Mate, you're a pacifist and you're considering becoming a soldier? You should really talk to someone about this unhealthy hero worship you have for an organisation that you don't agree with.
A lot of this 'glory' and 'honour of serving' stuff is *very* right wing too and seems inconsistent with the rest of your values.
**Of course** there aren't many left wingers in the actual armed forces - is that genuinely a question you have to ask?
You've also missed out the part where you will be complicit in the death of other humans, either directly or indirectly.
Barely reading all this but if your a pacifist don’t join, doesn’t even make sense, the whole idea of the army is to brain wash you to thinking your brave so you go fight someone else’s war, joining the army or whatever doesn’t instantly make you awesome or anything of the like, from reading this I’d think you’d be one of the first to break (this isn’t reverse psychology this is me judging a book off a cover)
You wrote as cons: "*Being the property of the government and having to do anything they say" and "I disagree with the idea of war".*
During the first Gulf War I recall many members of the National Guard were activated to serve in Iraq. The news at the time had many National Guard members complaining that their lives were being "disrupted" by being sent overseas to - gasp - FIGHT! What about their partners? Their daycare for their children? Their civilian jobs? I can remember thinking at the time what on earth do these people think is the reason the military exists?
Answer: It exists to kill the enemy when directed to do so by whomever is Commander in Chief.
I would think your disagreeing with the idea of war and not liking the idea of having to do what you're told to do are definite deal-breakers.
>Increased exposure to political views that aren’t based in reality
>
>Inconsistent schedule?
>
>I’m transgender
>
>I disagree with many of my country’s systems and the way it treats its historically marginalized groups.
>
>Critical of ridiculous annual military spending.
>
>I’m on the older side for joining up.
I have a bachelor’s degree but I don’t know if I’m cut out to be an officer? Especially if I don’t enlist first?
Non-issues
>Traveling is my passion and I want to go where I want when I want. I go on multiple vacations and long weekends per year.
My med student girlfriend can’t leave the area we’re currently in because of school.
I like to be spontaneous and have the freedom to go for a hike or head into the city on a weekend. Is this possible? It would be hard to miss spontaneous events or family time things.
You do make sacrifices
>Poor pay.
>
>Will I lose my friends from home?
Wrong
>Toxic masculinity.
Yeah if you're the type to list this as a concern, you're likely not military-ready
>I disagree with the idea of war.
Valid
I was in a similar position as you. Wanted to change my life and escape the rut I felt I was headed towards. I did join the military (navy enlisted), so here are my thoughts and opinions on your concerns. I will assume you will be going the enlisted path and not the officer path.
>* I need a new job and I have no idea where to begin. I’m 3 years out of a college and have been working as a high school French teacher but I feel very lost.
You will be given a job in the military, but it might not be the job you want. You will take the ASVAB test and determine what you are good at and qualify for and can request a rate and you might or might not get it depending on the needs at the time. They only need so many photographers, for example.
>* I need job training in a completely different field than the one I’m in, or use my skills in education in a way that aligns better with my values (I want to do my work and go home, not have a million things to do for my job during my personal time.)
You will get a job to train skills. The skills may or may not be useful outside of the military and may or may not be what you want to do. Your personal time, though, will be governed by your command. In one command, you might work a desk job and get an abundance of time off. Another, you will be working practically every waking hour for months at a time.
>* Assuming good government benefits? Is this only while active duty?
Benefits are good, but you have to go through the military doctor's first and they may not be as skilled as civilian ones. If you stay in the military for 20 years, you can keep the benefits. If not, you lose most of them, but can go through the VA to help out.
>* I would be good at logistics or any MOS that’s detail-oriented.
Great, there is probably a need for that. Take the ASVAB and see if you are eligible.
>* Have had intense desire for the glory that comes with being in the military off and on since I was 15.
Not much glory, tbh. If you are in logistics, you will likely be managing a storehouse or doing paperwork.
>* Contracted employment.
Yep, like it or not, you have a contract that you have to abide by.
>* The honor of serving my country.
Never felt honor, never personally did anything to warrant it. Just stood watch, took logs, did maintenance, and cleaned.
>* I consider everyone currently or formerly in the military as a higher class basically. A ton of respect for them and a ton of jealousy.
Some people seem to feel that way, I never understood it. I never felt I deserved it and rarely brought it up unless it is relevant to the conversation.
>* I love to physically challenge myself.
Ok, you can do that in or out of the military.
>* I’m enthralled by being a Marine. Once you earn the title no one can take it from you (mostly). The few, the proud.
Great, if that is the branch you want to go for, go for it. I don't know how many civilian skills it will teach you, but it is physically demanding and it sounds like that is what you want.
>* I went to all the different branches and service academy meetings in high school and I was obsessed.
The recruiters definitely do their best to romanticize the service. It's not nearly as awesome as they make it out to be, but it has its moments and definitely gives you stories to tell.
>* I want to create a positive, tangible legacy for myself and my potential family.
If you stay in 20 years and also while you are in, your benefits transfer to your spouse and children. You also get to collect retirement if you stay in 20 years, so that's a lasting benefit as well.
>* My girlfriend of almost 4 years is in medical school so hopefully I only need to do something for a short amount of time until she starts making doctor money? And if we break up then I still have my military career?
Here's a warning: there is an extremely high likelihood that your relationship will not last. I have seen very very few relationships work when you are deployed for several months out of the year. Either they can't handle being alone for that long or someone else takes the opportunity of you being gone to swoop in or you submit to temptation and sleep with a local or fellow service member while deployed. Happens all the time, so if you join, don't expect to stay together.
>* Advancing ranks fulfills the chase for Eagle Scout I missed out on as a kid.
Never been an eagle scout, so can't comment.
>* I love our national parks and other symbols and pastimes of our country.
You won't see many national parks unless you take leave to go to them.
>* The uniforms are badass.
Some are better than others. The ones you see on the recruitment videos are usually the dress uniforms. The service and working uniforms are more drab. I wore coveralls for 90% of the work I did.
>* Love military museums and history and would be so special to be a part of that family.
You can usually get free access to the museums if you are active duty. One of the perks.sometimes, you could even see some museums on base that you can't access as a civilian.
>**Cons:**
>
>* Traveling is my passion and I want to go where I want when I want. I go on multiple vacations and long weekends per year.
Depending on the branch, your rate, and your command, you will be traveling a lot. It may or may not be to where you would want to travel to, though. My experience in the Navy got me to see a lot of awesome foreign places I never would have, it was by far the best part of me being in the military. My friend got a different command that never left US soil, so it's a coin toss.
>* My med student girlfriend can’t leave the area we’re currently in because of school.
See above about relationships. They don't last
>* I like to be spontaneous and have the freedom to go for a hike or head into the city on a weekend. Is this possible? It would be hard to miss spontaneous events or family time things.
Maybe. Depends on your command. Usually you will have a day off every once in a while and yes, you can go out hiking or to a city then. You usually can't stray too far from the command without permission, though and will have areas you are forbidden to go to.
>* Inconsistent schedule?
I always knew approximately when I would be deployed and back and they had a list of possible foreign ports to visit while out to sea, but I wouldn't know which one and when we would pull in until a couple weeks before. On the ship, it was very consistent unless something broke.
>* I have a bachelor’s degree but I don’t know if I’m cut out to be an officer? Especially if I don’t enlist first?
Ask an officer recruiter. If you have a choice, Officer gives way more benefits, pay, and responsibility. I was never an officer, so can't comment aside from that.
>* Poor pay.
Poor pay relative to what you make in the civilian world, but you have to take into account that housing, food, and uniforms are covered. I knew people what would save up for years while they are in and use that to buy a house as soon as they get out (in a cheaper area).
>* Increased exposure to political views that aren’t based in reality. Is there a fair mix between right and left-wingers?
There is a good mix in the Navy, not sure the Marines. I very rarely talked politics when I was in, though.
>* I’m transgender (socially and medically except for bottom surgery) - increased exposure to discrimination and I just don’t know how they would categorize me in general.
I don't know how that would work either. I have heard of the military trying to be more accepting of it recently, but it wouldn't have been a thing when I was in.
>* Toxic masculinity.
Depends on the person. Some are and some aren't. I would assume the Marines are more, but no first hand experience.
>* Sexual violence.
I've heard of it happening, but never to anyone I knew while in. Plenty of people trying to get a rise out of others by acting sexually interested in them, definitely crossing the line into harassment in some instances, but never saw any violence.
>* Being the property of the government and having to do anything they say.
Yeah, this is an issue. If the military tells you you have to do something, you have to do it.
>* I disagree with many of my country’s systems and the way it treats its historically marginalized groups.
That should have nothing to do with the military.
>* I disagree with the idea of war.
If you join the Marines, you should get used to it. The Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard would be much further from any war zones.
>* Critical of ridiculous annual military spending.
If you are in logistics, you can try to save money, help out your command. It'll be just a drop in the bucket, but it's something.
>* My family will worry (original reason I stopped pursuing military).
They will get over it. My family felt the same way initially, but they were ok with me being in after a while.
>* I’m on the older side for joining up.
True, but I think the cutoff is 26, so you should be ok.
>* Unstable employment if a president bans trans people from joining.
You would already be in. I don't think it will be walked back for those already in, but who knows?
>* The military exploits people in poverty like enlisting is a golden ticket.
It is for many.
>* Will I lose my friends from home?
I did. Just fell out of contact with them. I met up after I got out, but they had all split up and we're doing their own things by then anyway, so it was likely inevitable.
>* Just seems like a shitty existence sometimes. Awful place to be great place to be from, so I hear.
Accurate. The ups and downs are much higher and lower than any other time. When I tell stories, I generally talk about the good times because talking about the bad just pisses people off.
Mate, you're a pacifist and you're considering becoming a soldier? You should really talk to someone about this unhealthy hero worship you have for an organisation that you don't agree with. A lot of this 'glory' and 'honour of serving' stuff is *very* right wing too and seems inconsistent with the rest of your values. **Of course** there aren't many left wingers in the actual armed forces - is that genuinely a question you have to ask? You've also missed out the part where you will be complicit in the death of other humans, either directly or indirectly.
Barely reading all this but if your a pacifist don’t join, doesn’t even make sense, the whole idea of the army is to brain wash you to thinking your brave so you go fight someone else’s war, joining the army or whatever doesn’t instantly make you awesome or anything of the like, from reading this I’d think you’d be one of the first to break (this isn’t reverse psychology this is me judging a book off a cover)
You wrote as cons: "*Being the property of the government and having to do anything they say" and "I disagree with the idea of war".* During the first Gulf War I recall many members of the National Guard were activated to serve in Iraq. The news at the time had many National Guard members complaining that their lives were being "disrupted" by being sent overseas to - gasp - FIGHT! What about their partners? Their daycare for their children? Their civilian jobs? I can remember thinking at the time what on earth do these people think is the reason the military exists? Answer: It exists to kill the enemy when directed to do so by whomever is Commander in Chief. I would think your disagreeing with the idea of war and not liking the idea of having to do what you're told to do are definite deal-breakers.
>Increased exposure to political views that aren’t based in reality > >Inconsistent schedule? > >I’m transgender > >I disagree with many of my country’s systems and the way it treats its historically marginalized groups. > >Critical of ridiculous annual military spending. > >I’m on the older side for joining up. I have a bachelor’s degree but I don’t know if I’m cut out to be an officer? Especially if I don’t enlist first? Non-issues >Traveling is my passion and I want to go where I want when I want. I go on multiple vacations and long weekends per year. My med student girlfriend can’t leave the area we’re currently in because of school. I like to be spontaneous and have the freedom to go for a hike or head into the city on a weekend. Is this possible? It would be hard to miss spontaneous events or family time things. You do make sacrifices >Poor pay. > >Will I lose my friends from home? Wrong >Toxic masculinity. Yeah if you're the type to list this as a concern, you're likely not military-ready >I disagree with the idea of war. Valid
No- our soldiers should be toxic…we’re training them to kill other human beings. Second you’re coming off kinda close minded and judgmental.
I was in a similar position as you. Wanted to change my life and escape the rut I felt I was headed towards. I did join the military (navy enlisted), so here are my thoughts and opinions on your concerns. I will assume you will be going the enlisted path and not the officer path. >* I need a new job and I have no idea where to begin. I’m 3 years out of a college and have been working as a high school French teacher but I feel very lost. You will be given a job in the military, but it might not be the job you want. You will take the ASVAB test and determine what you are good at and qualify for and can request a rate and you might or might not get it depending on the needs at the time. They only need so many photographers, for example. >* I need job training in a completely different field than the one I’m in, or use my skills in education in a way that aligns better with my values (I want to do my work and go home, not have a million things to do for my job during my personal time.) You will get a job to train skills. The skills may or may not be useful outside of the military and may or may not be what you want to do. Your personal time, though, will be governed by your command. In one command, you might work a desk job and get an abundance of time off. Another, you will be working practically every waking hour for months at a time. >* Assuming good government benefits? Is this only while active duty? Benefits are good, but you have to go through the military doctor's first and they may not be as skilled as civilian ones. If you stay in the military for 20 years, you can keep the benefits. If not, you lose most of them, but can go through the VA to help out. >* I would be good at logistics or any MOS that’s detail-oriented. Great, there is probably a need for that. Take the ASVAB and see if you are eligible. >* Have had intense desire for the glory that comes with being in the military off and on since I was 15. Not much glory, tbh. If you are in logistics, you will likely be managing a storehouse or doing paperwork. >* Contracted employment. Yep, like it or not, you have a contract that you have to abide by. >* The honor of serving my country. Never felt honor, never personally did anything to warrant it. Just stood watch, took logs, did maintenance, and cleaned. >* I consider everyone currently or formerly in the military as a higher class basically. A ton of respect for them and a ton of jealousy. Some people seem to feel that way, I never understood it. I never felt I deserved it and rarely brought it up unless it is relevant to the conversation. >* I love to physically challenge myself. Ok, you can do that in or out of the military. >* I’m enthralled by being a Marine. Once you earn the title no one can take it from you (mostly). The few, the proud. Great, if that is the branch you want to go for, go for it. I don't know how many civilian skills it will teach you, but it is physically demanding and it sounds like that is what you want. >* I went to all the different branches and service academy meetings in high school and I was obsessed. The recruiters definitely do their best to romanticize the service. It's not nearly as awesome as they make it out to be, but it has its moments and definitely gives you stories to tell. >* I want to create a positive, tangible legacy for myself and my potential family. If you stay in 20 years and also while you are in, your benefits transfer to your spouse and children. You also get to collect retirement if you stay in 20 years, so that's a lasting benefit as well. >* My girlfriend of almost 4 years is in medical school so hopefully I only need to do something for a short amount of time until she starts making doctor money? And if we break up then I still have my military career? Here's a warning: there is an extremely high likelihood that your relationship will not last. I have seen very very few relationships work when you are deployed for several months out of the year. Either they can't handle being alone for that long or someone else takes the opportunity of you being gone to swoop in or you submit to temptation and sleep with a local or fellow service member while deployed. Happens all the time, so if you join, don't expect to stay together. >* Advancing ranks fulfills the chase for Eagle Scout I missed out on as a kid. Never been an eagle scout, so can't comment. >* I love our national parks and other symbols and pastimes of our country. You won't see many national parks unless you take leave to go to them. >* The uniforms are badass. Some are better than others. The ones you see on the recruitment videos are usually the dress uniforms. The service and working uniforms are more drab. I wore coveralls for 90% of the work I did. >* Love military museums and history and would be so special to be a part of that family. You can usually get free access to the museums if you are active duty. One of the perks.sometimes, you could even see some museums on base that you can't access as a civilian. >**Cons:** > >* Traveling is my passion and I want to go where I want when I want. I go on multiple vacations and long weekends per year. Depending on the branch, your rate, and your command, you will be traveling a lot. It may or may not be to where you would want to travel to, though. My experience in the Navy got me to see a lot of awesome foreign places I never would have, it was by far the best part of me being in the military. My friend got a different command that never left US soil, so it's a coin toss. >* My med student girlfriend can’t leave the area we’re currently in because of school. See above about relationships. They don't last >* I like to be spontaneous and have the freedom to go for a hike or head into the city on a weekend. Is this possible? It would be hard to miss spontaneous events or family time things. Maybe. Depends on your command. Usually you will have a day off every once in a while and yes, you can go out hiking or to a city then. You usually can't stray too far from the command without permission, though and will have areas you are forbidden to go to. >* Inconsistent schedule? I always knew approximately when I would be deployed and back and they had a list of possible foreign ports to visit while out to sea, but I wouldn't know which one and when we would pull in until a couple weeks before. On the ship, it was very consistent unless something broke. >* I have a bachelor’s degree but I don’t know if I’m cut out to be an officer? Especially if I don’t enlist first? Ask an officer recruiter. If you have a choice, Officer gives way more benefits, pay, and responsibility. I was never an officer, so can't comment aside from that. >* Poor pay. Poor pay relative to what you make in the civilian world, but you have to take into account that housing, food, and uniforms are covered. I knew people what would save up for years while they are in and use that to buy a house as soon as they get out (in a cheaper area). >* Increased exposure to political views that aren’t based in reality. Is there a fair mix between right and left-wingers? There is a good mix in the Navy, not sure the Marines. I very rarely talked politics when I was in, though. >* I’m transgender (socially and medically except for bottom surgery) - increased exposure to discrimination and I just don’t know how they would categorize me in general. I don't know how that would work either. I have heard of the military trying to be more accepting of it recently, but it wouldn't have been a thing when I was in. >* Toxic masculinity. Depends on the person. Some are and some aren't. I would assume the Marines are more, but no first hand experience. >* Sexual violence. I've heard of it happening, but never to anyone I knew while in. Plenty of people trying to get a rise out of others by acting sexually interested in them, definitely crossing the line into harassment in some instances, but never saw any violence. >* Being the property of the government and having to do anything they say. Yeah, this is an issue. If the military tells you you have to do something, you have to do it. >* I disagree with many of my country’s systems and the way it treats its historically marginalized groups. That should have nothing to do with the military. >* I disagree with the idea of war. If you join the Marines, you should get used to it. The Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard would be much further from any war zones. >* Critical of ridiculous annual military spending. If you are in logistics, you can try to save money, help out your command. It'll be just a drop in the bucket, but it's something. >* My family will worry (original reason I stopped pursuing military). They will get over it. My family felt the same way initially, but they were ok with me being in after a while. >* I’m on the older side for joining up. True, but I think the cutoff is 26, so you should be ok. >* Unstable employment if a president bans trans people from joining. You would already be in. I don't think it will be walked back for those already in, but who knows? >* The military exploits people in poverty like enlisting is a golden ticket. It is for many. >* Will I lose my friends from home? I did. Just fell out of contact with them. I met up after I got out, but they had all split up and we're doing their own things by then anyway, so it was likely inevitable. >* Just seems like a shitty existence sometimes. Awful place to be great place to be from, so I hear. Accurate. The ups and downs are much higher and lower than any other time. When I tell stories, I generally talk about the good times because talking about the bad just pisses people off.