Why do men and women serve? Answer = For you!

by Babel-Fish | November 15, 2009 at 06:59 pm

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I was inspired by a story wrote by the daughter of a long serving soldier it was about the reason that a British war time veteran rejoined the British Army after being disillusioned with life as a civilian back in the 1950’s.

This story made me think about my own past career in the services, where as the veteran had been an officer it was something I never wanted to be. I actually refused the chance three times, I loved being a soldier.

The veteran rejoins to gain respect and to serve over seas in fact Kenya. I myself signed on for adventure and to travel and to give something back to the country I was born into. My father had also been a soldier before him my granddad, both had survived world wars. They had the medals to prove they where amongst the unsung hero’s, the medals where campaign ones, where the some of worst and most savage battles took place.

My first years as a soldier where spent in Germany I had been indoctrinated in anti communism and the need to protect my fellow citizens and family at home from an invasion from Russian troops. I then served in Gibraltar protecting the locals from invasion of Spanish forces. Then Northern Island protect British citizens from the wrath of terrorist groups it was in fact an ugly task because of rioting, stone throwing and the bombs and damn terrorist snipers. I in fact hated being spat at more than any thing else, then having to hold my temper. Northern Ireland is where I lost the enchantment and much of the military political indoctrination it was because of my military intelligence role. It’s where I learned about the political influence and what the elitist wanted to gain.

However like my grandfather and my father I have earned medals I had respect and been part of one of the most respected Armies in the world and served in some of the oldest and regiments famed for there bravery where each and every man served his country for possibly the same reasons I did. No one wanted to go to war each one knowing the need to protect a nation they loved.

My gripe is that the leaders have always found ways of using their armies for what they really are not intended for. Such as going to war with countries that have not threaten their nation but stand in the way of their political or capitalist needs of making bigger profits. With Iraq and Afghanistan it was all about USA’s personal interest concerning China and the tie between both USA’s and UK oil companies needs as well.

British soldiers are there to serve their country and those that are in British sovereignty and should never, never been used like a private own army for greedy Elitist and a foreign government (USA).

Looking at the story about the veteran his ideas like my grandfathers and my father and mine where our own mindset as no soldier actual fulfills the roll he or she thought they where playing. It’s why soldiers are indoctrinated to do so that makes them think the tasks that corrupt governments send them on are right and just.

The ploy in both Iraq and Afghanistan was your freeing the citizen there from aggression and fighting for democracy. The war on terror factor of hit them at home so they don’t bring terror to your home land is not working. But it’s the main factor fed to the troops to make them feel they are fulfilling their roll of protecting there families and fellow citizens at home.

Please remember that soldiers feel they are doing the right thing your own forces are indoctrinated in the idea they are serving you and your country. If you have gripes about why they are fighting those gripes should be pointed at the political elite that lie and fool the military that they are there to do a useful job.

I can say clearly as an ex soldier I served my country the best way I could and now I know the amount of times I have been fooled by the leaders of my country. I can hold my head up high for I was there for the right reasons, my reasons. That’s all any ex-military service man can say. The guys on the battle fields are there also for their own right reasons.

The story that inspired mine..

I observed the two minutes of silence on November 11.
I bought a poppy and thought of my Dad, someone I always miss at this time of year.

He wasn’t killed in action, but he served in the Second World War – he was a captain in a tank regiment – and lost many friends.

Up until he died, in his early 80s, his time in the Armed Forces remained the best days of his life.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/....html#ixzz0WzGUW4IC

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Mritunjay

at 19:36 on November 15th, 2009

Thanks for this story.

People like me who sit back at home reading about war can only imagine about such things. Its soldiers like you who make lives safe for us. People can argue that one's safety is another's risk but then the soldier is doing just what he has to: save his country.

Babel-Fish

at 19:41 on November 15th, 2009

I am not a soldier any more but other than it being a job that's the real reason most guys are in the forces for.

YankeeJim

at 04:41 on November 16th, 2009

I was a student mid way through college when my draft number was coming up. I had a student deferment, and could have ridden out the Viet Nam war in the classroom. With five good friends already killed in the conflict, I panicked and joined the National Guard. I signed up for Officer Candidate School.

As a junior in college, the National Guard called and said it was time to go on active duty training to become an infantry soldier. I had no choice but to take a break from college to complete basic training. It was an experience that influenced me more in a positive-character-building way than the several years of college education that preceded it.

I went on to complete Advanced Infantry Training and the Officer Candidate School from which I graduated as a Second Lieutenant. I returned to college life with an obligation to spend one weekend a month and 2 weeks in the summer for six years in service of my country.

The Vietnam War ended and I did not have to serve. The only significant duty I had was cleaning up after a tornado. However, I served my country and was ready to do what they asked.

In the end, I found out that I should never have been in the military due to a heart ailment, but I appreciate the discipline and the opportunity to serve. I think everyone needs to serve their country through some form of public service as that way you do your part and share responsibility. It is the only fair approach.

djermano

at 06:16 on November 16th, 2009

Why I joined? Because right out of High School, I had no job.

I joined the USAF went through basic training at Lackland and later stationed at SAC command in Little Rock Arkansas. I saw how the lying came to light.. First they separated us when we joined under the buddy program, and then refused me my request to serve overseas. Everyone got Overseas duty except me.. Then I found the soldier druggies. They were all on drugs...even my roommate was selling Amphetamines. I reported it to the OSI...and he was no longer my roommate...I could just see it coming down..him getting busted...and claiming I was in on it with him... Then I saw the sargent and others doing pot, and sniffing coke off the back tailgate of the Military Police Vehicles... I was an SP and there were no orders to search vehicles coming on base. I knew the OSI knew there was a drug problem, and could only figure that the Commander at the base was in on the drug trafficking.. I got out of the Military with an Honorable Discharge....

Since then I have been anti-military...because I know they are nut jobs doing drugs on duty, and live by the lame excuse they are serving their country. The only serving they are doing is sucking off hard working tax payer money.....while sporting an M-16 around....I don't call that government...I call it extortion.

Politicians and people in the military don't know what they are ever talking about. They are hypocrites and liars to themselves and their country... They say they are against protectionism, but that is exactly what they are.....and with Bush's war they became judge and jury to be premeditated, and preemptive robbers and murderers sullying the American spirit... Everything and all attention is given to the Soldiers with Veterans Day, and Memorial Days, and Independence Day, and Memorials to the Unknown Soldiers....but there is literally nothing in rememberance to Civilians, innocent people killed by these soldiers.. You would f'ing think they would place more of the heart of the nation to those innocent people killed so people do not revert to War...but they don't........they enjoy the killing, the invading, the political fear and calamity they arise to...because they don't care......They only care about their ability to defeat their perceived enemies.. In days of fore it was the British, The French, The Spanish, Native American Indians, Chinese, then the Japs, then the Germans, and then the Koreans, then Vietnam, Iraqi's, and the Taliban, Alqaeda, and the Iranians... It goes on...on and on....without ever stopping to think..... what kind of a place is this? What is this Military BS? What the hell is wrong with everyone to be trapped in their brainwashed minds? Because they love to honor....this crap..honor with medals...and valor...bird droppings.....There is no war people.....it's all in your minds....that is the fear and panic..you hate but love to create... You love to be hero's, so you create problems to be one.. To later find out....well we need a Hero for tomorrow! It is a sickness, a mental dysfunction....that Americans refuse to admit they have.... They came from bullets and gun powder....and by God that's where they will end up... that my friend is American Conservatism in a nutshell or should I say a spent shell...

The Rev.

Babel-Fish

at 11:51 on November 16th, 2009

Well rev your view is very flawed, the military that I knew was not a load of nut jobs doing drugs but of course I was with in the most disciplined army in the world. I certainly never wanted to be a hero. I can see where that chip on the shoulder came from about the military no not all armies or units have a drug problem within camps.

It is not a lame excuse its something that every decent soldier feels within his or her heart well at least in the army I served in.