There has come a delimna in our family that is bothering the hell out of me. Now I'm not whining and being emo or trying to bug people by whining in a topic about my problems. I would like this to be a topic where everyone states an honest opinion on the matter at hand. If I get a bit whiny and emo-sounding, I give my deepest apologies to Masali and give you full permision to stop me... (just cause I luff you!)
here's the problem: my idiotic older brother wants to join the Army. And as far as I've heard it's something like the recuitor he talked to said something about he can join the army and a week into it he can switch to the Marines (since that's what he really wants).
My mother and Step father (especially my Step father, being a former Marine with better knowledge about how the military in this god-forsaken country REALLY works.) had huge doubts about EVERYTHING. My Step father said that the switching crap was a whole pack of bull since he thought he was going to do that when HE joined (switch from the Marines to the Air Force) after a week of boot camp they said he was too "militarized" (whatever the hell that's supposed to mean) to join the Air Force and basically got screwed over on a major scale. He said the recriutors are a bunch of lying bastards that'd say and do anything to get you to join and to sign the papers and never give a damn what happens after that. (this coming from a guy whose always talking about how much he loved the Marines and how much he wants to go back.)
As matters progressed my parents were saying stuff that I never really knew and really made me angry and got me to worrying quite a bit about my brother. They were saying that all the who-ha about how the military helps you with your career and job finding is also a bunch of bull. In the Army and such all they do is teach you how to throw a grenade then send you off to fight (during times of war, which this is one...). And that it's basically signing up to get shot especially at a time like this. And not only that if you do manage to survive you'd turn out to be a teenage veteran with no freakin' job after all their promises. Cause after all you only know how to throw a grenade and it doesn't do good for you to only have experience as a grunt in the military when you're job-hunting. So you're screwed your entire life cause that one opportunity you had was pissed on by a pack of lying bastards that just want you to go get shot so they don't have to themselves and/or so they can get their stupid little check the greedy little.... Ugh!!
That aside they not only screw you financially but the danger is unbelievable, especially in the Army which has this ant mentality: "overwhelm with numbers" and pretty much everyone is expendable. I knew this before and I cared but not to the extent that I do now. I just have this sinking feeling. Both my Mother and Step Father are refusing to sign the papers (I think... I hope...) and his own REAL father has as well. But he said he was going to get to go in Christmas...
After hearing all of this I'm pissed on a level I have never experienced. And my own ambitions in the military are currently being rained out. I've always debated between the Marines and the Air Force because in the Marines I'd come out a buff bad-thing and the Air Force is known for the intellectuals it attracts and produces. And not only to prove that I can do it but because my options for college are pretty dim with my family's current budget so the military is virtually the only option to help all areas of mental, bodily, and financial status. (the Marines has pretty much been eliminated if I actually DO join any branch of the military).
But for now I'm just gonna settle to beat the crap out of my brother online for his stupidity and lack of foresight that he's had his entire life.(he's currently at Job Corps so for the most part i can only get to him online or by phone) It angers me that I don't really have the courage to actually say things directly to him but I feel this is the time for me to step up. I've stood by and not gotten myself involved in my brothers whole life of dangerous antics and, basically stupidity, however now I'm so scarred this could be a decision that really does kill him and I want to do everything in my power to scare him away from the military long enough for him to think it through rationally (for the first time in his entire life...). Because what he's been doing recently, he's really got something going for him with college and everything without the military and I don't wanna lose my brother even though I've said a million times that he's annoying and "The Spawn of Satan" (that's actually a play on his name, Shawn) but I really do love him and would protect him with my life if the need ever arose. Argh! This is where I'm starting to sound whiney and emo. Sorry, I'll stop! >_<
Anyway, what are your opinions on this matter? Is the military even worth it? Is it all that it's cracked up to be? Does it really help with your career and education or is it just a one-way ticket to an early end? The recent events have blurred my views on the matter quite a bit and I would much like other opinions.
Thank you.
love
dani
dude
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