Coyote's Conundrum

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Maybe i should join the airforce.

Three discordians, and the one who has crippling acrophobia is in charge of all the airplanes.

Noooooo.   Twid, you would be miserable in the military.

he didn't say anything about the military, he was talking about the air force.

Technically, they are the military.  In fact, they're the military with all the cool shit boiled out and just the pointless bullshit left.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

[Don Coyote]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

[Freeky]

Maybe i should join the airforce.

Three discordians, and the one who has crippling acrophobia is in charge of all the airplanes.

Noooooo.   Twid, you would be miserable in the military.

he didn't say anything about the military, he was talking about the air force.

Fucking SNAP.

[Freeky]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

It doesn't seem stupid to me, but I'm a born civilian and do not understand these things military.

[Phox]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

Not stupid at all. That's a perfectly legitimate qualm. (And one of the things that would have to change for me to join, btw). So, if you really don't want to be in that position, don't put yourself in it. If, however, you judge the benefits of going ahead with your original plan to outweigh the moral dilemma, then that's fine too.

Really, we can't make the decision for you. We won't be casting stones if you decide to change your mind. But we won't be throwing tomatoes at you when you get off the boat in 15 years, either.

[East Coast Hustle]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

IMO, whichever choice you make in the end this attitude will serve you well. And it speaks well of you as a person.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

My son had the same qualms at first.

Then he mentioned that if nobody with any moral sense is there, then well, all you have is immoral shitbags.

I've known plenty of officers - mostly field grade - that knew the US military is a tool of financial & corporate interests, and hasn't fought for actual American freedom since 1814, but they're still there.  It's what they do, it's what they're good at, and they can and do have an effect on the system as a whole.

[Don Coyote]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

My son had the same qualms at first.

Then he mentioned that if nobody with any moral sense is there, then well, all you have is immoral shitbags.

I've known plenty of officers - mostly field grade - that knew the US military is a tool of financial & corporate interests, and hasn't fought for actual American freedom since 1814, but they're still there.  It's what they do, it's what they're good at, and they can and do have an effect on the system as a whole.

I want to be angry at you for saying what I've told myself. Why do you have to make fucking sense?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

All joking aside, is it stupid that I have major moral qualm with placing myself in a position that may result in me ordering people to go places that they may need to kill other people, all due to a series of events that I consider wrong?

In other words, I don't want to cause soldiers to put into harms way, when I don't agree with the current wars, or as has been pointed out, most wars seem to be fought for large corporations and their bottom lines.

My son had the same qualms at first.

Then he mentioned that if nobody with any moral sense is there, then well, all you have is immoral shitbags.

I've known plenty of officers - mostly field grade - that knew the US military is a tool of financial & corporate interests, and hasn't fought for actual American freedom since 1814, but they're still there.  It's what they do, it's what they're good at, and they can and do have an effect on the system as a whole.

I want to be angry at you for saying what I've told myself. Why do you have to make fucking sense?

BECAUSE NONE OF YOU PEOPLE MAKE SENSE!

[Don Coyote]

I don't think I'm going to do it. I don't remember ever being stoked or happy a single day I wore the uniform. Every day felt like a job. You know, just a stepping stone. The bulk of my reasoning FOR doing it is that maybe I could make my troops not have shitty lives, have a meaningful impact on their lives, but it's fucking office work, and ass kissing. I hate both. Granted my last commander thought I was awesome because I said exactly what I thought when asked for an opinion.

I'm mostly just pissed that here I am 27 years old and I still don't have a fucking grip on what I want to do for the next 4 years.\

ETA: AND I AM STILL GETTING EMAILS FROM 1st SPECIAL FORCES GROUP!!! WHAT THE FUCK I AM NOT ACTIVE DUTY GET OFF MY NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Im 30.5 years old in three weeks and i still dont know what im doing. Figure it out in three years and youre already better off than me

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I'm 40 and I just started college. So, like, don't necessarily count on figuring it out anytime soon.

[BadBeast]

I'm 45, and still open to options.

When you join the Army, (Any Army) you have to get down early on with the fact that you don't get to choose who you work for. The Govt / Chiefs of Staff get to contract you out to whoever they want. Whether it's Oil Corps, Nato, The UN, or supporting an Interim Governing body in some 3rd World stinkhole.
All you have to answer to is the chain of command, and if you intend taking your conscience along (And I know you will) It'll need to be flexible where the CoC is concerned. Not discarded, not ever, but flexible means you get to stay mostly sane. And you're what? 27?
You can still fuck it all off, if you can't stomach what they ask you to do.

[Don Coyote]

Problem solved. For now. Expect me to flip out existentially in a few months.