Why Doesn't ______ Make His Child Enlist?

See this a lot, too.

Variation on a theme, but generally like this, "If you're so for the war, why don't you make your son/daughter enlist and go to Iraq?"

1) It's a volunteer military. NO ONE makes anyone join. When I signed the paper, no one made me do it. I could have walked away. When I raised my hand (twice) to take the Oath of Enlistment, I could have walked away. At no time in the processing center did I see a parent dragging their grown child in, with the child screaming, "No, Daddy, I don't wanna play Army..."

It's a choice. Some make it, some do not. I've spoken with Drill Sergeants, and they've said that they've seen all kinds. Former doctors, lawyers, etc... walk away from it and enlist (no, not be officers... enlist.) Rich kids, poor kids, people from other countries who aren't even citizens of America (like a good buddy of mine) have all enlisted.

2) You can't just "go to Iraq". Sorry, the military doesn't work that way. You join, and then you become a commodity for the service. "Needs of the Army" as we say. If they need you in Korea, you go to Korea. Africa... Europe... Afghanistan, wherever. Yes, you can increase your odds of going - choose certain jobs, try to go to certain units, but... still go guarantee on going... or not going. Plenty of letters get written to "Stars and Stripes" and "Army Times" from Soldiers who want to go but are assigned elsewhere. It's just not so simple.



Part of what's not being taught as much in school anymore is why the American system works. Let's look at the military. Mr. Snuffy does not join the Army to support President Smith. First of all, would be foolish because of the 8 year committment, so odds are, at some point, PVT Snuffy would take orders from President Jones, not President Smith.

The military is managed by civilians. We follow orders from them. We go where they tell us to, and not go where they say not to go. If President Kerry had come and on 21 January 2005 told the Pentagon to begin an immediate withdrawal, then that's what would have happened.

The oath taken is that we'll support and defend the Constitution. No one man, his policies, or otherwise.

You don't have to agree with the orders that come down, or the policies behind them. But the Constitution says we follow those orders, and that's what we do.