the anti war hero thread

[The Redneck]

Yes soldiers risk life, but they don't go in expecting to give up Luxuries, liberty and life. The first two most, that I know do, realize they will give up some things in those two areas. But other people with other jobs/servicies do the same thing.

People don't become cops, firemen, or dog-catchers expecting to die either--having a death-wish isn't heroism, it's just nuts.

But you do give up a lot of "luxuries", and even more liberty in the armed forces, and unless your recruiter is worse than the average you know it going in. The Army decides where you live ("Adequate" is the best possible description for the living conditions, and rarely do they meet that standard), what you do for a living, what you wear, and even what you say (including off-duty. One time I was threatened with a court-martial because I had an anti-Clinton bumper sticker on my truck (my personal vehicle; not an Army truck), and another I was made to remove my beard even though I was on leave--not exactly torturous, but it goes to show just how far your life is controlled). You do what they tell you, you act how they tell you, you live how they tell you, you talk how they tell you, and you even look how they tell you. You don't get many liberties in the Army--nor are you supposed to.

The introduction myself and my fellow recruits got upon first entering Basic Training was typical, and rather descriptive....

"Hello--I'm Staff Sergeant ------, and this is Sergeant -----. We're going to be your drill sergeants throughout basic training and on behalf of the United States Army we'd like to welcome you to Fort Campbell.

NOW YOU GOT TEN SECONDS TO GET THE **** OFF MY BUS AND EIGHT OF 'EM ARE ALREADY GONE!!"

They actually have to pay for there calls back home when they're overseas.(which international calls are freaking expensive

When I was in Korea, it was six bucks a minute for the first minute and something like a buck fifty a minute after that. On top of the fact that if I wanted to reach anybody in the 'States when they were awake I had to call at about 2 in the morning.

So what you paid for my schooling because my dad was in Gulf war and you paid for his "traveling abroad".

Unless you went to a private school, the taxpayer would be paying for your schooling anyway.