Joining the Army

[Prototype]

a) I'm honost about it.
b) I'll do whatever I need to do if my family is in imediate trouble. That's as far as my responsibility goes as far as I'm concerned.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Mayer

Recently I have seriously been considering joining the Canadian Forces, specifically the infantry.

It's getting harder and harder to hate you like I should

[GreenLantern]

If I was drafted I would go anywhere they sent me. It is your duty. You live in this land, you claim its benefits and freedom as your own, you should be willing to do what it takes to answer the call if the call goes out.

Draft dodgers are slightly below pedefiles and rapists imo.

[HockeyPuck]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Draft dodgers are slightly below pedefiles and rapists imo.

And Glenmore garbage dumpers too.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

If I was drafted I would go anywhere they sent me. It is your duty. You live in this land, you claim its benefits and freedom as your own, you should be willing to do what it takes to answer the call if the call goes out.

Draft dodgers are slightly below pedefiles and rapists imo.

Brutal. How about if the person lived in an unjust country that used it's military for terrible things? Would you blame anyone for avoiding conscription in a fascist or communist dictatorship?

My father dodged forced military service in Yugoslavia and I have nothing but respect for the decision.

[WesternCanadaKing]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

If I was drafted I would go anywhere they sent me. It is your duty. You live in this land, you claim its benefits and freedom as your own, you should be willing to do what it takes to answer the call if the call goes out.

Draft dodgers are slightly below pedefiles and rapists imo.

Hell no. If I was drafted to go fight a war that I don't believe in then there is no way I'd be laying my life down for it. And really, the only war I'd believe in is one where our freedoms were at stake. THAT is our duty, to protect the values and way of life of our country, not to simply do the bidding of our government. For instance, I'd have gone if drafted for World War II, but if for something like Vietnam or Korea I'd have refused to go.

We live in a society that allows us to practice discretion and I don't see why war should be any different than anything else.

[Prototype]

So you would want to be defended by a guy who has never fired a gun, outside of something of the lazer tag variety, who doesn't enjoy war movies, who is a new father, and is about to be a father again protecting you?

Let me rephrase. I have the utmost respect for those who are on the front lines, and who decide to put their bodies on the line. If anything, if I were to be drafted, I would imagine I would be better suited for communications.

Compairing communications to anyone who puts themselves on the battlefield is insulting to one side over the other.

If you want me to shoot people, or increase my risk of being shot, blown up, or dying to make sure you can live in your freedoms you speak of, I wont do it.

[amorak]

Originally Posted by Thor

You would have went to Vietnam then I assume?

I'd go - Kill me some *mod edit, even if it's sarcastic racial slurs are not to be posted on this board*. I hear you got free orange drink or something too!

[/sarcasm]

...is that even the right redneck slang for a Vietnamese person? I am behind on my racist terms, I guess.

[mrgreen]

Edited.

[worth]

Originally Posted by mrgreen

If you like the idea of killing people - maybe even a few civilians - and maybe being killed yourself then go for it! There's no way I would be going anywhere to fight some bull**** war for *****bag politicians.

So wait...are you against the war?

[Russic]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

If I was drafted I would go anywhere they sent me. It is your duty. You live in this land, you claim its benefits and freedom as your own, you should be willing to do what it takes to answer the call if the call goes out.

Draft dodgers are slightly below pedefiles and rapists imo.

You have less respect for a draft dodger than a child rapist? This conversation is headed at mach 3 into all sorts of crazy. Are you the guy who thinks people who litter are worse than pedophiles too? I don't know CP ... I love ya but there seems to be an uncomfortably relaxed attitude towards pedophilia around here.

There are two things I care about in this world: my wife and my kid. I have zero problem turning my back on anything that threatens my relationship with either. All the anger on the internet couldn't change my mind!

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by amorak

I'd go - Kill me some *mod edit*. I hear you got free orange drink or something too!

[/sarcasm]

...is that even the right redneck slang for a Vietnamese person? I am behind on my racist terms, I guess.

What is this "redneck slang" you speak of?

I didn't know rednecks invented racism........

[CaptainCrunch]

I have no problem with conciencious objectors. There's no draft anymore, there's no one forcing you to sign enlistment papers. The Western Armies are all volunteer based, judges can't even give the enlistment option in sentencing anymore.

Here's my issue, the war started in 2003, thats 7 years ago. A bunch of these people that have fled the army enlisted after that date. Those who were in the army before that started had their enlistment contract expire and had the option to leave the army.

You can't tell me that any of these people were ignorant about the war in Iraq going on. And if you enlist, they basically tell you that there is an excellent chance that your going to Iraq of Afghanistan.

There are avenues for you to follow if you don't believe in the war, or don't want to fight it.

In the army handbook 600-43, you can apply for conciencious objector status, you go through a mass interview process at multiple levels, and you can be given a discharge based on CO status which means that you also waive the rights to your after service benefit. Or conversely you can apply for reassignment to a non combat role. Chances are though your career path will be frozen.

If you actively disobey a combat mobilization you can be bought in front of the convening authority for disposition, chances are they'll just dismiss you from the service.

What drives me crazy is the people that flee the service to Canada and whine and cry that the U.S. government is out to get them. Bottom line is those people are deserters, thats why the government wants them, because desertion is a major offense. But they don't shoot deserters anymore, they usually give them a bad conduct dismissal from the service and leave it at that.

If you joined after the war started then decided that you don't want to go your a moron for joining in the first part.

If you were in the service before the troubles started then you're enlistment ended at lest 4 years ago, so why are you staying in if you have problems with the war your fighting.

The ones that whine and cry about the horrors of war or the atrocities happening there didn't listen during basic training. In every basic training group you are told about the Nurenburg conventions and the right to morally not follow orders. There are also paths that you can take to report these incidents.

There's no excuse for desertion, take your lumps and go home.

[GreenLantern]

Anyone who dodges a draft is, in my humble opinion, a coward.

A selfish, selfish coward.

Further more, how dare you compare glenmore trash dumpers to draft dodgers, they might be scum sucking cowards that have no appreciation for the freedom that is handed to them daily, but at least they have souls..

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Anyone who dodges a draft is, in my humble opinion, a coward.

A selfish, selfish coward.

Further more, how dare you compare glenmore trash dumpers to draft dodgers, they might be scum sucking cowards that have no appreciation for the freedom that is handed to them daily, but at least they have souls..

So Muhammad Ali is a coward?

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Further more, how dare you compare glenmore trash dumpers to draft dodgers, they might be scum sucking cowards that have no appreciation for the freedom that is handed to them daily, but at least they have souls..

Are they gingers? Take a deep breath dude. Relax. We're all friends here. Don't go all Gomer Pile on us.

You can't seriously expect that everyone shares the exact same perspective about going to war as you do.

I do believe that war is senseless, and this current one we're experiencing has no point, other than WMD have been proven not to be there. It's one country trying to flex it's muscle over another, and losing. Heaven forbid they should pull their troops out, and face a PR disaster, cause that would be worse than losing the lives of those who fight the good fight.

Those are my thoughts, and I totally understand if you don't agree with them. I'm also letting the pedofile and rapist comment slide, cause clearly this is a topic you're passionate about. I can't imagine someone would rather have someone touch their son or daughter in an inappropriate manner, or force themselves on thier daughter, than to hear that they wouldn't go to war if forced by a government that routinely lies about their service, or lack their of.

Having said that... I'm a human being, just like you. You may like Coke, I like Pepsi. There's no wrong answer here... it's a belief system.

And I believe I will not be going to war for nobody, but me and my family.

PS - All the best to you Mayer. I hope you understand my opinion as much as I don't disagree with your choice. It's just not something I would do myself.

[Top_Prospect]

I'm with Russic. I'm a lover not a fighter. I wouldn't go.

[Hades]

Current Reservist in Calgary here (Medical); like someone had said, and from what I've heard, the Highlanders aren't taking many new recruits (that's assuming you want to join the reserves in Calgary?). Should open up sooner or later though! PM if you've got any questions

[Russic]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Anyone who dodges a draft is, in my humble opinion, a coward.

A selfish, selfish coward.

Further more, how dare you compare glenmore trash dumpers to draft dodgers, they might be scum sucking cowards that have no appreciation for the freedom that is handed to them daily, but at least they have souls..

I can agree with that actually. If there was a draft tomorrow I'd gladly accept the coward badge ... that's partly why I came into the thread to congratulate Mayer on being far more brave than I.

I don't think you can drop the "how dare you compare ..." line when it is you comparing draft dodgers to pedophiles. I appreciate you're passionate about it, but you're talking about raping kids. I'm fine to agree to disagree, but how can anybody take your argument seriously when you're comparing things like that?

This is derailing away from Mayer's original intention of this thread, so I won't post here anymore. If you'd like to take further pot-shots feel free.

[Sylvanfan]

Wow, some pretty hard feelings over a "what if" line. Given the choice...I choose not to join the army and subject myself to being sent to Afghanistan. If it was forced upon me than I might alter my stance and accept conscription. The thing is that if things got to a point where the army needed to conscript a 35 year old with no previous combat training than global circumstances would likely be radically different than what they currently are and likely impact my feelings. I may feel a bit more compelled to help out because the future of my family may not be looking so good if I chose not to go.

Thanks to those who choose to join the forces, I'm not forced into joining the army against my free will, and I am thankful for that.

But beware, someone who admits to liking John Mayer likely faces ridicule inside the armed forces no matter what era it is!