Why do men even become soldiers?

[Anonymous]

What if all the young men decide they will not become soldiers anymore for the rich and old men. Would there be even any wars in the world anymore?

[Anonymous]

The reason armies exist is because someone is willing and able to pay the men who compose them to form them and fight for them.

This tend to be people who have the money to do so such as Governments and those who have spend a life time building such resources. If everyone simply refused to fight then you would indeed have no armies foreign or domestic (police).

But to address your concern of abuse in that these men are being sent to fight for things not in the interest of the people.
This is why originally we had a militia type system which really did consist of the people who were not full time employees who's livelihood depended upon such pay (standing army) and thus could choose if necessary to refuse unethical orders.

This system was original to the colonies later States, and was intended for use by the Federal system as well 90% of the time Hence Clauses 15 and 16 of Article 1 section 8.

Over the last 200+ years of course federal & state politicians didn't like this and found more and more reasons to maintain a more professional force that was as such fully captive to their demands economically speaking. But also more focused on the job of war and thus more professional as well.

Thus they created and maintained standing professional armies to fight forign wars (like the U. S. army) and impose their not always agreeable domestic laws like the police.
Yes police are a relatively new thing invented by such urban politicians for the same reason of power.

[Anonymous]

Because one country will always find willing young men to fight no matter what happens. Whether it’s compulsory conscription, monetary benefits, the pride of serving your country or just the desire to be legally violent (some young men really do want to kill people legally) there will never be a worldwide shortage of young men who aren’t willing to fight. And a country that doesn’t have full military capacity will be left vulnerable.

Also it is extremely naive and foolish to have a “oh we play nice they will play nice” attitude with foreign policy. Not everybody thinks the same way you do.

Don’t get me wrong that would be nice if the world could be that way. World peace is a beautiful concept but unfortunately it will never happen. The Middle East is a perfect example of that.

Also total casualties in wars have actually gone down ever since the invention of nuclear weapons. I have no doubt that Russia and the USA would have gotten in a direct military conflict shortly after WW2 if it wasn’t for the threat of MAD (mutually assured destruction) given both countries have nukes. Now the prospect of a nuclear war is horrifying but ironically the threat of nuclear weapons has actually drastically lowered war casualties.

Also the military drives scientific advancements because fear is a great motivator. And it’s been that for almost of all of human history. The fear of being left behind technologically and being vulnerable to attack drives governments to invest in modern warfare development. But this technology has downstream civilian benefits. For example the boom of cell phone technology in the western world was taken from telecommunications technology that innovated during the gulf war.

So sorry to say but the Vietnam era hippies were completely wrong. While I like the sentiment it’s just a pipe dream there will never be war.

[Massageman]

They really do get a decent package, even if they have no hard-and-fast obvious talents, there are dozens of occupations needed to run the armed forces. Even gamers might be able to find a place "manning" drones, and they'd probably be fairly good at it, and get paid for it rather than just wasting their day at home. (My maternal grandfather was a cook in WW-1, and my wife's dad was in the Merchant Marines.

Heck- the armed forces even have Musicians. Check out: "Selections From Jersey Boys - US Navy 2014", one of my all-time favorites.

[Anonymous]

This is why we have an all volunteer army. And why the armed forces work hard to package service as the ultimate alpha male move. Because wars like Vietnam taught us that you cannot sustain a largely unpopular war. Sure in times of great crisis you can conscript soldiers. But that is highly corrosive to the morale of the nation when you have to force citizens to fight. In short, don't put your country in intractable, unwinnable wars. And have clearly defined goal before putting lives at risk.

[D_Bone_Steak]

If we did it and became all peaceful... all of us would get a good helping of murder and rape.

I joined the military for my 40k GI Bill for college... I got an accounting degree... never used it. I can do 100 pushups though and I know how to fuck a bunch of hookers. Would probably be homeless if it wasn't for how those pushups made me look so I could live off women.

[Cody2004]

There's plenty of reasons I think this is for like everyone though you can get citizenship by joining certain military you also come out with good leadership skills depending on your path for the longest time I wanted to do the military but I found myself now each summer as a summer camp counselor the hand of them it is stressful having to deal with a bunch of kids when you lose one of them your heart sinks so fast

[ShadezMcgee]

Politicians are a mere piece of a bigger machine. Even if it wasn't them, there are other reasons war is had. Land conquest, religion, resources, etc.

Just because someone won't fight doesn't mean everyone will follow suit. That is foolish and wishful thinking. back in the old days there was this thing called conscription as well. Even the draft.

[GuyAnswersGirls123]

It provides them opportunities, education, an income, as well as a chance to serve their country. As for the scenario you presented, I think far more likely is that the country will resort to conscription and impose a mandatory draft as many countries still do. Then the soldiers will no longer even receive an attractive income and opportunities in exchange for their services and be forced to serve.

[genericname85]

you partly gave the answer in your description. they are young. that's it. young people are easily impressionable. the human mind is not fully developed till 25 so since you can join the army at 18, that's where they get them. when they fall for stupid propaganda still.

[OtterMan68]

For any of the following

• The steady paycheck and benefits
• Get out of a small town
• ROTC pay for college
• Family tradition
• Want to be in the military - it's a calling.
• Want to go to war and kill

[DextroShade]

Men used to fight for things like honor, duty, to protect their family, and for their country. The left has mostly destroyed these things so why should men fight for them? We should send the the soyboys, enbys, and other leftists degenerates to war to be used as cannon fodder so they can soak up enemy munitions and we won't have to put up with them anymore, it's a win-win!

[more_than_a_guy]

Your point of view is very naive. While I agree many politicians use the power for worse, armies are essential. There are always bad people who will do bad things, in these days are mostly terrorist organisations, so we need armies to fight the terror organisation.

[Berethor]

If you throw down your weapon don't means that the other side would do so too.

https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Suicidal_Pacifism

[argot]

All you have to do is look at any inner city. There is constant war in the poorest of neighborhoods among the poorest of people. People fight. It's better to be good at it than to be lacking...

[RebelinSteel]

You would have conscription as some countries have. Also you prove your complete lack of knowledge about what the military does. Try asking questions about something else.

[KostasKouvalis]

These days, it seems like they do it for the free shit and ass kissing. Some just aren't good for anything else, and others have thirst for blood and adventure or long to see the world.

They would just reinstate the draft.

[NamerOfStars]

Yes- from those who already ARE soldiers. That's the real problem with peace; too many cowards think it's impossible.

[JacobJordan]

Good way to get free education for poor guys. Also most countries have a forced conscription soooo

[laly520]

they profit from it
it isn't only a one way thing

[Unit1]

I guess so. However there is always gonna be broke boys with nowhere else to go or they'll just forcibly draft the boys.

[Anonymous]

Some are drafted and in some countries it is required after school for a minimum amount of years, others do it because they have nothing else and need to eat and a place to stay. We will always have soldiers because some are forced into it

[jahaims]

No options or they are indoctrinated via propaganda

[TentpPitcher]

For the same reason we play sports. Except it's better to wear thickkkk armor with which nobody sees that you've pitched a tent.

[exitseven]

What if they had a war and nobody came?

[KrakenAttackin]

There would be conscription.

[HouseMoat]

To "protect" the rich

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Some people are just stupid. It's that simple.

[grega239]

A sense of duty

[Pterodon]

It’s just a job we enjoy.

[ab2shifty]

Ask them lol