining the Military – Part 3c – The Culture
- When I was recruiting, there was an issue of the Army Times that detailed the “nicer” Basic Training. When I got off the bus at Ft. Benning, a swarm of Drill Sergeants yelled at us and told us how worthless we are (the “Shark Attack”). In the Army Times, it chronicled a Drill Sergeant who got on the bus and welcomed the new recruits to Basic Training and gave them instructions on what to do once they got off the bus.
- The group of us that were recalled weren’t even necessary. There were times when the Convoy Escort Teams would be off duty for days at a time and there was always plenty of notice before a convoy. When we did escorts, it was about a 4-5 hour drive. When we got to the base in southern Iraq, we sat there and did nothing until it was time to go back to Kuwait. Having just one day off was a shocker to me, but up to four and five told me that all of us recalled weren’t even necessary for the mission. However, whenever I shared this with people when I got home, it was like it meant nothing to most.
- I only signed up for 4 years and ended up doing 6. Contractually, but more importantly, unnecessarily. I was lied to about having to extend my contract for Recruiting duty, then I was recalled back in to the army for a mission that didn’t need me or any of us recalled.
Final Words
This is a lot to take in, but I hope you’re taking a look at joining the military much more intricately. There is so much to consider. This isn’t a normal job that you can quit. You’ll risk jail time and the mark of a dishonorable discharge if you do.
This career could also put you in a war zone. I was fine with going to a war zone until I realized why I was in one.
Take a few days and think about it before you ship to Basic Training.
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