Very interesting question. Personally, there is no way in hell that I would join the Australian Army, primarily because I am a thinker. I am not the sort of person who can say "Yes sir!" without considering the rammifications of every action, which wouldn't work well in a crisis for obvious reasons. If I agree with the order then fair enough, but I would always want to ask "Why?". After all, when it comes down to it National armies are designed to be populated by people who follow orders and do not think outside the metaphorical square. Initiative is not exactly encouraged and, as such, drones make the best soldiers. Just as in the rest of the workforce *sigh*. You know the type I mean, the sort of people who just go in every day and do their jobs with their heads down and without making a fuss. The sort of people who do not think for themselves and do not wish to "rock the boat". THAT is why the armed forces have a sterertypically bad reputation. Ah, well *shakes head*. Really Griff, you shouldn't let me go no like that .

if i ever joined the forces, i'd join as a photographer, but only if i couldnt get a photography job anywhere else

If i'd join the forces.....it'd have to be as a musician,just so i wave towards the TV camera's and say "hi mum!"

What ever military Phoenix Joins im moveing to another country

Never be afraid to try something new, Remember Amatuers built the Ark, Professionals built the Titanic

I personally would not join the armed services...simply because I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to hurt someone, in defence or otherwise. I'm really not what you'd call an aggressive person. Also, there is no career in the army/navy that I would like to do, that i can't do outside of the armed services. And finally, I've spent my entire life avoiding a career where I would have to wear a suit all day, so the thought of being forced to work an immaculate uniform every day just makes me shudder.

But all that said, I can understand why people join the army at 17/18 to give themselves a good opportunity to improve themselves - both in health, stability and career. I just find it sad that in the present climate, these people are likely to get shipped to a warzone extremely early in their career. It makes me wonder what sort of person would join the armed services at the moment, knowing full well that they will be seeing action almost straight away. Without meaning to offend, I can only question their mental health.

However I remember confronting the issue of drafting a while back and wondered what I would do if I was called upon, like my grandfather was in WW2. I soon concluded that if I were to be drafted, I would accept it begrudgingly and do my duty like every other person. But at the same time, I find the whole thought of it upsetting.

Been there done that in 81 and 82. Army.

Wished sometimes I had stayed in, could have led to a different job choices now.

you wouldnt get away with being brian blessed in the army you know fd.

It seems my brother and I are going to be the first in my family down the paternal line not to have been in the army for at least 4 generations. I've got fairly mixed feelings on the issue. It's not the same as when our parents or grandparents went out to fight the Nazis in WW2. All the issues surrounding war these days seems to be so much murkier; I really don't think I could fight for something I found morally reprehensible. I also worry about what the army does to a person, its objective is to harden someone so that they're capable of shooting and killing someone when given the order.
However, the discipline instilled, the maturity it seems to have hammered into some of my childhood friends who were previously known for being reckless is nothing short of incredible. It shows people that they're capable of more than they believed, teaches respect and responsibility and at least in the UK I feel that those qualities are lacking in my generation in general. So part of me feels like it could do me a world of good, but the other half knows about the bullying and the deliberate power games, bureaucracy and other BS that goes on.

Esky, I disagree on the purely following orders comments, that's the domain of the private, if you can prove you've got a brain and can lead people, the situation changes entirely.

@Griffon - Very interesting thread.

I personally debated on joining the military after high school for many reasons. If I did I would of went to one of the academys and then to ocs and become something more then a "private." That is not me insulting them an any way I myself would just like to have more control over my carreer in the military if I would have joined. My final reason for not joining was I have two friends who had fathers who were killid in Iraq during our senior year in high school and I seen what it did first hand to their familys. I don't think I could put my future wife and kids if I ever want any through that type of waiting when I am gone doe for 6 months plus at a time.

There is nothing good about war, but there is good is why we fight wars.

I have nothing agaisnt joining the army. Just if I joined I would want to be somthing specilized. Officer, Technical, Etc But you cant always get those jobs without joining as a grunt first

A very interesting question. I'd have to say that for me it all depends on the circumstances. If a situation arose like that in 1914 or 1939 then I'm pretty sure I would sign up to fight for the UK, and I think that many people would do the same. However as Recusant said, a war such as our most recent involves far murkier issues and I'm not sure I agree fully with the reasons. There's a big difference between fighting in defense of your country and fighting to 'liberate' another for political reasons, regardless of who you are fighting. Perhaps I do have a few scraps of patriotism left after all - I'd certainly sign up to defend my country

The chances of a war occouring like World War 1 & 2 are all but impossible in todays society. If something happend on that magnitude it is truly scarey what would happen and the amount of destruction that would happen. With todays weapons you wouldn't even have time to get out of basic training for your countries respective military, let alone make it to the battlefield.

I did, and I rather enjoyed it at the time; I would certainly recommend it as an experience. I didn't join for patriotic reasons, really just to get away from home because i hated my mum and dad. I also learnt a trade (electronics) travelled to many interesting places I would never have gone to otherwise and made some lifelong friends. I also learnt valuable lessons about dealing with high pressure situations and standing up for myself as well as turning from the docile useless kid I was to the practical fixer-upper I am now.

however as to the fighting part, well thats the rub; most of my tasks involved communications and the occasional pressing of buttons, although I also had to man 37mm cannons, and I saw a bit of nastiness in Northern Ireland when i was stationed there, which rather opened my eyes on certain matters when I bothered to find out what was going on. After all if i was supposed to fight anyone it was the Russians, not Irish teenagers throwing stones at us feckin' Brits.

I certainly wouldnt join the military at the moment in the current international situation; not because I'd be scared (even though i would be) but because of political and religiuos principle and conviction. As a matter of fact, I received a call-out notice in late 2003 from the MoD to attend a medical as I was on a list to go to Iraq! on paper you can be recalled to duty until you're 39 and a half if you have what's classed as special skills. but thankfully, I failed the medical. what did they expect? I was nearly 40 years old, bad heart, totally unfit (and actively opposed to what was going on) and the chances of me running around Basra-way setting up comms links were nigh on impossible. it gave the wife a fright though, she was frantic esp when she heard about those British sailors taken prisoner by the Iranians.

I'm not averse to the idea of participating in armed conflict and I'm no shade of a pacifist, although i have genuine respect for true pacifists like Quakers who refuse to participate in any way. If as most people have already stated we were genuinely threatened and faced a true danger like Nazi Germany then of course I'd readily do my bit.

Edited by - Tawakalna on 11/1/2005 11:17:55 AM

Edited by - Tawakalna on 11/1/2005 11:59:06 AM

They recalled my dad shortly after he'd recuperated from a major car accident back in SA. He'd been unable to walk for half a year, had a reconstructed elbow, damaged spine, broken pelvis (through the sacrum) and broken ribs, wrists etc. Apparently the doctor could still have technically passed him(!) but he used it as a chance for my dad to get out of national service.