I want to join the military?

[DebChris]

I won’t address whether you should or should not join the military. Like so many choices in life, military service is what you make of it…

Agreed.
The military is a 24 hour job. Many of the Reservists with whom I worked were also police officers. Being a police officer is the only civilian job that I know that may have some say regarding off duty time. That say is mainly a matter of whether or not the police officer is allowed to moonlight. Any job that involves rotating shifts will have an impact on a person’s personal life and what the person may or may not do.
As mentioned in an earlier post, there are many factory jobs that do not allow for personal initiative. Economic factors can make these jobs difficult to leave. It is personal initiative, not blind obedience, that leads to being awarded medals, the Purple Heart being one possible exception. Injuries happen to those who take the extra step as well as those who do not.
As in a civilian job, you will be in contact with believers and unbelievers alike. You will be questioned about your faith and challenged to live according to what you have been taught. That is true whether you remain a civilian or choose to join the military. Atrocities make the news, not because they are common occurences, but because they stand in direct contrast to that which is decent. The excuse “I was just following orders” was not accepted in Nuremberg nor was it accepted in Andersonville. You bring your conscience with you.
If you are interested in the humantarian efforts of the military, I’m not sure the Rangers is the path you want to take. Find out what the military has to offer. Make your decision based on the options you are given. Do get everything in writing.
Life is full of uncertainty. It is only by listening to the small voice of God speaking to your heart that you will know what is the right decision to make.
In the meantime, you can request a rosary form the Rosary Army. Twine rosaries are quiet and don’t break. Let them know about your discernment regarding military service.
www.rosaryarmy.com

 

[panoikei]

panoikei,
Where did you go to Basic Training?
Even at Ft. Ord, the wind chill can be an issue coming off the bay. Many of the fair haired Drill Sergeant candidates under me developed wind and sunburn. I had to care for those who developed hypothermia. I was in service when soldiers still ran in combat boots and developed achilles tendonitis in both legs from overuse. Leaders don’t quit.
For a short period of time the company commander of the unit to which I was assigned was a Ranger. It didn’t matter that I was a woman. He insisted that I do everything the men did, at a time when the role of women was limited. A picture of me plucking feathers from a chicken killed while on bivouc made it into the Army Times. My sister said she saw it in the Navy Times(which is basically the same paper). This was the unit to which I was assigned before being sent to the Leadership Academy as an instructor.

Ft. Sill, OK. It’s where I met my wife after returning stateside. We went through “one station training”. It was like basic training supercharged. 2 of my drills were grunts…and they loved to show what they liked to do…low crawled everywhere. One of the drills turned to me one day and say in his animated deep tough voice and said…“private…I ought to leave you with my hat and go home”… I was being…well…me…leader. Just a little too much. The winds on the plains gets really high. And some of the coldest temperatures in this country are in that part of the country… people just don’t hear about it. Winter’s are really brutal because of the wind chill factor.

 

[ladylinguist]

The military takes care of its own, contrary to what the media is saying about poor health care, etc.:

I think this really depends on your branch of service. I’ve been stationed on both Army and Navy bases and there is a huge difference in the quality of care. Army medical in general just seems to operate at a far lower level than should ever be acceptable. The Army hospital at my last base wasn’t allowed to provide medical care for pregnant women past their 24th week because their infant mortality rate was so high. o.o I’ve had numerous co-workers go in for surgeries that had to be repeated at the civilian hospital because their Army surgeons botched it up. I had one friend who called for an emergency sick call appointment because she was having several chest pains and was told “Well, we can fit you in at 7 a.m tomorrow.” They didn’t even suggest she go to the emergency room!
Navy medical is better. I’m guessing AF is OK, based on your experiences, but I’ve never had to deal with AF medical. I know nothing about Marine medical services.

 

[DebChris]

Within the military, you will find both competent and incompetent medical care. It is thanks to a doctor from Fort Sam Houston, that I have no scars (well, a slight one under my left armpit) from when I caught fire at the age of 14. It was a God-incident that he was visiting Forth Dix at the time. Navy doctors take care of Marines.

 

[stanmaxkolbe]

I’ve never had a problem with Army medical care. My first wife [God rest her soul] went though three major surgeries here at Fort Hood and two at Fort Sam and they were very professional. I salute the Army Medical Corps. Also all services go to Fort Sam to be trained so they must be doing something right.

When it comes to the military and Christians remember that the military is a reflection of our civilian society.

 

[DebChris]

There is only one person who can make the decision. The following comes from a book shared by one of my Cursillistas this morning:
Vocation is rooted in the Latin for “voice.” Vocation does not mean a goal I pursue. It means a calling that I hear. Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am. I must listen for the truths and values at the heart of my identity, not the standards by which I must live–but the standards by which I can not help but live if I am living my own life.

It may be that the training and discipline of the military is something you need before following a different path for the rest of your life. The military may be the career you follow for the rest of your life. Only one person knows. There is a peace that comes when a person decides on the direction for his/her life that is aligned with the path that God would have him/her follow.

 

[Donna_Vecchia]

ladylinguiest and JimR–Yes that really is my experience in the military. Perhaps it is a difference in the branches or when you served (Jim R) or officer vs. enlisted or married vs. single soldiers. My husband is an Army officer and has been in close to 30 years. The Christian faith communities in the military are unbelievably strong and active in our experience–particularly Protestant Christians. Sometimes religious zeal crosses the line and becomes proselytizing.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

ladylinguiest and JimR–Yes that really is my experience in the military. Perhaps it is a difference in the branches or when you served (Jim R) or officer vs. enlisted or married vs. single soldiers. My husband is an Army officer and has been in close to 30 years. The Christian faith communities in the military are unbelievably strong and active in our experience–particularly Protestant Christians. Sometimes religious zeal crosses the line and becomes proselytizing.

Well, I served in the grunts in the Marines, as an M60 Machine gunner. There was a different attitude with our units verses other units such as the air wing. We were more barbaric.

When it came to the Air force, we didn’t consider them to be a military branch of service, just civilians with uniforms.

Also, over seas, Marines were not allowed to take families. So there was more of a bachelor mentality. However, the majority of Marines in my unit, were not married anyway and married life was not conducive for Marine infantry men. I got engaged when I was serving in Quantico, VA. I thought maybe I should make a career of it. So, I went to the staff sergeant, who was married and asked about it. His advice, become a civilian. You wife must be willing to work, so you can live off base, otherwise, enlisted mens housing stinks. On his advice, I took a ride out to base housing, where E5’s and above lived with their families. It looked like low-income housing projects you see in the cities. No thanks! I got out when my time was up.

I don’t regret my service in the Marine Corps and if I had to serve again, it would be the Marines. Semper Fi.

However, any young man going in with dreams of God, patriotism and upholding the American way of life, is going to be disillusioned. Thats the civilian way of thinking, and they’ll grind it out of you in boot camp.

Jim

 

[DebChris]

When I was “Activated for Support,” I became part of a support group of “displaced bachelors.” Each of us was married, but none of us had our spouses with us.
I have already mentioned that I was “born under the flagpole.” There are pictures of the tar shacks in which my family lived the first time I was in Japan, as a baby. I attended school in old Army barracks. Yes, I lived in family quarters. I do not remember it being any worse than any other place where I have lived. I remember our family, because of size, living in double quarters. It was not until I was ADS that I learned that Army regulations provide a separate bedroom for each child over 10. That bedroom might be a what is called a half bedroom, large enough for a cot. In the double quarters, one of the half bedrooms was used as a study for my brothers who shared a room and the other half bedroom became a playroom for us younger girls.
Quarters are inspected upon transfer. Of course, if a person lives in civilian housing, the deposit is only returned if the apartment is left in good condition
My father was enlisted as was I. My brother in the Navy managed to work through the ranks to become an officer. It is true that nobody should go into the military thinking that their life will be easy. The USO provides activities. I joined my parents on many USO trips while living overseas.

 

[ladylinguist]

However, any young man going in with dreams of God, patriotism and upholding the American way of life, is going to be disillusioned. Thats the civilian way of thinking, and they’ll grind it out of you in boot camp.

Jim

So true! The military life is just. . . annoying. And not enjoyable. I know that there are some people who stay in because they like it, but I cannot for the life of me see how they find it a satisfying work environment.

 

[duskyjewel]

When it came to the Air force, we didn’t consider them to be a military branch of service, just civilians with uniforms.

Also, over seas, Marines were not allowed to take families.

I get inter-service rivalry and all, but this is a little over the top. When my DH (AF Captain) was sent to Korea, on a remote tour with no family allowed, and was guarding the base perimeter against the weekly Friday night protests, getting bottles thrown at his head and curses hurled at him, screamed at to go home, filthy American… you get the picture, he was just as military as any Marine. They had to deal with people trying to run vehicles through the fence while they were standing there with rifles guarding it… tell me that’s the Chair Force! And yes, even he, a Captain, was on foot with a rifle. Security Forces is the AFSC that does perimeter protection and ground combat, if there is any, in the Air Force.

I know that doesn’t compare to IEDs in Iraq or Afghanistan, but they never knew when one of those bottles would be full of kerosene with a lit rag stuffed in the end…

As for the being disillusioned from idealistic/religious beliefs about military service… don’t make that a blanket statement. My DH has almost six years of active duty under his belt, and 5 more in the Reserves. He is currently joining the Nat’l Guard. He still believes in the idea of being willing to sacrifice himself for his country and his fellow citizens being noble and in line with Jesus’ proclamation that laying down one’s life for his friend is the greatest love of all. Perhaps if he gets deployed in the current conflict (or whatever Russia and Iran start in the near future), he will get disillusioned out of that belief… we will have to see. I don’t think he will, but I cannot predict the future or his reaction to what may happen when he goes to fight a war on the front lines.