[Platapus]

Always remember the base mission of the military. The recruiter can talk all about the jobs, the education, the benefits, the honour.........

Never never forget that the base mission of the military is

1. To kill people (or to enable others to kill people) People to include adversary military, civilians, mothers, children, people who have done you no wrong.

2. Sacrifice your life to enable the killing of people.

This is what the military is about. You can be a cook, Public Relations guy, even Intel, but when that weapon is thrust in your hands and the order is to hit the perimeter, the mission of the military gets real basic real fast.

Before anyone signs on the dotted line, they need to make sure that they are totally OKwith these two missions of the military.

Everyone hopes that they will never be involved in 1 or 2, but that is what you are agreeing to do on behalf of your country.

During the first gulf war we had some troops with problems with 1 and 2. "Hey, I only signed up for the educational benefits" Well the United States government aint that nice nor generous. For every benefit that the United States government offers their military members comes with a price. Sometimes the country calls in that debt.....and you have to pay up.

So please, before anyone signs up, please consider the base mission of the military. I put in just over 20 years and never forgot what my "duty" truly was in the military.

This is why the military is not a life for everyone.