I'm wondering what folks thoughts are on this subject.
We have been going through a period until recently of unprecedented growth of our military. Much of this growth occured during a severe recession. Seeing as how there isn't a draft, how much do you believe enlistments happened due to patriotism and how much due to economics?
I am regularly regaled with super patriotism bumper stickers, facebook posts, letters to the editor etc....I find it hard to share many sentiments with the super patriots as in my mind, the people who joined in this era were more financially motivated than patriotically disposed. This is my opinion, am I wrong?
Before anyone gets too upset, I am a veteran, 4 years and honorably discharged. I entered the service in 1980 and received the training and job skills that enabled me to seek fruitful employment when I separated from the service. Although I love my country my motivation to enlist was purely selfish.
I know current and past servicemen who entered and then used the system for pure financial gain, getting themselves deployed in war zones for hazard pay and bonuses etc. but not in literal combat, support roles usually.I am not really against this but see it as something different than altruism and have a hard time praising all troops for what a few actually do, face the enemy at close proximity. Does my attitude need adjusting. Should I jump on the bandwagon of unilateral praise or should I save that for those who truly deserve it?
As an aside, with the military size currently being shrunk, what real skills do many servicemen and women bring to the domestic workplace? I am not talking specialists, I am talking infantry, paratroopers, tank drivers and war only type of duties.
We have been going through a period until recently of unprecedented growth of our military. Much of this growth occured during a severe recession. Seeing as how there isn't a draft, how much do you believe enlistments happened due to patriotism and how much due to economics?
I am regularly regaled with super patriotism bumper stickers, facebook posts, letters to the editor etc....I find it hard to share many sentiments with the super patriots as in my mind, the people who joined in this era were more financially motivated than patriotically disposed. This is my opinion, am I wrong?
Before anyone gets too upset, I am a veteran, 4 years and honorably discharged. I entered the service in 1980 and received the training and job skills that enabled me to seek fruitful employment when I separated from the service. Although I love my country my motivation to enlist was purely selfish.
I know current and past servicemen who entered and then used the system for pure financial gain, getting themselves deployed in war zones for hazard pay and bonuses etc. but not in literal combat, support roles usually.I am not really against this but see it as something different than altruism and have a hard time praising all troops for what a few actually do, face the enemy at close proximity. Does my attitude need adjusting. Should I jump on the bandwagon of unilateral praise or should I save that for those who truly deserve it?
As an aside, with the military size currently being shrunk, what real skills do many servicemen and women bring to the domestic workplace? I am not talking specialists, I am talking infantry, paratroopers, tank drivers and war only type of duties.
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