117 réponses à ce sujet

[Sir DeLoria]

I greatly respect soldiers and officers who fight and die for their country, no matter who's side they are on(as long as they follow the laws of war). But I very often disagree with the decisions of the HC or the government, especially when it comes to the decision of going to war or doing unlawful or amoral things (mistreatment/killing of POWs, bombing of civilian targets, torture etc).

While I don't really agree, I copletely understand why Kant said: "In time all standing armies must be abolished."

[Elhanan]

"... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." - JFK

[Naughty Bear]

Thai army corrupt here, beatings from those above you, they can even outright kill you if they are too severe. Many crimes go unnoticed in the army and is controlled by corrupt politicians.

 

Conscripts get beaten by rookies who may just be a rank above them.

 

Don't like you? Get sent to the south borders to fight Muslim insurgents.

 

At least you get free food, free place to stay etc. Just got to handle the beatings.

 

I find out if I get conscripted in April. If I volunteer I do 6 months, in education i'm safe,  pick out a red ball then bye bye life for 2 yars then straight to monkhood after.

[mousestalker]

It depends upon the country.

[SwobyJ]

I'll say that for all my distaste of the idea of working for (I view 'serving' as its own concept here) 'the military', Bioware does a pretty good job of selling the Alliance soldier idea without getting too pushy about it.

 

Would have been neat for the series to instead start as a human training to be an N7 (and then doing the formative actions that guide you towards Spectre nomination) and having only limited contact with aliens to begin with, though. That 'full Alliance soldier' (instead of soldiers + always some aliens on your side) experience.

 

Might have sympathized many more people to characters like Ashley, if they were put more into her-kinda shoes at first.

 

Anyway. I think what I was trying to say is that the soldier perspective is not necessarily wrong. It is, in fact, one of the most 'on the ground, basic and brutal facts of conflict and interactions' perspectives, and should be respected for that. A good soldier, or at least commander/top brass, can and should take perspectives from soldiers in order to disagree with the conclusions that civilians sometimes pontificate about.

[In Exile]

Wow where do you live Bear. I don't mean to pry if you don't feel comfortable answering I understand.

He mentioned the Thai army, so I would guess Thailand. 

[Giant ambush beetle]

 but again, the respect is still there, because you're doing what you are doing because it's important to you.

Strange philosophy, doesn't this mean you respect every single person on the planet? All the people do what they do because its important for them in some way. 

[SlottsMachine]

"... ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." - JFK

 

I'm can't say from personal experience but isn't the former more often the case. Seems a lot of people join to escape poverty, get an education, etc.  

[Roamingmachine]

I respect those who walk through the crucibles of life unbowed and unbroken. Military service is one such crucible.

[Han Shot First]

I'm can't say from personal experience but isn't the former more often the case. Seems a lot of people join to escape poverty, get an education, etc.  

 

The escaping poverty bit is mostly a myth. Or at least it is in the United States. 

 

In the United States the overwhelming majority of both enlisted recruits and officer candidates are coming from middle or working class backgrounds. Their parents may not have country club memberships or vacation in Paris, but they can afford to feed their families without government assistance. The poor are nearly as absent from the ranks as the sons and daughters of the wealthy.

 

The part about getting an education has more of an element of truth to it, at least with enlisted recruits. A college education is costly, and those costs are rising. Most recruits are coming from families who while not poverty-stricken, are unable to pay for their college education in full. The Montgomery G.I. Bill is certainly an incentive for many in joining.

[Naughty Bear]

Wow where do you live Bear. I don't mean to pry if you don't feel comfortable answering I understand.

Thailand

[Roxy]

I have respect for the Military,my Grandfathers,Uncles,Brothers,and even my Husband served the U.S MIlitary. My Little brother got a Purple heart last year from surviving a road bomb. If I wasn't sick as I was I probably would have joined myself years ago...but GOD had other plans for me.  

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

"The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself." - oh it wasn't JFK's, it was FDR's!

[Naughty Bear]

I respect the British military as my grandad on my dads side served in the RAF as a conscript I believe, he was a good guy I hear. My uncle's on my mothers side serves in the Thai army, no idea if they are corrupt but most likely. I have family members in the government probably screwing some farang over 5555.

 

I am dual nationality, I have to follow the laws of Thailand because I am Thai, if I pick  red ball then conscript for 2 years. I rather serve in the UK than Thailand honestly. Well I rather not serve at all, but I would be breaking the law if I try to run away, no idea what the consequence is but I rather not find out. UK embassy can't help me

 

Good thing is we can bribe the Thai army. Corruption has its positive side. You can even murder and get away with it if you have family status and wealth. Remember reading the news about a 17 year old girl wiping out an entire van from those tall highways. Killed 6-7 people I think but she got away with a warning due to family wealth and high family name. Apparently she was sulking about damaging her car, not sure if this is true however.

 

In-fact, I could probably get away with stuff. My mothers family name is quite big.

[Hello!I'mTheDoctor]

As an American Soldier and junior officer in the United States Army (and former Enlisted-man and NCO), I'm somewhat disturbed by my countries... overzealousness to exhort the military and put it on a pedestal. It's a job, in some cases a career, and something I do because I love to do what I do for my own reasons, but a lot of times, I'm somewhat perplexed at the occasional displays of overt ultra-nationalism.

[Naughty Bear]

As an American Soldier and junior officer in the United States Army (and former Enlisted-man and NCO), I'm somewhat disturbed by my countries... overzealousness to exhort the military and put it on a pedestal. It's a job, in some cases a career, and something I do because I love to do what I do for my own reasons, but a lot of times, I'm somewhat perplexed at the occasional displays of overt ultra-nationalism.

Will you come Thailand to drink snake blood? You Americand have come before to do it.

[Hello!I'mTheDoctor]

Will you come Thailand to drink snake blood? You Americand have come before to do it.

 

I was in Thailand for a bit when I was younger. My parents were stationed with the Seventh Fleet out of Australia, and we visited once.

[Hello!I'mTheDoctor]

The escaping poverty bit is mostly a myth. Or at least it is in the United States. 

 

In the United States the overwhelming majority of both enlisted recruits and officer candidates are coming from middle or working class backgrounds. Their parents may not have country club memberships or vacation in Paris, but they can afford to feed their families without government assistance. The poor are nearly as absent from the ranks as the sons and daughters of the wealthy.

 

The part about getting an education has more of an element of truth to it, at least with enlisted recruits. A college education is costly, and those costs are rising. Most recruits are coming from families who while not poverty-stricken, are unable to pay for their college education in full. The Montgomery G.I. Bill is certainly an incentive for many in joining.

 

That's one reason I enlisted. I always had the goal of being an Officer in mind, and now that I am one, I'm practically counting the days until I can use it to jump on to the next phase of life.

[Naughty Bear]

That's one reason I enlisted. I always had the goal of being an Officer in mind, and now that I am one, I'm practically counting the days until I can use it to jump on to the next phase of life.

Is there any racism in the military in the US?

 

Because I am half-Thai or a "Luk Kreung", we're not allowed to be officers.