Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Honestly most of you civilian types are useless feths, putting you in a unit of any kind would just endanger lives and mission success.

This has always been one of the reasons why I never considered enlistment. I'm overweight, out of shape, flat-footed and have poor eyesight. I've got okay survival skills, but I'm a fething coward. I know the armed forces can fix plenty of those issues, but I'd rather not burden them.

I know a few people that are enlisting/enlisted recently, and my first thought has always been, "I never expected them to join up, I don't think this is going to work out for them..."

See Alf other then mind set you aren't a bad candidate at all, the whole point of boot camp is to whip you into fighting shape from wherever you start, but if you lack the will and desire... then yeah that does become a burden on a lot of levels, especially once those guys get out to the fleet. Nothing worse then some idiot nursing conscript syndrome in your squadron.

To clarify that is what I mean when I'm talking about useless, mental, not physical. I know some guys who can fix the physical part barring major disability.



Caption: You ate how many of WHAT!? Sounds like the only cure is running till you die!

Dad was a DI back when nattering nabobs were stuffed in lockers and thrown down stairs until morale improved. But it was done with love.

I think conscription should only be used for Homeland defense when the threat or possibility of invasion is very high, but these people should not be sent overseas to fight unless they volunteer for said duty.

Alf. When I joined the army I was overweight, out of shape but after basic training I drooped 70lbs and gained about 20lbs or muscle. I am telling you if you want rapid weight loss enlist you will get it .

Heh three months to a whole new you!

I'm well aware that the overweight and out of shape thing could be resolved, and easily . My issue is the poor eyesight, and the coward aspect. I'm not entirely sure how I'd react when a guy wearing cloth wielding a reliable piece of Russian weaponry is hoping I die. Also I don't think I like the prospect that I could be shot.

It's something I've considered, and I almost considered going to a school with Air Force ROTC and enter one of their overseas teaching programs, but the college I decided on doesn't have an ROTC program.

 Alfndrate wrote:
I'm well aware that the overweight and out of shape thing could be resolved, and easily . My issue is the poor eyesight, and the coward aspect. I'm not entirely sure how I'd react when a guy wearing cloth wielding a reliable piece of Russian weaponry is hoping I die. Also I don't think I like the prospect that I could be shot.

It's something I've considered, and I almost considered going to a school with Air Force ROTC and enter one of their overseas teaching programs, but the college I decided on doesn't have an ROTC program.

You're allowed to have gakky eyesight. They've got some really attractive glasses for you to wear.

Hell, I needed PRK before I could meet naval aviation's flight standards. That's a fun three days of agony.

 Seaward wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
I'm well aware that the overweight and out of shape thing could be resolved, and easily . My issue is the poor eyesight, and the coward aspect. I'm not entirely sure how I'd react when a guy wearing cloth wielding a reliable piece of Russian weaponry is hoping I die. Also I don't think I like the prospect that I could be shot.

It's something I've considered, and I almost considered going to a school with Air Force ROTC and enter one of their overseas teaching programs, but the college I decided on doesn't have an ROTC program.

You're allowed to have gakky eyesight. They've got some really attractive glasses for you to wear.

Hell, I needed PRK before I could meet naval aviation's flight standards. That's a fun three days of agony.

You mean these things?


Or their replacement:

Honestly, a draft would be useless in a REAL war nowadays.

In the time it would take to organize the draft, put everyone through basic training, and mobilize, all our airfields and naval yards would have been bombed to rubble about a thousand times over.

All of our conflicts have been "over there" since the Civil War (minus Pearl Harbor), which has given us time to build up forces, but more importantly most of the nations we've been involved in wars with simply didn't have the capacity to get over here.

Now, admittedly, the odds of a conflict of that magnitude is pretty much nil, but the point is that if we ever got involved in a World War III, a draft would be pretty much useless unless we could somehow keep them at bay for a minimum of 12ish weeks.

Which requires a standing army.

In which case why do we have a draft in the first place?

I can understand implementation of something like a 2 year service requirement, but we have to be careful how that impacts post HS education.

And drafting for every conflict we get involved in could get messy. Are we counting emergency assistance, like the Typhoon relief the military will likely be involved in? And of course, drafting for something like Iraq and Afghanistan would be a great way to create a ton of social conflict in a new generation.

 Alfndrate wrote:

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Honestly most of you civilian types are useless feths, putting you in a unit of any kind would just endanger lives and mission success.

This has always been one of the reasons why I never considered enlistment. I'm overweight, out of shape, flat-footed and have poor eyesight. I've got okay survival skills, but I'm a fething coward. I know the armed forces can fix plenty of those issues, but I'd rather not burden them.

I know a few people that are enlisting/enlisted recently, and my first thought has always been, "I never expected them to join up, I don't think this is going to work out for them..."

I considered enlisting, but then I thought about the fact that pretty much all the wars that the USA has been a part of since Vietnam have been pointless efforts created by political grandstanding and bull-headedness. I really don't want a part in that. Plus I think the vast majority of wars could've been avoided if people would just talk.

That said, I'd happily enlist if we ever have a case like WWII again, where victory is actually possible and the war won't turn a decades-long shadowboxing session that only creates more problems for the next generation...

(Yeah, I'm bitter)

~Tim?

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Honestly most of you civilian types are useless feths, putting you in a unit of any kind would just endanger lives and mission success.

You appear to be making an argument that a successful mall is profitable because the mall cops are well-trained.

 Ouze wrote:


You appear to be making an argument that a successful mall is profitable because the mall cops are well-trained.

I don't know about you but I get my facts from Paul Blart Mall Cop. There is no higher authority on the value of mall cops

One point I did consider the air force, because I loved Planes, but luckily the recruiter was straight with me, he said that i had zero chance of flying and maybe I should choose something else.
Im glad, I almost wasted my life in something I hate

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Im glad, I almost wasted my life in something I hate

It's not too late, go into IT!

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
One point I did consider the air force, because I loved Planes, but luckily the recruiter was straight with me, he said that i had zero chance of flying and maybe I should choose something else.
Im glad, I almost wasted my life in something I hate

If you wanted to fly without a degree, should've checked out the Army. Their WOFT program's actually pretty good. Sure, you're restricted to being a helo puke, but it's better than nothing.

 Ouze wrote:

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Im glad, I almost wasted my life in something I hate

It's not too late, go into IT!

Ahhahahaha, oh... :(

Conscription does not seem appropriate given how wars are now fought.

I do think a national service should be introduced. Not a military service but essentially, yes a boot camp. I am not sure it should be compulsory. I sort of think it should be a situation if you are between a certain age and unemployed you should do a national service, but be paid at least minimum wage.

BUt then again what if people just want to travel the world, they have that right.

There was a program on in the UK, maybe about 10 years ago called Lad Army followed by series called Bad Lads Army. They replicated National service from many years ago. Firstly it was with volunteers but then they used youths who had had trouble with the law with minor crimes etc. And the benefit and transformation was pretty good. I am not saying it is a solution to anything but it does seem a useful tool to help promote discipline and other character building.

I personally wish I had been involved in something when I was at a younger age.

I don't want the draft reinstated.

I do want everyone in the country to be forced to go through SERE C by the time they turn 20, though.

I don’t know if its been mentioned but in places like Germany you have to serve in the military by law. I honestly and truly believe we should bring back the option for those convicted of lesser crimes (and some greater crimes) to serve. I have met a lot of good men who became that way because they broke a law and served.

Devoted, I'm gonna put this as nicely as possible, feth that with a dildo laced with rusty razor blades dipped in acid.

Scum wants to join the military then they can join Legion Etrangere.

 KalashnikovMarine wrote:
Devoted, I'm gonna put this as nicely as possible, feth that with a dildo laced with rusty razor blades dipped in acid.

Scum wants to join the military then they can join Legion Etrangere.

KM isn't that what they do to you in the navy when you cross the equator? All scum into the navy!

Bullockist wrote:
KM isn't that what they do to you in the navy when you cross the equator? All scum into the navy!

No. Wogs crawl around in some oil as shellbacks watch.

Or, if you're an officer wog, you have to mix your own martini for the day. It's horrific.