What are the best excuses you have heard for people not joining the military?

My mother made me promise not join the army strait out of high school. I don't break my promises. So i joined the Navy about 3 months later. -This is seriously my short story of joining.

Or smart enough to want to do something else...

I am a retired warrant. I keep reading these responses. Why do young people need a reason not to join. Why look down your nose at them because they chose not to. You served to protect this freedom of choice they have, not to sneer at them or ridicule them. Military service is an individual choice. Be proud not boastful. Why is choosing a path different from yours bad? Why do these youth (even lazy misguided youth) need a reason for not joining? A simple’I don’t want to’ should suffice. Come down from the elevated horse, use your experience & leadership, try and find something they are interested in & help them do something they want to do & realize there is a whole big wide world of people who just don’t want to be in the army & that’s ok. Maybe it’s good not everyone want to join it makes you unique. Be unique without being judgmental, be proud but not boastful, be a leader not a bully, be supportive don’t ridicule.

CW2 Kimberly Moran I look down at the excuse of it all. Some people (plenty) are scared of guns, war, being yelled at, dread the thought of waking up everyday really early, etc etc. People who give reasons of not joining such as above are not valid because they lack the truth of the matter. Just say "hey, military isn't for me." That's all. I don't look down on civilians in general but the flimsy reasoning given irritates me because it lacks honesty.

At least he's self-aware and honest...

Hell, I don't like guns either, but they are a necessary part of our society. I did Intel and Signal over Infantry for that exact reason. Will shoot if I need to, just not my first choice.

Hell I've got more broken bones than I have fingers. Turns out if you are willing to suck up some pain they'll put you through.

Uh huh. I'm an only child too. 21 years as a Cav Scout and Russian linguist.

I've done the same SGT Spratley. But if that's their comfort zone then the only one who can get them out of it is themselves. 

SGT SB, My response to that response would be only the unlucky, the careless, and the cowardly die.

SSG (ret) William Martin, everyone's unlucky sometimes. I came to terms long ago that my choice of careers may lead to my death. I just remember the old saying "Everyone dies. Not everyone truly lives."

SSG (Join to see), oddly enough statistically speaking we have a better chance of being killed in a motor vehicle crash than from military action (ie: combat).

My son's wife tried this crap and told him she didn't want him to die or deploy. I knew he was meant for the military at a young age because of his mind , heart, stature, and interest. She didn't win. He admires his mama for serving, even when I ended up a single mother. He claims he learned his greatness and perseverance from me and he always wanted to join. Let's just say that this is a proud mama.

Another lost soul with no clear understanding of exactly how the military works...

If those drill sgts got in my face I would knock them out.

SSG(P) John B. I heard that one several times as well.