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A discussion keeps going in a regional thread on the issue of background differences between those in the military and the general population.
Is this phrase correct?
Most of the people in the military did it to get away from home, get a job and provide for their families. Generally the armed services are not made up of people born with a silver spoon in their mouths or who are going to UC Berkeley as their backup plan. As such they bring in a lot of the problems from their old lives. Soldiers are not more honest or socially aware than anyone else.
Might this have been true in the past, still is true, or is this not a correct assumption for today's military?
A discussion keeps going in a regional thread on the issue of background differences between those in the military and the general population.
Is this phrase correct?
Most of the people in the military did it to get away from home, get a job and provide for their families. Generally the armed services are not made up of people born with a silver spoon in their mouths or who are going to UC Berkeley as their backup plan. As such they bring in a lot of the problems from their old lives. Soldiers are not more honest or socially aware than anyone else.
Might this have been true in the past, still is true, or is this not a correct assumption for today's military?
There isn't a correct answer in your poll so I didn't select anything.
While this is certainly the case for a small minority it isn't the case for the overwhelming majority. There are a lot stricter standards to get into the military then there are college, civilian jobs, politics, etc.
Most young people that join the military come with very little baggage and have many different reasons for joining...what they don't have (like many had in the past) is a judge telling them to join the military or get some other form of punishment.
There isn't a correct answer in your poll so I didn't select anything.
While this is certainly the case for a small minority it isn't the case for the overwhelming majority. There are a lot stricter standards to get into the military then there are college, civilian jobs, politics, etc.
Most young people that join the military come with very little baggage and have many different reasons for joining...what they don't have (like many had in the past) is a judge telling them to join the military or get some other form of punishment.
The question for the quiz is above the answers. It's slightly difficult to see since it's blended with the background. My cut and paste is from the original author from the regional forum. I realized that that paragraph isn't clear on what exact question was (or could be) asked. Also, many on here have experience with the service during the draft days or immediately after in the '70's.
Thanks.
My son left on rotation and deployment while he was in still school at Sacred Heart University, he already carried his Army "Core Values" with him that most of teammates and school kids at Sacred Heart never had to learn nor up hold and that's a fact. My son came home happy and graduated, he's a VET and a college graduate with the same Core Values he still carries and learned early on, this is why he still sets the bar higher. My daughter has the same core values and she never served, she learned from the family early on as well. I think a good family structure helps too.
It just depends on I think more your family and its values more than anything else. If you come from a family were you worked hard, schooling is a priority,etc. your values might be different than someone who comes from a background were they aren't as important due to family poverty,etc.Standards maybe stricter now than say WW1 or WW2 when my dad went in.
Soldiers are not more honest or socially aware than anyone else.
The majority of soldiers have always tended to come from lower class Americans but the standards while they are in the service are much more strict than civilians face. While in the service you sacrifice many of your Constitutional rights and, in many cases, be willing to sacrifice your life. If a soldier disagrees with such principles too loudly or actively, a general or dishonorable discharge is the kiss of death. Soldiers are taught honor, honesty and respect something unheard of in the public school system. A soldier may get these values from family life prior to entering service but he gets it "in your face" and in earnest while serving. Many families have in the past incorporated a need for young men to serve their country in their own moral teachings. My family did and all the males in our family served.
Then too, we also know the Federal government, as well as many State governments, have for many years selected for honorably discharged veterans. As the major statistical gatherers in our culture, they must think they know something about soldiers.
There is no shortage of scumbags in the armed forces, just as in any other career. Having lousy values doesn't necessarily preclude you from serving, or get you in enough trouble to get you booted, depending on how those values affect your conduct and behavior. There is corruption, crime, unethical behavior, bias, discriminatory behavior, hostile work environment, etc. in the military just as in any other workplace. All workplaces should work to address those who perpetrate, and all do, to an extent, but it still happens...in the military just like anywhere else. Being military doesn't automatically mean you have lofty values. You might, you might not.
A discussion keeps going in a regional thread on the issue of background differences between those in the military and the general population.
Is this phrase correct?
Most of the people in the military did it to get away from home, get a job and provide for their families. Generally the armed services are not made up of people born with a silver spoon in their mouths or who are going to UC Berkeley as their backup plan. As such they bring in a lot of the problems from their old lives. Soldiers are not more honest or socially aware than anyone else.
Might this have been true in the past, still is true, or is this not a correct assumption for today's military?
Really poor choices in the poll.
People join the military for a variety of reasons, not all having to do with pre-existing "values," if by that you mean "moral standards." Generally speaking, people entering the military will have a cross section of the general moral standards of the young civilian population.
It's never been true that any significant proportion of military recruits are those "born with a silver spoon in their mouths," except a small percentage in the past that might have seen "military officer" as a notable item in a future political resume.
The majority of soldiers have always tended to come from lower class Americans but the standards while they are in the service are much more strict than civilians face. While in the service you sacrifice many of your Constitutional rights and, in many cases, be willing to sacrifice your life. If a soldier disagrees with such principles too loudly or actively, a general or dishonorable discharge is the kiss of death. Soldiers are taught honor, honesty and respect something unheard of in the public school system. A soldier may get these values from family life prior to entering service but he gets it "in your face" and in earnest while serving. ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk
... People join the military for a variety of reasons, not all having to do with pre-existing "values," if by that you mean "moral standards." Generally speaking, people entering the military will have a cross section of the general moral standards of the young civilian population.
It's never been true that any significant proportion of military recruits are those "born with a silver spoon in their mouths," except a small percentage in the past that might have seen "military officer" as a notable item in a future political resume.
I agree with both of these.
The military reflects the population.
The only real differences are:
a small portion of the population are pushed / motivated to go into professional careers and avoid service,
a larger portion of the population falls into criminal behavior which excludes them from service.
In terms of 'values', the military is the same as everyone else. But while we are servicemembers, we are forced by law to a much stricter set of codes / laws.
I said no. Military people are into physically disciplining their kids, and I can't stand for that.
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