Is it a good thing to join the army?

If it sounds like you’d enjoy it then yes.
Do you want more structure in your life? Do you want to pay for college? See the world? Be part of something? There are a lot of reasons to join, it’s up to you whether it’s good for you or not.

I don’t believe in violence so I won’t recommend anyone join up.
Look at how the US treats its veterans. Have you ever seen a homeless vet holding a “will work for food” sign on an interstate offramp?
This should never happen.

Absolutely not.
Soldiers are nothing more than legitimized thugs.

I don’t want to get into a political discussion about the military. That won’t answer your question. However, as a Navy and National Guard veteran I can say this: the military is a choice one must consider deeply. It will give you a lot of opportunities you may not already have, but the responsibility of serving is a grave one in which you may be asked to do things you may not agree with and behave in ways you may not want to. You give up your rights the moment you sign up. If you are opposed to violence or feel compelled to judge the rightness or wrongness of our country’s military actions, it probably isn’t for you. If you feel a sense of duty and pride, and feel that the military is necessary and fundamentally good (as opposed to those who might use the military for ill) then you might be happy in the army. I am largely opposed to our use of the military, but I also do not regret serving as it offered me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had, including meeting some very fine fellow military members who love their country very much.

If you are like rhetorician or asmonet, then maybe. If you feel as TCH or HA, then probably not.

A very individual decision. There are loads of reasons to join or not join the military. Some patriotic, some selfish, some childish, some heroic, some admirable, etc. Only you can really answer your own question for yourself….

Best of luck.

@HarmonyAlexandria: I hope soldiers occasionally smack people like you. They do a necessary service for the country, whether you like it or not.

Until you put your life on the line for people you will never meet you have absolutely no right to judge their character as a group by calling them thugs.

@Snoopy: To be fair, I would never recommend the military to anyone I know, and would never join myself. I think without a strong mind and body, you can be hurt in more ways than one by the process and the life. True for many, perhaps not all. But, I agree with you. It’s a personal decision.

@asmonet I said maybe if you are like asmonet…..

:)

In that case, word. :)

‘Mo, I’d lurve you multiple times for “I hope soldiers occasionally smack people like you.” if I hadn’t maxed out on you ages ago. GA, anyway.

Thank you, darling. Now go back to bed for another three hours and find more baby otters to post.

Think about it for a long time. Do a lot of research yourself about it and don’t let a recruiter lead you on. If you like structure and being told what to do,go for it. If you also like guns,tanks,all that gi joe stuff,go for it. Consider all possibilities,while your in and what will happen to you once you’re out. Veterans don’t really get anything. Think about your own personal beliefs on how you feel about this war and also dieing or having to kill someone else. Take it from someone who signed the papers without thinking to much about it.

I think being a soldier should be about actually defending your country. Not being stationed in one of over 1500 bases in 130 countries, telling yourself – and everybody else – you are.

i agree with oratio