What do you think of former service members joining the militias fighting ISIS?

1LT William Clardy — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:21:27 -0400

This isn't exactly new news -- the PBS report aired last year, and I believe the woman interviewed has since returned home to her family -- but it does raise some questions.
What do RallyPointers think of American veterans volunteering to serve under foreign flags to fight an enemy of the United States?
Would you consider it?
http://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/ [login to see]

Video: Why some Americans are volunteering to fight IS | Watch PBS NewsHour Online | PBS Video

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Response by 1LT William Clardy made May 3 at 2016 12:22 PM

1LT William Clardy — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:22:40 -0400

NOTE: For obvious reasons, currently serving service members are encouraged to be very discreetly in any comments they make -- or choose to not make.

Response by CSM David Heidke made May 3 at 2016 12:33 PM

CSM David Heidke — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:33:05 -0400

in WWI and WWII there were many US service people who left the service in the US to join services in Europe to fight the Germans. This was before the US entered the war. After we did, those people were welcomed back into their original services.

It is not the same, but there is precedent for it.

Response by SSG Jeremy Kohlwes made May 3 at 2016 12:33 PM

SSG Jeremy Kohlwes — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:33:40 -0400

I think if they are no longer in the service then they are free to live their life as they choose, even if it is going off to fight for a cause under another flag. It's not like there isn't already a multitude of precedents for that; Veterans going to work for private security firms, Veterans joining another country's military (look up American Veterans in Australian Military), and Veterans taking up other security concerns around the world (poacher hunting in Africa, for example). They have decided what is important to them and they are finding a way to follow that desire.

As for me, absolutely. I would consider it and have considered it. I was offered a job in maritime security on yachts in the South Pacific. However, I have a family now and my wife was not very....receptive to that idea, despite the pay. So I have a different cause to fight for now that I am pursuing, Veteran Mental Health.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2016 1:07 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 May 2016 13:07:43 -0400

I bet their parents are very sad about that happening. We need to check out the other Country's recruiting methods. How did ours fail with those Americans, but their recruiting succeeded. Were they offering a better GI Bill or other benefits? The Reserve is also an option, here. Maybe some people like traveling to foreign countries and seeing new cultures and fighting for them. People want to belong somewhere. As long as they do not join ISIS and fight against us.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made May 3 at 2016 1:28 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Tue, 03 May 2016 13:28:37 -0400

It is their choice. Whether it's for the money, feeling of "belonging" again or ideology, all are big motivator's. It's been going on as long as there has been the armed forces.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made May 3 at 2016 1:50 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Tue, 03 May 2016 13:50:03 -0400

Are you kidding? The Iraq Iran war lasted from September 1980 to August 1988 almost eight years. When the United States military was turned loose in Desert Storm the ground war lasted about a hundred hours. The kids from Eagle Troop of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment said that dealing with Opposition Force at NTC was tougher than dealing with the Iraqi Republican Guards!! Remember that these former service members are combat veterans and survivors of combat and they will be expected to win battles and when the diseased ISIS members get where ever they are going they are going to find out the 72 Virgins are Nuns!!! Yes, I have a smart mouth! What are they going to do to me cut my hair short and send me to a combat zone? My hair is already short and I know that my surviving friends and I would rather go out fighting than waiting for the bus to the Fiddlers Green. We have discussed that a lot.

Response by PO3 David Fries made May 3 at 2016 2:17 PM

PO3 David Fries — Tue, 03 May 2016 14:17:22 -0400

I would do it.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 3 at 2016 2:33 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Tue, 03 May 2016 14:33:43 -0400

Let them fight ISIS without discrimination. I was in a PTSD group and half said they want to go back. I suspect it is due to the adrenaline they want.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2016 5:04 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 May 2016 17:04:08 -0400

If you have ever heard of the "Flying Tigers," they were a group of Americans who volunteered to go help the Chinese fight against the Japanese invasion/occupation. Their actual designation was the "American Volunteer Group" or AVG. Americans fighting under foreign flags is nothing new.

Come to think of it, I am sure there are plenty of Americans in the French Foreign Legion (Le Legion Etranger).

Response by PO2 Kevin LaCroix made May 3 at 2016 5:48 PM

PO2 Kevin LaCroix — Tue, 03 May 2016 17:48:35 -0400

Each has a choice. Mercs have been around for a long time.

Response by 1SG Billye Jackson made Jun 1 at 2016 7:29 PM

1SG Billye Jackson — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 19:29:14 -0400

NOT NO but HELL NO! They should be Tried for Treason and Shot.

Response by 1SG Billye Jackson made Jun 2 at 2016 5:00 PM

1SG Billye Jackson — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:00:36 -0400

I'm sorry I missed understood the Question, I thought he was saying Fighting for ISIS., which causes me to do an ABOUTFACE. I think they are doing their Sworn Duty.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jun 2 at 2016 5:06 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:06:36 -0400

Wouldn't consider it but there have been mercenaries for as long as there have been armies.