There are many opportunities for people to get college educations in this country. Furthermore, there is an abundant supply of jobs not requiring college degrees, that have benefits. I think a more likely reason for people being under educated and unemployed is laziness. I grew up in a ghetto in Philadelphia. My family lived in a station wagon for a period of time. No one ever handed us anything. I am currently finishing my B.S. and I am also an MCSE, all in addition to a very successful military career. I asked for nothing to be handed to me, I fought and worked hard for everything I have. And I am a better man for it.

So that is why you joined the military.... like so many others. Back door draft.

The only draft on my back door is from the hole in my undies...

hahah!

so many soldiers join just to have a shot at a college education. it is sooo sad in my opinion. these people wouldn't have a chance otherwise... and uncle sam uses them like a pimp uses their whore.

I honestly did not join for the college benefit, though it was certainly a big perk.

I do agree that we get pimped sometimes. The military is a lot like a big gang. Complete with a pecking order, and it's own internal politics...

I had this argument with a Cadiot (Regular Army Name for a College ROTC Cadet) once. He complained about the fact that he had to serve in the Army for four years because he was receiving an ROTC scholarship that paid for his tuition. He thought that it was unfair. The Army paying for his school and him having to serve to pay them back. When pressed he said he had no other way to pay for college. He said he didn't have a choice, he failed to see my point that he did have a choice, he could have chosen not to go to college.

The Army offers tuition incentives to attract people to join, who else in our soceity offers this to high schoolers??? For those who are unable to afford college other ways, in order to get the money they have to serve their country. There are no pimps and there are no whores, there are two sides each wanting something in return from the other. That's a textbook definition of a contract. Both sides benefit, the Army through manpower, and the individual through the ability to attend college.

The amount of people that join the Army for college-only is rather small. Most who join come from the south and midwest, where they are looking for opportunity to get out of the small town they are from, opportunity that is only provided through the Armed Forces.

dmk

That is the backdoor draft in a nutshell. If you can't pay for college you have to join the military to pay for it. The alternative of not going to college equates to what may as well be considered slave labor for what you get an hour, often with no or little benefits.

And why would the amount of people joining the military to pay for college be small? You got stats to back that up?

Sounds like that particular Cadiot was a real idiot. Nobaody gets anything for nothing...

I have known a lot of people who have joined the military to get out of the inner city as well

I know a lot of blue collar workers who get paid very well, with good benefits and are very happy. Do you know what a Master Welder or a Master Mechanic gets paid?

More than me, thats for sure...

I am sorry but it is still a weak argument for a back door draft. A choice is provided, join the Army and get money for school, or don't join and find some other opportunity. Wether you like the choices given or not does not matter. You volunteer to join the Army, most times you are given 24 hours to think it over, you take your oath, and you return the next day to sign your contract. There are all kind of choices.

Nothing comes for free, you have to give to receive. For most people they value those things in life in which they have done the work to earn. The American Dream is not easy, you should have to work hard to realize it, but for far too many, they want everything handed to them.

I started working at age 13, delivering papers, officiating soccer games, by age 16 I began working at K-Mart for $3.50 an hour after 60 days I got my first raise to $4.00, how, I worked hard and impressed my bosses, by the time the summer ended, I was making $4.75 an hour. By the end of my first year I was earning $5.75 an hour, and by the time I graduated I was earning $8.00 an hour, all working at K-Mart. All this during the 1980's. Despite all this I joined the Army, I wanted to serve, I wanted to do more with my life. I saw opportunity and I grabbed it. Today I make around $25 an hour. I served my country for 11 years, earning around $2000 a month during that time.

I was sent into harm's way on two seperate occasions during conflict, and numerous others during relief efforts. I sacrificed good money to serve, and would have served longer, but I did not like what I was seeing. My fellow soldiers ordered into harm's way by a President who disdained us, and then wouldn't allow us to fight back. No I go out, and today I regret some that I did.

The American Dream is not easy, it should be hard, for if its not hard, where is the joy in obtaining it??


dmk