I hate the worship of the us military

Navy here. Sure we dont eat bullets on a grand scale but we do work as very disposable grunts when it comes to engineering and working on the ships. We are taught there is an order of care when it comes to combat. The ship is always first. Then fellow shipmates then yourself. We still get PTSD and suffer debilitating injuries (like myself).

People who thank me for my service on their own time. We sell our freedoms for to make everyone else's freedom cheap.

Feel better blowing off some steam?

I think your annoyance is misdirected.

The men and women in our armed force deserve our respect.

But they unfortunately are used in politics as a rally point to show how patriotic one is vs the other guy.

Which is a major turn off for people, but has nothing to do with actual “boots on the ground” men and women.

It's way over hyped.

I got a buddy that was an Air Force sniper. Shot twice and got shrapnel from a grenade. Some of the military personnel have been through hell and deserve respect. But you'll always have those who didn't do jack shit. Just the way it is. I wouldn't wanna get shot at so I'm glad they signed up for it. As far as where they're sent, blame our dumbass politicians.

I was in the US Navy for nearly a decade in the Cold War era.

I signed up because I needed a job, and I tolerated the constant, petty bullshit for four years longer than my initial enlistment because I couldn't see an obvious alternative job in civvie-land, and because my duty station wasn't too challenging. If I'd been on a ship or submarine and confined there with a bunch of fellow sailors for months on end, I would have bailed long before I did, but I was able to live in the civilian community and have some sort of life outside the military. In a way, it was much like a civilian job, but with longer hours, a very rigid corporate culture, and a pretty fucked up human resources department.

The most dangerous thing I did was routinely working within a few feet of nuclear warheads, but everyone knew that if the fools who run the world fucked up and someone in Russia pushed the button, the submarine tender I worked on would be vaporised about twenty minutes later.

So, yeah, I voluntarily gave up my freedom and handed control of my life to the US government for nearly a decade in return for a monthly paycheck that wasn't all that huge, but I don't think I deserve to be honoured for that. For me, it was just a job where the main challenge wasn't actually doing the work, but conforming to all the rules and playing the corporate game well enough to rise up the ranks and get paid more.

I think the glorification of active duty US military and vets is due to several factors.

It's a very long time ago now, but there's still collective guilt about how men returning from Vietnam were treated. Although it is definitely true that many who served there were damaged by the experience and the US government clearly didn't provide the support they needed to reintegrate into civilian society, there's a lot of debate about whether many people were actively hostile to returning Vietnam vets. But that was the story hyped by the media on the right, and many believed it. Veterans of every war have always - and very rightly - felt that those who weren't there can't understand what they went through, and it's human to resent that. That's particularly true when the war later comes to be seen as pointless.

Those on the political right in every country have always glorified their military. The military mindset - fixed rules that are firmly enforced and a clear hierarchy of control - appeals to people who want to see the world in black and white terms. Research has found that one of the most significant differences between political conservatives and those with more liberal views is that conservatives tend to be more fearful and they view the world as a very dangerous place. It's obvious that such people would want to believe that there's a powerful force available to defend them, and it's natural that such people would feel gratitude to those who were part of that protective force.

Governments have always tried to sell military service as a glorious and honourable choice of career to their general population and to impressionable young men in particular. Once you have a culture where the military is seen as a wholly positive thing rather than a necessary evil, then some of those who didn't choose to serve will feel a degree of guilt about not doing so. Such people will go out of their way to praise those who served because it makes them feel better about themselves.

As for the wars the USA has fought, anyone who looks at American history more deeply than the mythology taught in schools up to twelfth grade will figure out sooner or later that very few have been for positive reasons. That's also the case for virtually every other country in the world, but Americans have this deep need to believe they are uniquely pure and noble, so it's a truth many find impossible to accept.

I bet if you have a look at this list of wars and military interventions by the US over the centuries you will never have heard of most of them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

The longest war was the series of battles from 1540 to 1924 against the native peoples of North America, Even the supposedly glorious Revolutionary War was part of that effort; something never mentioned in grade-school history is how Britain had agreed not to extend the colonies beyond the Appalachian mountains, but the colonists wanted to push west and take over Indian lands. The truth is that the USA has always had an aggressive, expansionist ethos based on a belief that this is their God-given role in the world.

Someone is triggered! Just because they haven't risked their lives, does not make their service less valuable. The fact that they gave up that chunk of their life or career for the sake of our contry is still valuable. I mean, some poeple do worship them a little to much possibly, but it is rare.

How does it feel to be behind a gun
And to shoot a mother’s only son?

I'm a big fan of military as a general concept, but I'm not quite in love with what the American armed forces represent (an assholish CONgress who wants to essentially rule the world!)

Gets on my nerves as well a little.

Yeah they protect you mate

I agree with you to an extent. I wish they'd atleast be upfront with us about these wars. Atleast say "We are going in to jack their oil" and "We are doing this to help our allies in Israel". I'd have more respect for these wars if the leaders were honest.

Those are the first people to be weeded out in basic. Those who have a superiority complex and those with an attitude.

He was stationed or whatever the military term is in both Somalia and Afghanistan.

He wouldnt get through basic with that attitude.

Frankly they only annoy me cause I always wanted to enlist but cant cause I'm trans so I'm a bit salty about that.

When I use my dad's military card to get discounts at various stores, they always say "thank you for your service". My dad was a cook for a few years at a base in belgium and he said he partied every night. So yeah, it's an honor for both of us.

Join up,then come back and tell us all how you feel then.