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I've heard that's a thing that happens, just don't know how true it is. Is there a significant portion of the military that joined due to how dangerous it could be?
They probably won't take you if that's your motivation. They wany those who want to live to fight another day, not sacrifice themselves as martyrs.
Terrorist organisations are always looking for fools who want to die for their cause, but sensible governments have policies in place that try to exclude people like that from their military. As General George Patton famously said, “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country.”
I enlisted in the US Navy when I was 19 and was in for nearly a decade. I signed up because the US economy was in a severe recession in the early seventies, there weren't many jobs available to someone with my very limited education and skill set, and I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with my life. Unlike a lot of young men, I had a very healthy sense of self-preservation, and I didn't get a buzz out of risking my life and health. I had no interest in killing other people or getting killed myself, and nor did I feel any great desire to serve the whims of the President and the Pentagon.
I ended up working in an electronics speciality that operated and maintained the system that controlled the launch of Poseidon nuclear missiles from submarines. Everyone who works with nuclear weapons in the US military is in what's called the Personnel Reliability Program which is _supposed_ to ensure that only those in sound psychological health ever get near the weapons. Obviously, the last thing you want in a job like that is a suicidal person who hates the world and wants to go out in the biggest blaze of glory imaginable.
As far as I was concerned, the USN was always just a job. I did what was expected of me to the best of my ability, maintained my self-respect and individuality as best I could in the face of all the military bullshit, and left when I'd had enough.
After knowing everything you know now, Boodum as both a British and American soldier; do you expect the new Taliban to treat Afghan men and women fairly?
No.
I don't know much about the Taliban and Afghan society. From what I've read, it seems possible that the leadership of the Taliban might have come to understand that it's in their best interests to try to establish some sort of positive relationship with the world outside the borders of the country. But my impression is that these people are firmly stuck in a mediaeval mindset. They're convinced that their particular form of Islam is the only correct one and that Allah expects them to force everyone to conform to their harsh interpretation of Sunni Islam.
It's always stupid to hope that religious fanatics of any sort will suddenly realise that the rules they live by are inhumane and delusional.
No millitary service accepts people who are that willing to die. The military wants to get shit done. You being alive contributes to that goal as you progressively get better at it. Suicidal people dont cut it as their goal isnt the same as the orders. Yeah the military puts you in some really shit locations. Though it's not guaranteed, they still want you to come back alive. Endangering your comrades with your extremely selfish decision isnt worth it so they just wont hire you. In the modern world theres thousands of ways to easily die. The power socket you are very likely to be in close proximity to you has over 100x the amperage to kill you. Your laundry and sink compartments have the concentrations of poison to do it for you. Not to mention the dozen or so knives that people keep in their kitchen. If you have a gas stove there goes another option. If you have a car all it takes is going really fast at something that will not break from the impact.
At the end if the day you could strangle yourself using your own clothing. Suicide is available to nearly everyone on the planet. But the highest rates of suicide are in 1st world countries. You cannot tell me you have it worse than other people in the world. Going as far as to fuck over every battle buddy on your selfish quest to kill yourself in a flamboyant way. When in the time it took to read this you would be unconcious and on the way to die from strangulation if you chose do do so at the start of this comment. Not saying I want you to die either but your quest has the real possibility of killing and hurting others. Therefore if it's your death vs the death of others you lose that judgement.
Btw didnt direct it like you (the OP) wants to die. I'm just stating the argument against doing so as I served in a naval medical centers mental wing. Suicidal thoughts was nearly all the people there. Let me tell you the military at least doesnt want you to kill yourself when you are still in. So they'll put in a strong effort to keep it that way. Even when it takes a few months of time to seperate you.
Some people like danger. I joined for other reasons. Money wasn't one of which. In my experience, that is a rare reason to join(Danger wise). As Somenormie said, only join if you want to. Just be sure you pay attention to what's going on prior.
You might get in... but, I'll bet that you get drummed out well before you have your chance to die for our country.
People like you tend to take others with them... others from the same side. No military wants a person like you. Your a threat not just to yourself but your fellow service members.
Yeah man! Go for it but only if deep down you are comfortable with your choice
You could might as well end up permanently handicapped, or taken as a captive (that's probably even worse) than actually dead. If you're suicidal I dont really think you can handle military, its hard just for ordinary people, having serious mental health issues on top of that is probably too much. You need to find a way to improve your life otherwise, and remember circumstances can change
The glory to die in battle. Not an optimal way to die but you are dying to acomplish something important. If you are still young it's a terrible shame if you die.
Though it's not the worst way to die as an event. You die as the action but the event is what is affected even if you weren't there to see the effects later. Your life could of been worth it for the people around you. It's very respectable.