When you join the military, do you actually expect or want to be going to war?

Question

Please take me seriously as I am trying to understand the military from a different angle. I grew up with people very opposed to the military and perhaps my opinions to war are learned. Therefore I thought I'd ask those who have been there or are involved now.

I know many people join the military for great education and careers, and tend to think that war will not affect them. Were you in this category when you joined? Or did you actually join with the conscious knowledge that you will be going to war? Did you actually want to go to war? Does anyone really want to go to war when they join up? I find this hard to believe...

This is why I would like to hear from those who have actually been there as to why you joined, served, are serving, are thinking of serving.

I can imagine you're training, living the army life and then someone declares war on someone else and off you're shipped. No choice now because you've already made that choice before right? Was it as you thought it would be? And now that you're at war and it's no picnic, the whole bombing and killing reality must be nothing like you imagined. Or is there a totally different mindset? Am I missing something? What gets you through the days, the really depressive days out there?

Thank you for taking this seriously. I am trying to understand and I do respect you all.

All the best to each of you.

XOX

Answer 1

as a matter of fact yes.  

Answer 2

I believe that there is a part of the military that did in fact join, expecting not to go to war, for one reason, or another. However, most people understand that that is what the military does, and, in fact, many DO want to go to war, but for the right reasons. They want to go fight to defend their country, and defend their ideals. And of course, nothing can honestly prepare someone for combat. So, when they do go, it isn't what they expect, of course.

But, there is a HUGE amount of mental conditioning designed to prepare soldiers for that. A great example would be the marines. I have heard, time and time again, that Marines are just... "different" for better or worse. And that is because, mentally, they have been prepared for combat. It's more than a mindset, as you put it. It's a completely different understanding of reality.

Answer 3

I'm the opposite of you, i don't understand why someone would join the military and expect or hope not to go to war. It would be like training to be the best athlete in the world and you know you can beat everyone, but you never compete

I joined the military with the direct intent to go to war.

War is bad sometimes but good at other times. You have to depend on the people you are with and also let them depend on you. This extreme dependence on each other will make some of the best friendship bonds you could ever have. Your friends will die. But you have to keep going or more of your friends will die, and this time it will have been your fault.

What it comes down to is that people go to war for their country, but people fight the war for the people to their left or right, their brothers.

Answer 4

I just got out of Basic Training at Fort Benning (that's where all Army Infantry train) and the vast majority of us want to go to war.  It's true, there is a minority of people who joined the Army for absolutely retarded reasons - one guy joined because he couldn't find a Coast Guard recruiter in his area - and those are the folks that end up having a difficult time and sort of want the benefits of joining the military (the money, the college funds, the women) but don't really want to do anything military-like, like, you know, going to war.  Just don't think that these people aren't outweighed by the vast majority of folks who joined because they want to protect their families, protect the nation, or something along those lines.

Really, if you're joining the miltary at all these days you should expect to be going to war since, well, we're involved in two of them right now!

Besides, the Army has about 200 different jobs only a dozen or so of which are directly involved in combat operations.  If you joined the Army and had even a mediocre test score you would've had the opportunity to pick "Computer specialist" instead of "Infantryman" out of the job choices so don't cop out when the bullets start flying just because you weren't smart enough to put two and two together and conclude that infantryman go to combat...especially during times of war.

Answer 5

I'm Joining the Australian Army and from the very beginning i have had the thought of going to war in the back of my mind, i am joining to protect those i love and my country and our allys, i know i am putting my life on the line especially because i am joining as a rifleman,

there are other things that drew me towards to military as-well and that's the way you and your family are looked after with allot of support,

it's like they say, "it's a dirty job but someone has to do it"

and if no-body does it who will, this is also another thing that comes to my mind, and it makes me proud to be able to say the the general public "i'm going to the army" because they have all said "good on ya mate and best of luck AND thank you"

so i hope i have answered your question correctly

because unfortunately no matter how hard we all try we cannot stop a war from starting but we can help finish it by fighting.

R.I.P all Coalition troops that have sacrificed themselves for the fight against terror and to help give the Iraqi Civilians a better life...

Answer 6

THAT IS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE JOB

Answer 7

I JOIN THE ARMY WHEN I WAS ONLY 17 ,

AND MY BEST FRIEND JOIN THE MARINE CORE WHEN HE WAS 17

HE WAS THE 4TH MARINE IN AMERICA TO IRAQ AT AGE 17,AND HE DIED BY A LAND MINE IN 2003,

NO EXPECTS TO GO TO WAR NOW,BUT THEN YES/EVERY ONE DID

AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH THATS WHEN MOST YOUNG TEENAGERS

START ENLISTING EITHER ARMY OR MARINES.

I SERVED IN 2004 WHEN I WAS 18 ,DID I WANT TO GO NO BECAUSE MY BEST FRIEND DIED AND I WAS SCARED,BUT I DID

AND I DINT KILL 1 PERSON I PLAYED IT SAFE BY RUNNING AWAY FROM EVERY GUN FIGHT ,AND WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO GO TO FALLUJAH  I WENT AND HIDED UNDER A DUMPSTER FOR LIKE 1 HOUR THEN I GOT SHOT IN THE LEG AND WENT TO GERMANY.

AND TILL THIS DAY PEOPLE THINK AM A WUS FOR DOING WHAT I DID ,BUT AS A SKINNY NERD IN HIGH SCHOOL WALKING OUT TO A NEW WORLD AND TO HAVE A RECRUITER COME UP TO ME AND SAY HOW WOULD I LIKE TO BE MAKING SOME MONEY AND BE GETTING ALL THE GIRLS"

WHAT WAS I SUPPOST TO SAY NO THANK YOU.

THATS MY ANGLE/YOU GO TO WAR AND YOU GO FOR THE GUY NEXT TO YOU,NOT YOUR COUNTRY.

4 YEARS IN THE ARMY.AND DID 4 MORE IN THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD.

Answer 8

I have some friends who have joined specifically because they want to be sent over seas to a combat zone. I have other friends who joined for the benefits and who ended up deployed and hating their life because they thought "if I go reserves I can't get deployed". I think that in order to go into the military you have to at least be willing to be deployed even if its not your first choice.

Answer 9

Yes, When you enter the military you do (If you are smart) consider the posibility that you will get deployed. If you enter with the attitude that "I cant be, or wont be deployed" you are in for a very rude wake up call.

The posibility of going into a combat zone should also be thought of before you sign the papers. Even if its only to join the reserves or National Guard, they get deployed also.

I believe it was an Army General from World War II or the Korean Era that stated (and I am paraphrasing) " We members of the military are highly trained to do a job that no one including ourselves hopes we have to do. But if we have to, we WILL do it to the best of our ability and using all our resorces to accomplish the mission assigned to us by our government."

I have been in the military for over 20 years. in both the reserves and in active duty. So far Ive been lucky that I have never had to draw my weapon in anything but a training environment. But I have been to several places that the posibility was very real, and very close.

I was asked several years ago by a civilian I met at a resturaunt. When he found out I was in the military, he asked "How can you calmly leave the USA and go to what may be your death in a foreign country when Im have enough trouble going to Mexico on a good day?"

My answer was. I know that no mater what happens Im coming home. He couldn't believe my answer. SO I explained.

1) If I go over and after my time to serve is completed and  I am able to walk off the aircraft back in the States on my own...Im home.

2) If I go over and get injured... The military will ship me to a hospital in the states and again... I am home.

3) If I go over and for some reason Im killed, the military will box me up and send me back to my family to be buried... and again Im home

4) and finally If I am Killed and become missing in action... Then Im already home because Im with God...

Thats not the only reason I am in the service, but that is how I can do some of the stuff the military ask's of me.

I dont want to die for anyones freedom, Because Im not ready to die yet... But the job I do has that possibility. SO Im prepared to do what I must to keep myself and my friends and team mates in my unit alive, even die if I have to...

Answer 10

When I joined, we weren't "officially" at war (1996).  So I didn't go in "expecting" war, nor did I particularly WANT to go to war.  But I did know there was a possibility I may be called upon in the future.

Answer 11

I joined before 9/11 so war was not even a thought.  I was in JRTC and watched live when the planes hit the twin towers...everyone was either quiet, crying or panicing and my LT stood up and said, Well...I guess we are going to war...boy was he right

Answer 12

I think that if you join the military you have to expect to go to war.  I didn't want to go to war and was hoping not to but if it happened I would just deal with it.  There were some officers and marines I knew who wanted to go and were looking forward to it but everyone feels differently.  They couldn't understand why I didn't want to go but we both knew we were going no matter how we felt.   That's when the sacrifice for the country stuff comes into play.  It is a scary situation but I knew I was not alone and if I had to die I would have rather died for a good cause and around people who really cared about me.