Who is it That Serves in the Military.

[dkozloski]

If you are under the impression that only the dregs of our youth serve in the military you are badly mistaken. A recent report states that only 28% of our young people are qualified to serve. That isn't 28% of those that apply, thats 28% of the total. The rest have either failed to graduate high school or are too stupid, have a serious police record, or are fat assed and physically unfit to serve. Our young people that are serving their country really are the finest and bightest. It's the feather merchants and feeble that are home safe and sound. As usual we are luckier than we deserve to be that there are still those among us that are willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us.

[MauiV]

Fly Navy!!!

[Night Wolf]

Military wouldn't take me.... I tried....

[gdwriter]

Although I come from a military family (father, sister, two brothers-in-law, nephew), I knew I was far too outspoken to have done well in the military environment. Not much need for writers in the military, though I briefly considered going through ROTC in college and working as a public affairs officer.

Regardless, I appreciate all who choose to serve. Thank you for doing a tough job and doing it well.

[submariner409]

........24 years of undetected crime. All but 5 on sub duty. Just shy of 6 1/2 years total underwater. Had fun, learned a lot, and never worked one day: too much to do. Different canoe club now, but Navy and Submarines is the way to go, if you want to go first class.......

[LS1Mike]

Originally Posted by submariner409

........24 years of undetected crime. All but 5 on sub duty. Just shy of 6 1/2 years total underwater. Had fun, learned a lot, and never worked one day: too much to do. Different canoe club now, but Navy and Submarines is the way to go, if you want to go first class.......

Concur, Still a lot of fun though, I would still be punching holes, if I had not gotten sick. I did 11 years (12 patrols on two different submarines)
I had a great time, worked with the most dedicated folks I have or will ever work with. Made friends who are just as important to me as family, infact,
some are. My sister married a friend of mine that was on my first boat with me. He is not the only guy I consider family though.

When you are on a submarine everything and I mean EVERYTHING else is a target.

Thanks to all who served and continue to today!

[93DevilleUSMC]

The great thing is, the people who choose to serve are more focused on what they can give, as opposed to what life supposedly owes them.

[orconn]

I have nothing but respect for the current crop of our nation's warriors. The degree of competence of the young people serving today is truly awe inspiring both for their technical expertise and for their patriotism. Having lived in the D.C area over the years I have come in contact on a regular basis with the men and women of the various armed services and the selectivity of the "professional" services is very apparent.

While I regret the discontinuation of the Draft for variety of reasons, not the least of which is the education that universal service prvides for young Americans (I know "universal service" was a joke during the Vietnam Period). The quality of those serving today makes for a better more manageable force then we had under the Draft. However, by eliminating universal service we are also losing the services of a lot of young, bright people who could expand the numbers of our forces to a point where those who do serve today would not be forced to shoulder way more than than their share of our national defence burden.

[Lord Cadillac]

All through high school I planned to join the Marines after graduation. I was in MCJROTC all four years. I was rejected due to supraventricular tachycardia (wilks parkinson white syndrome). So I was outside the 28% as well.. I was stuck doing data entry for years after that...