If you had no choice but to go to the military, what do you think would be the worst part about it?

[Extraterrestrial1999]

Being away from home

Having to be super disciplined and structured

Workload

Use of weapons

None

Other

Updates

1 y

Assuming your were between 18 and 33 let's say?

[OneViewpoint]

Wow! There are some real misconceptions about the military. I grew up on Air Force bases. My dad was career Air Force. I was a US Army officer for 15 years.

Being away from home / moving around every 2-3 years is a real concern. Getting dead or wounded is also a real concern.

Military life is not nearly as structured and rigid as people seem to think. There's lots of comradery and friendly fun. A lot of bases have gyms, officer and NCO clubs, movie theaters, pools, golf courses, baseball fields, special interest clubs, etc.

Workload? It can be intense at times. There's also a lot of sitting around with your thumb up your ass. Also most people don't know, a lot of classroom time along with the stuff you see in movies. There is constant education for those who want to advance their career. Especially for officers.

Use of weapons? Just the tools of the job.

Assuming you don't get killed or wounded, what a lot of people struggle with is the transition from say a 20 year career in the military environment to a civilian economy at age 40 or so. Especially if they haven't really prepared for that inevitable major change in their life... which is not uncommon. Military job skills often do not translate directly to the skillset required for a back office or factory job except in indirect ways like discipline, leadership, and work ethic.

[NathanDavis]

the, dehumanization that is required to serve as cannon fodder... or cannon fodder roaster

[Simslover92]

Having to be super disciplined and structured. I'm too much of a procrastinator and laid-back to have the patience to deal with being that way. My dad was in the military and he honestly scares me. Military people are too rigid and stern for my liking.

[SeriouslyNotSerious]

Having to be very disciplined and structured, which is not very me. 😐

And also the pervs. I'm sure there's a lot.

[petitedollbabee]

Sexual assault that regularly happens to female members but gets sweeped under the rug to avoid controversy.

[MuddyMole]

The part where you get killed never sounded like very much fun to me.

[OneViewpoint]

Oh, c'mon. Be open minded. Give it a try once. If you don't like it... well, you never have to do it again.

[MuddyMole]

@OneViewpoint As they say: "If at first, you don't succeed, then skydiving is probably not for you".

[sage2021]

All of the above excluding OTHER. That was never even a thought for me.

[exitseven]

getting my legs blown off in some foreign hellhole so some weapons maker or politician can get rich.

[Agape93]

Being ordered to die or fight for people and causes not my own.

[OneViewpoint]

@Agape93

The only intelligent argument from any person who hasn't been there that I've seen. That's why I left after 15 years and 5 years short of retirement. Well that and no one ever joined the military to get rich. And my first son was one year old at the time. Most of the people I started out with were dead. Hmmmm... some quick math... yup, I resign my commission.

You missed the other side of your argument though. Being ordered to fight and kill a bunch of people who can't really fight back and don't necessarily deserve to die for oil profits or an election win.

[DrPepper12]

Adjusting to being broken & reformed in their image. Fuck that.

[Pohjolan]

That would depend on which branch you are going to.

To me the worst was hunger and I had hypothermia twice.

[RedInnocent69]

Having to kill people that want to kill me comes to mind

[SmokinAces2000]

I would never join the military even if they tried to make me

[fish5505_87]

Im also 51, so at this point?

[Extraterrestrial1999]

Yeah meant to ask it as if you were between 18 and 33(even though that's obviously not the age limit)

[fish5505_87]

I figured as much, I answered because I liked the question

[blackeagle007]

Not for me. All I can say

[purplepoppy]

The awful clothes