The "right" to serve, or the "privilege" to serve?

SGT Anthony Rossi — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:53:21 -0400

With all the discussions about the "rights" of individuals what are your thoughts. Growing up in the 70-80's we had this concept ingrained in our hearts: "ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY!" It seemed the thing to do today is to ask what can my "Army" do for me?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 7 at 2015 12:55 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 12:55:50 -0400

It is a privilege to serve - subject to the needs of the country, NOT of the individual.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 7 at 2015 1:04 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 13:04:00 -0400

In the all volunteer force, it is clearly a privilege. When we are conscripting it is a duty. No one has a right to serve.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Jun 7 at 2015 1:47 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 13:47:50 -0400

No one -- not even a Medal of Honor recipient -- has the *right* to serve in any capacity. The military has a job to do, and anyone or anything that detracts from the accomplishment of that job has no business being there.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 1:49 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 13:49:26 -0400

Pretty easy assessment in my mind. It is an honor and privilege to serve this great nation.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 2:05 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:05:11 -0400

Rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There is no right to ownership or title.

Response by Sgt Thomas Harris made Jun 7 at 2015 2:05 PM

Sgt Thomas Harris — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:05:45 -0400

Privilege

Response by CPT Chase Sanger made Jun 7 at 2015 2:07 PM

CPT Chase Sanger — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:07:58 -0400

I agree with a lot of the above responses. It's definitely a privilege. In today's society though, I can see where someone would assume that being in the military is their right. Little league baseball teams give trophies to every kid for participating. The generation growing up currently assumes that everything is their right. I think that serving in the military is one of the greatest honors and privileges that any American can ever hope to be given.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 7 at 2015 2:54 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 14:54:36 -0400

This is a matter of Capacity.

The Citizen has a Duty and Right to serve. We are not always called to serve, nor to we always exercise said Right, but it is ever present.

When speaking of a specific service, like military or election, this becomes a matter of "privilege" because of selection criteria.

So although we have the Right to serve (Jury, Vote, Draft, etc), because their are qualifications for specific service, an individual may not be able to serve in a desired capacity.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jun 7 at 2015 4:08 PM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 16:08:14 -0400

If we're talking about rights and military service, I'd fall out on the other side, saying that someone has the right NOT to serve, when there's a draft. Of course, I don't believe in a draft, because it violates individuals' rights to liberty, and possibly to life, and certainly to equal protection under the law. Then again, I've also read the Militia Act of 1958 and agree with it. except with the gender part. Almost no one would refuse to defend his own home or his town directly.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 7 at 2015 7:30 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 19:30:07 -0400

It is and was definitely a PRIVILEGE to serve. Not everyone can cut it and rightfully so!

Response by CH (COL) Geoff Bailey made Jun 7 at 2015 9:44 PM

CH (COL) Geoff Bailey — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 21:44:12 -0400

SGT Anthony Rossi , it's a privilege and duty. The country has a right to selectively accept those who desire to serve. The services must winnow those numbers down as they select leaders. To be selected means one demonstrated potential for increased responsibilities, not that he or she stuck it out long enough for automatic promotion.

It is a duty for citizens to serve the greater good for others in defense of freedom when called upon to do so. This is the reason people continue to serve when the privilege of continued service is offered. Otherwise, it's time to exit the service.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 10:00 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:00:57 -0400

<= Absolutely a privilege.

Response by 1LT Kathleen Heisler made Jun 7 at 2015 10:50 PM

1LT Kathleen Heisler — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 22:50:44 -0400

I feel that it is a privilege to serve not a right. In the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights it does not state anywhere that it is a right to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Jun 7 at 2015 11:45 PM

1LT William Clardy — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 23:45:21 -0400

Neither.

It is a duty and an honor.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 12:25 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:25:01 -0400

It's a privilege. It's your right to volunteer, but not everyone will qualify. Standards are a valuable tool for operational readiness.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jun 8 at 2015 6:15 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 06:15:10 -0400

You have a right to try and join by going to the recruiter's office and asking. From MEPS on it's essentially a privilege as they don't HAVE to spend the money on you.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Jun 8 at 2015 5:46 PM

SGT John Wesley — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 17:46:20 -0400

It was my privilege to serve. I still feel honored to have served!

As for the few that feel that this country owes them, Move would be my recommendation.

I too feel it is my duty to ask what I can do for this country, as it's done so much for me.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 8 at 2015 5:47 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 17:47:13 -0400

The right to choose to serve, but a privilege to be chosen.

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Jun 8 at 2015 10:40 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 22:40:08 -0400

It is an HONOR to serve.

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Jun 8 at 2015 10:44 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 22:44:05 -0400

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Jun 8 at 2015 10:46 PM

Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 22:46:36 -0400

What about the responsibility to serve?

Response by SSG Sean Thoman made Jun 9 at 2015 2:36 AM

SSG Sean Thoman — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 02:36:16 -0400

I did not look at as a right or privilege when I first joined, it seemed like a moral obligation for what I believe in. After my first enlistment, it was all privilege and an honor to do so.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Jun 9 at 2015 3:00 AM

GySgt Joe Strong — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 03:00:42 -0400

Sometimes I wonder if there's not a conflation of ideas due to there being a contract involved.

It is indeed a privilege to serve. Frankly, given the high standards we are able to set for the initial accession of those who would choose to serve, it's also a privilege to serve with so many other fine Americans.

But, once the contract is signed it is incumbent on both parties to honor the contract.
One by giving true and faithful service, the other by providing the pay, and services promised in the contract.
One does indeed having served have a right to those services. And when we fail to deliver them it should be a national disgrace that is quickly corrected and not just given lip service or a show of moving around a few executives at the top of the organizations responsible for delivering those services.

And finally, no, sorry, there is no right to serve. Only an opportunity to, and then, only if accepted.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 9 at 2015 6:16 AM

PO3 David Fries — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 06:16:22 -0400

It was a privilege to have served. No one has the "right". It smacks of entitlement .

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 9 at 2015 6:18 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 06:18:45 -0400

It is our right to have the privilege of serving our country!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 9:16 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 09:16:05 -0400

I think it is the only Right that we have that we have to earn. here is why I say this, and bear with me. We have the right to bear Arms, originally, this was the right given to Men to take up arms to defend their homeland, not actually to carry a weapon at home. Now, by the 2nd Amendment, we have the right to enlist in the Armed Forces. But here's the hitch, you choose us, we train you, but if you don't have what it takes, we send your sorry ass home. You have to earn your spot in the Force.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 9 at 2015 9:27 AM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 09:27:03 -0400

Its a prove he to serve and if there was a place for someone of my age to serve I'd jump at it in a heartbeat.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 10:34 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:34:34 -0400

Great discussion post brother! What an excellent question.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 9 at 2015 10:56 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 10:56:07 -0400

Considering that we kick people out of the military all of the time, serving is a privilege.

Response by MAJ Ray McCulloch made Jun 9 at 2015 11:03 AM

MAJ Ray McCulloch — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:03:03 -0400

In 1994, I went to MEPS and enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as a 17 year old high school junior. When I took my ASVAB test, I was told I qualified for any job in the Army. It wasn't until that point did I ask, "What can the Army give me?" I was given three choices (because that was what was closest to my home at the time), and I took the one that gave me the most for my future education. I quickly changed my attitude from right to serve to privilege to serve when I went to Basic Combat Training. I learned how important it was to expect nothing but give everything. I continued to serve because I felt it was a privilege to do so. I feel a little bitter right now because the Army took that privilege away, but now I get to serve in the National Guard where I can directly serve the community and people I served while on Active Duty.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 11:05 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:05:33 -0400

The Israelis have an interesting concept. They see it as a right and even the mentally and physically challenged can serve. They see it as giving them pride in serving alongside their more able bodied countrymen.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 4:23 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:23:28 -0400

TSgt Joshua Copeland nailed it for sure. Also if it was a right to serve everyone would be eligible. The fact that you have to qualify at a proper level to even be considered for training is another example of how it is a privilege, if we ever needed another example.

Response by SGT John W Lugo made Jun 9 at 2015 11:42 PM

SGT John W Lugo — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 23:42:32 -0400

Different generation.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2018 1:43 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:43:37 -0500

I am privileged to serve. The Army owes me a paycheck and common respect. I owe them hard work and dedication!