|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events In the News Military Recruits Come From Poor Areas|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
|
New Member |
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,79770,00.html
The military has been there when people have failed. You can't blame people for wanting to better there lives with what's available. |
||
|
|
Super Member |
Poverty was not an issue with me, I wanted to have a career in the military, as far back as I can remember. I knew some little kids that wanted to be Firemen, some Policemen, some Cowboys, me, I wanted to be in the U.S. military. My draft lottery number was TWO, so it was a cinch that I'd be doing the rice paddy stomp, so I went and joined on my birthday. I actually received my draft notice while I was home on boot camp leave.
I had to go to my draft board, in uniform, with my I.D. card and my orders, to prove that I was already spoken for... Respectfully, SUNLINER81 |
|||
|
Member |
There alot of truth to this... I can't remember any of the guys I was with having money,,, myself included... Like Sunliner most of us joined to serve, we could'nt imagine not serving... The really cool thing... The girls (most) did'nt care if we had money, either... cool:
|
|||
|
Member |
I am guessing that a group of filthy rich proffessor's (anti-war types) got together to conduct a study that everyone already knew about!!!
|
|||
|
Member |
It's unfortunate that this news article is written so poorly. There's no disputing the facts of where the majority of our troops come from; however, I have a lot of disagreement with the conclusions or implications of this news story.
For this study to really do its job, it should track what happens after recruits join the military. How many stay to make it a career; how many leave after one term, two terms, etc; and what happens after they've made it a career. Here's what the study would find out: many of today's former military who leave the service go on to become business entrepreneurs, complete their degrees to become doctors, lawyers, etc., or go on to other successes. I bet that a majority of those who leave the military, either after completing their enlistment or retiring, continue on to successful lives. And that's the point this so-called study misses, or at least what the article misses. The military is more than just closing with and destroying the enemy on the battlefield. It instills discipline, a code of honor, a sense of professionalism and pride, a values-based lifestyle and a core belief that anything is possible if you put some effort into it. Yeah, I know: not true for everyone; and there's a percentage of those whose lives end up worse than it was before they got into the military. However, I believe this to be the exception rather than the rule. So I reject the premise that people join the military because they couldn't find a better job anywhere else. People join the military for a wide variety of reasons, but once they join, the military helps them in so many ways that when they finally leave the military, they become even greater contributors to society than those who never served a day in the military. I truly believe that. |
|||
|
Experienced Member |
I plan on joining after I finish college, but my # was 2 back in the 70s , so i join early and did not regreat it 1 bit.
 |
|||
|
Member |
The article says 64% of recruits come from counties with income rates lower than the national average. Recruiting has historically been better in the Midwest and the South, where income levels are lower than the national average, but so is cost of living.
|
|||
|
Member |
Have to say I'm skeptical about the organization's agenda after checking out their web site: National Priorities Project.
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/home/3.html Among it's listed collaborators you'll find Moveon.org, Code Pink, Peace Action, and the War Resisters League. It also cites several pieces by Frida Berrigan, daughter of Vietnam war protester Phillip Berrigan. This message has been edited. Last edited by: FBoehm, |
|||
|
|
Now OldArmyLOVE -------------------  Founding Member ------------------- |
This has always been true, I would assume. It was that was during the revolutionary war and it was that way 50+ years ago when I enlisted. Maybe not the exact same percentage, but us poor boy have always made up a large percentage of the military. Most of us grew up going to work at an early age and learned to take orders. I think we have also made very good soldiers.
At least that’s the way this old soldier and proud Coast Guard dad sees it! A listening ear, a caring heart, an open mind and an extend hand may be all I can offer, but they are yours without charge or judgment. |
|||
|
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell? |
Wow, the majority of recruits come from the poorer counties. I bet $100 that you will also find the majority of population is in poorer counties. I mean, how many people live in the poorer areas where apartments and houses are packed in versus how many people live in wealthy areas where people have several acres of property.
So the moral of the story is, the majority of recruits come from where the majority of the population is. I sure hope they didn't spend too much to figure that out. |
|||
|
Highly Experienced Member |
Ran to the Navy recruiter as fast as I could when I turned 17 could not imagine staying in east L.A.
Thank you Navy!!! GO Navy!!! I'd do it again except I can't run. Too much wheezing!! |
|||
|
|
Experienced Member |
one must question the motives of such a "study" that is done by those with no pride of country at all only for them to discover what we already know. could have just given any of us the cash and we could have told them. Too bad these same people havent discovered WHY people join and how much better they are as people for having served.
|
|||
|
|
Now OldArmyLOVE ------------------- Founding Member ------------------- |
You hit it right on the nose.  A listening ear, a caring heart, an open mind and an extend hand may be all I can offer, but they are yours without charge or judgment. |
|||
|
Highly Experienced Member |
I came from the middle class. When I retired 23 years latter I went back to the middle class. Been there ever since.
|
|||
|
New Member |
I was in An Loc when I got a letter from my Mom telling me I had a letter from draft board. Seems I was going to be arrested for not registering. |
|||
|
|
New Member |
Excellent essay. Plus, in my day, a lot of us joined out of high school because, there was a war and we wanted to be as patriotic as our Dad's had been. Money had little to do about joining the military. Another fallacy, in my opinion, was that blacks were drafted for a white man's war. Having served with quite a few soldiers, who happened to be black, Their most common concern was "Why does it have to be a race thing? Why can't I be as patriotic as my white buddies?" |
|||
|
|
Now OldArmyLOVE ------------------- Founding Member ------------------- |
I was in Germany in 1956 when my mother got my draft notice. She fill out the portion that was meant for me to be able to ask for a deferment. She said I was working in Germany and would not be able come take part in the draft. They really liked that – they sent me subpoena and ordered that I report in seven days or they would have me arrested. It took us about six months to get it straightened out. I’ve still got the subpoena. The SNAFU showed up in a background check for a Top Secret Security Clearance prior to my appointment as a warrant officer in 1968. “Ain’t the government fun?” At least that’s the way this old soldier and proud Coast Guard dad sees it! A listening ear, a caring heart, an open mind and an extend hand may be all I can offer, but they are yours without charge or judgment. |
|||
|
''Dance like no one is watching" |
So true! Since the 'rich' don't make up the majority why we they be the majority to join? Kinda off topic but I was talking with one of hubby's friends awhile back, and I asked him what made him join(i don't even know why I asked, or what we were talking about before) and he said it was either that or jail. Without going into the nature of the crime, the judge said he could either go to jail, or join the Army. That was the first time I'd ever heard of that being a second choice to jail. Since that discussion, I've heard a couple more similar stories. That just doesn't sit right with me for some reason. Granted this guy has become a fine young man, and it was a little over a decade ago, but what is the purpose for offering joining as some 'lesser evil'? "It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong" -- Leo Roskin |
|||
|
Highly respected member |
Well my Dear, as you found out yourself some judges realize some of these "criminals" can and are worth a second chance...most of them also have no criminal record as a result....win win Already past the future |
|||
|
|
''Dance like no one is watching" |
Yea..that's another angle to look at it.
"It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong" -- Leo Roskin |
|||
|
| Powered by Eve Community | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events In the News Military Recruits Come From Poor Areas
