Posted on Jul 21, 2023
IN-DEPTH: Military Families No Longer Want Their Children to Enlist
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Military Family
Posted >1 y ago
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Thankfully my kids aren't of age yet, but I wouldn't want them to enlist in the current administration's run. The administration does not have America's best interests at heart. They have China's.
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Both my parents served in the Navy in WW2 . My 2 older brothers draft numbers were 354 and 346. In 1971 when I turned 18 my Dad sat me down and said “ Dave , if your number comes up very low I would not be extremely unhappy if you went to Canada.” People back then lost faith in their government and their leaders. My Dad was a true Patriot. Yet they drove him to this.
In retrospect, this is the same thing. People want to serve when they believe their sacrifices are worth the risk. Even for me this affected my willingness to serve. I was Patriotic as well and upon Graduation being eminent I went to the Spring jobs fair sponsored by the University. I had always toyed with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I drew and built my own balsa models for years. I did talk to the Navy Recruiter there and we carried on a conversation about becoming a fighter pilot. He asked me how big I was . 6’ 5 1/2” 245 lbs. He said you are to big for fighters but I could qualify for EC3’s or Cargo aircraft. I decided I did not want to join to be a bus driver.
Any hoot, in the back of my mind was also the breaking of trust, that my Dad had imparted to me on the day we discussed my draft status . I suppose I would have pushed that aside had I been able to fly fighters. But it all entered into my decision.
Today, again we have a loss of respect for those leading this nation. We have the total failure of the with draw from Afghanistan. The dispatch of those in military service for refusing to take the COVID-19 MNRA shots. The rise of “wokeism” in our military command. The teaching of DEI at our academies and it’s push down to the enlisted level.
It all adds up. Again just like myself the question is “ does this represent my values”. Like many patriots, NOT. The results of which are, they don’t join. History repeats itself
In retrospect, this is the same thing. People want to serve when they believe their sacrifices are worth the risk. Even for me this affected my willingness to serve. I was Patriotic as well and upon Graduation being eminent I went to the Spring jobs fair sponsored by the University. I had always toyed with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I drew and built my own balsa models for years. I did talk to the Navy Recruiter there and we carried on a conversation about becoming a fighter pilot. He asked me how big I was . 6’ 5 1/2” 245 lbs. He said you are to big for fighters but I could qualify for EC3’s or Cargo aircraft. I decided I did not want to join to be a bus driver.
Any hoot, in the back of my mind was also the breaking of trust, that my Dad had imparted to me on the day we discussed my draft status . I suppose I would have pushed that aside had I been able to fly fighters. But it all entered into my decision.
Today, again we have a loss of respect for those leading this nation. We have the total failure of the with draw from Afghanistan. The dispatch of those in military service for refusing to take the COVID-19 MNRA shots. The rise of “wokeism” in our military command. The teaching of DEI at our academies and it’s push down to the enlisted level.
It all adds up. Again just like myself the question is “ does this represent my values”. Like many patriots, NOT. The results of which are, they don’t join. History repeats itself
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When my father returned from Vietnam he was angry at the Military even though he served in WW2, Korea and Vietnam. He was the one that saw the futility of Vietnam and said he would personally ship me to Canada. How ironic when my draft number came up my health record barred me from being admitted and was stamped 4 F. I was both relieved and also angry because I am the only one in all my family, Uncles, Cousins etc. who was not allowed in.
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PO3 Edward Riddle - What is your problem? But I did earn Medical Degrees and did volunteer work to help ASSHOLES LIKE YOU!!!
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PO3 Edward Riddle -
How about some of the Nurses who went over as Civilian Volunteers? Half of those nurses in Vietnam were CIVILIANS!
Now how can you forget about the USO or Bob Hope etc. They are civilians.
My father was underaged when he joined the USMC in WW2 but my mother was only 14 when she married my father just after WW2. My mother worked civilian while we lived on base in Camp LeJeune and at GTMO, she worked on base in the Garment, Laundry and Repair applying rank, stripes, flashes etc. At GTMO there wasn't any off base Laundry Services, personnel wives did that. Now this was in late 50's when I lived there
Did you forget about all the CIVILIAN FEMALES during WW2 who flew the planes, shuttling them them around?
In the factories making your ammo, Or the Donut Dollies, or the USO shows- oh how much you PEOPLE FORGET! You forget WHO was still keeping you fed, armed and on life support!
By the time any recognition or appreciation for those civilians was long after their deaths!
How about some of the Nurses who went over as Civilian Volunteers? Half of those nurses in Vietnam were CIVILIANS!
Now how can you forget about the USO or Bob Hope etc. They are civilians.
My father was underaged when he joined the USMC in WW2 but my mother was only 14 when she married my father just after WW2. My mother worked civilian while we lived on base in Camp LeJeune and at GTMO, she worked on base in the Garment, Laundry and Repair applying rank, stripes, flashes etc. At GTMO there wasn't any off base Laundry Services, personnel wives did that. Now this was in late 50's when I lived there
Did you forget about all the CIVILIAN FEMALES during WW2 who flew the planes, shuttling them them around?
In the factories making your ammo, Or the Donut Dollies, or the USO shows- oh how much you PEOPLE FORGET! You forget WHO was still keeping you fed, armed and on life support!
By the time any recognition or appreciation for those civilians was long after their deaths!
PO3 Edward Riddle
I was responding to your remark "I am the only one in all my family, Uncles, Cousins etc. who was not allowed in". I don't know where all this crap about civilians came from. Your own imagination I suppose. I am also a Viet Nam Vet and I thank your Father for whatever he did to help me come home alive. And I thank all the Civilians you spoke about, including your Mother.
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PO3 Edward Riddle - I apologize, the way others on here were jabbing at me I misunderstood and took it as bad mouthing or making me out as whiner. One guy was belittling me because I was honest in telling people that I did not serve and he called me a poser. I asked him back a poser to vs a fake veteran who claim they served and did not? And others also were saying since I was not in the service that I had no right to be on this site or to speak. My apology.
I was disappointed that I could not get in because I busted my butt to earn my high school degree at age 15. I was advanced 2 grades. I wanted to get into the Military Academy then go to Medical School as an Officer. I had a ton of theories in Medicine and knew that to get all the right education that it would be very costly on my own and so I wanted to get most of it through the Military. Then to help my father and mother, they had worked so hard growing up in the Depression. My father had to leave school and work in a factory at age 12 and he joined the Marine Corp underage. They taught him to read and write. Its a long story but I wanted to excel in Medicine and in turn help all my family and others. Things just did not work out the way as I had hoped. I did get to take care of my mother for the remaining 16 years of her life as well as having my 1st and only child at age 51. Full custody at birth and raised her by myself, no help from anyone or the Government. She is about to turn 18. If I had been in the Military, life might have been a bit easier in reaching my goals..... Since I busted my chops to help open the door for my daughter to enter the Military and take advantage of our family's long Military heritage that as descendants of Veterans of the Revolutionary War she can choose whichever Military Academy if she has the Academic Credits--- sadly, she is dumber than a brick! I love her though.... but, still a brick.
I was disappointed that I could not get in because I busted my butt to earn my high school degree at age 15. I was advanced 2 grades. I wanted to get into the Military Academy then go to Medical School as an Officer. I had a ton of theories in Medicine and knew that to get all the right education that it would be very costly on my own and so I wanted to get most of it through the Military. Then to help my father and mother, they had worked so hard growing up in the Depression. My father had to leave school and work in a factory at age 12 and he joined the Marine Corp underage. They taught him to read and write. Its a long story but I wanted to excel in Medicine and in turn help all my family and others. Things just did not work out the way as I had hoped. I did get to take care of my mother for the remaining 16 years of her life as well as having my 1st and only child at age 51. Full custody at birth and raised her by myself, no help from anyone or the Government. She is about to turn 18. If I had been in the Military, life might have been a bit easier in reaching my goals..... Since I busted my chops to help open the door for my daughter to enter the Military and take advantage of our family's long Military heritage that as descendants of Veterans of the Revolutionary War she can choose whichever Military Academy if she has the Academic Credits--- sadly, she is dumber than a brick! I love her though.... but, still a brick.
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