The ARMY.... what do u think about it?

[Barihawk]

I hear a lot of people demanding for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, but that will not solve anything. It's not like this was a Manuel Noriega situation where the US had a leader lined up who was popular enough to take over the country. Iraq is under trying times, in fact...they are going through the same situation the United States went through from 1783-1801. They are experiencing Democracy for the first time in thier lives, and there is really no pool of candidates to choose from. All of the candidates are an expiriment and it will take several years for them to form ideological opinions (ie, decide what party they will affiliate with...theres like 4-6 political parties in Iraq which complicates the matter).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can not pull out at this moment or else it WILL be another Vietnam. We have to keep a peacekeeping force there to make sure another Saddam-esque regime does not take over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice all the terrorist bombing raids on our soldiers? Our soldiers are not thier primary goals, the Iraqis allied with us are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that if this matter has not been settled by 2008, the next President is as patient and wise about the matter as President Bush is. Disagree with me if you want, but he is handling the matter maturely. He feels for the losses of our troops just as you and I do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those men and women out there in the field know what thier duty is, and they are holding themselves responsible to carry it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So before you go bashing your military, realize that you are personally attacking the 130,000 men and women risking thier lives and making the sacrifices of 2200 others vain.

[rratkiller]

I'll keep this short....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Army Exp: 11B getting my E5 pinned in 4 days...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. For someone coming out of high school with little to no skills and no immediate desire for college, it's a great opportunity. If you want to learn a trade or skill that's marketable.....then enlist for that MOS...duh... If you're hardcore and want to go Ranger or SF then get it in your friggin' contract, otherwise you'll most likely wind up as infantry, needs of the Army.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. It can also be the most maddening job in the world for anyone with half a brain and capacity for logical thought. Prepare yourself mentally to be mindf'd at every opportunity. Field time, breaking track, sweeping and straightening the line for the nth time, getting recalled because of some drunken, idiotic teenager's stupidity, etc can drive you mad if you let it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Combat arms, 11B especially, is the most physically and personally demanding jobs in the world. But it's also one of the easiest. You're getting paid to stay in shape.... And don't worry, with PT every weekday morning at 0600 come rain, shine, snow, cold, heat, etc., you will stay relatively fit. You'll have days that really, really suck with hours that run into the wee hours or directly into the next day. You'll also have field problems that may last a month or more at least twice a year. But most days as an 11B will end relatively early and consist of little more than a few hours of work in the morning and sham classes in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. If you're thinking about getting married, do it in the Army. Your pay will double...or more. And the birth of my child me cost all of $39...... At E-4, married, and AIP, I'm pulling over 36K with another 6K per year bonus, and another $14K per year for 3 years that the Army is paying for my student loans. So I'm sitting around $56k without including medical benefits, reduced commisary/PX prices, etc. Not that shabby. And if you're not looking to get married yet, you just might meet "the one" on the other side of the globe..... :oops:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Retirement is guaranteed after 20 years... That's insanely short compared to most jobs that a. won't employ you that long, and b. require upwards of 30 years for retirement. In short, you'd still be pretty dang young, drawing retirement, and still young enough to start another paying career on top of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. If at all possible go Warrant Officer. All the perks of being an officer with a tenth of the BS. If not, look into green to gold, etc. Being enlisted means you're on the bottom of the totem pole and get tasked with every stupid non-infantry task they can come up with. Think custodial engineer... If nothing else, I'd advise anyone except the most hopelessly hooah, (or hopelessly [developmentally delayed]ed) to pick a "skills" MOS....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Don't listen to know-nothing peacenicks that will put you down and wonder why we can't all just get along. Because sadly, we can't. All they see is the violence of our combat related actions, not the longterm benefits of our intentions. Everywhere I go in the world I see oppression; from dictatorial theocracies to corrupt officials to plain old human trafficking. If good people won't stand up and use force of arms against the rogue governments, religious wackos, and criminal organizations, then the oppression, abuse, subjegation, and rape and murder of innocent women, children, minorities, and the elderly will continue without end. I've seen it. It sickens me. So does warfare. But I'll gladly kill 100 thugs to see one little girl grow up unmolested with the right to vote and live as an independant, self respecting person.

[poochu]

1. For someone coming out of high school with little to no skills and no immediate desire for college, it's a great opportunity. If you want to learn a trade or skill that's marketable.....then enlist for that MOS...duh... If you're hardcore and want to go Ranger or SF then get it in your friggin' contract, otherwise you'll most likely wind up as infantry, needs of the Army.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want i a trade and i suck at school and i hate it lots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But then im not a strong person so i think i fit in the category of homeless bum when im older.

[x_bow80]

not sure about u, but i dont want 2 die untill im like 80 or so, not in my teens.... :D