Why You Should Never Join The Military
Armies in some form or other have existed forever. In wartime and peacetime alike, governments have relied on them to maintain order, help out in the community, and protect against potential threats to countries and their citizens.
For the most part, the men and women who join are seen as heroes and heroines; their jobs, a necessary evil.
This respect, along with the many benefits bestowed upon soldiers and their families, can be enticing, especially to young people unsure of what they want to do with their lives.
Discipline, free childcare, better healthcare, housing grants and the career stability make joining the military an attractive proposition.
However, there are also certain dangers involved with military service – physically, mentally, and socially. These negatives are what will be discussed in this article.
10 reasons why you shouldn’t join the military
1) You can’t leave when you want
When you join, there is a minimum term that you need to complete before you can leave. All countries are different, but generally you’re expected to complete at least 4 years of service. You must honor this commitment unless you’re discharged early.
What is a voluntary separation?
A voluntary separation from the army/military is when the service member has a good enough reason to leave, and they want to go before their contract ends. This usually involves health issues, family problems, or a general inability to adjust.
Your superiors would need to sign off on this.
Thus, you cannot simply decide that the military isn’t for you then up and leave. You’d be considered AWOL (absent without leave), which is a serious offense.
What is a deserter?
A deserter is someone who leaves their military post in the face of combat.
If you flee from battle during a war, you can expect to be tried by court-martial, which could lead to imprisonment or even execution for treason.
2) It’s physically demanding
Training for the military is very rigorous, and will be a test of your endurance.
If you’re not in shape when you start boot camp, or if you don’t stay in shape throughout basic training (or at any point during service), then there’s no way that you’ll thrive as a soldier.
3) It’s dangerous
You could lose your life
Let’s face it, sometimes you’re going to have to fight, and it’s not going to be pretty. You’ll be handling some of the most powerful weaponry available, and you’ll be fighting people who see you as a threat.
Their job is to defend themselves at all costs, which might mean ending your life.
There’s also the risk of friendly fire and accidentally getting hit by your own comrades. Rare but possible in the heat of battle.
You could become permanently disabled
It’s not just bullets that are a risk to your health: explosive devices, mines and other traps can all seriously injure you during combat.
It’s not uncommon to see veterans who lost limbs, for example, during their tours.
4) You might have to harm others
If you’re on active duty and deployed in a war zone, there will come a time when you have to start fighting back. This will often involve harming and possibly killing the opposing side.
Some of the casualties could even be women and children, as they are seen as collateral damage.
5) You could develop PTSD
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after someone experiences one or more traumatic events.
Traumatic events are things like wars, natural disasters, car accidents and other incidents where you experience psychological shock, such as intense fear of death or injury, along with feelings of helplessness to prevent it.
This is a common disorder that many soldiers returning from war suffer from. It has been estimated that roughly 30% of soldiers on active duty experience PTSD.
They usually have problems adjusting to normal life off the battlefield, and can be aggressive and violent to those around them.
Though therapy is provided, it doesn’t always help.
6) People may dislike you
Not everyone likes or respects soldiers. Not surprising, seeing as they’re marketed as something to be feared. Like attack dogs: the aggressiveness you rely on to protect you is terrifying when the tables turn.
Thus, you could find yourself getting into arguments as you try to defend your reasons for joining the military.
7) You could become a target
There’s also the possibility that troublemakers – wannabe tough guys – will try to pick fights with you in order to prove their strength.
They’re aware of the grueling training that takes place in the military, and by defeating a soldier in a fight, they think it makes them look strong.
8) You’ll be away from home a lot
When you’re on active duty, you could be deployed abroad for up to 6 months before you’re able to go home and see your family. This leave only lasts for 2 weeks, then you’ll be expected to return to duty.
If you have a family, possibly young children, you’ll miss out on many of their milestones, and they won’t get the chance to bond with you.
9) Infidelity
It’s not the easiest thing to cheat on your spouse when you’re in a monogamous relationship. But if one partner is deployed overseas, there are temptations and opportunities for infidelity that present themselves… for both parties.
Being away from each other for long periods of time means going without intimacy. This might be fine in the beginning, but eventually it will start to grate on one or both of you.
And even if nothing untoward happens, it will still be difficult to trust each other.
10) You must obey orders, no matter what your beliefs
The military goes wherever the government tells it to go, and does whatever the government tells it to do.
You and your government might have conflicting views about what constitutes justice and fairness, and you could have your own ideas about how best to resolve a situation, but none of this matters.
Whether you like it or not, you have to do as you’re told. If not, you face disciplinary action.
Conclusion
It’s a big, life-changing decision to join the military, and it’s really not for the faint of heart. Although most army websites have recruitment information, it never gives you the full picture of the challenges awaiting you if you join, so take what they say with a grain of salt.
If you are still interested in joining, reach out to a couple of veterans from your local area, and offer to buy them a beer in exchange for them answering your questions about their life on active duty.