Thumbs Down on The CONS of the Military?

Question

I noticed over the last few months people would ask.."What is the Army(or Military) like?" because they probably think about joining...

Most answerers would say something positive.

As for me I would tell the Pros & Cons of the Army life....and the odd thing is when I mostly tell the CONS of the Army life, I get mostly thumbs down. I would talk about the PT, the field, deployments, being away from family for a year, and "hurry up & wait" method and so on, So they can REALLY know what they're getting into if they join.

I feel I tell them what a recruiter WON'T tell them....

But anyway I do tell the Pros of the Military....But it seems like if I don't say anything close to this==> "The military is GREAT GREAT GREAT, everyone should join because it is PERFECT!!

Then I get a bunch of thumbs down...

There will ALWAYS be CONS to joining the Military but it depends on how someone handles it.

My Question is..Why don't people say EVERYTHING about the Military, Pros & Cons?

Answer 1

I agree with you.....but there's no real answer for your question. Remember that the people who answer sometimes are liberals...they can't see the light...the only thing they know is the comfort of their little bubble they live in. I believe that yes their are cons of the military but so does every job in this world. If I did it for money then I am dumb. But we do it because we love what we do. You should never do a job for the money, do it cause you love what you do. There are many pros about the military. One big one for me is the fact that I know the soldier left and right of me will always be there for me. You can't get that in most jobs. Most people out their are out for themselves and care only for money. In the military we care for one another. I hope this can answer some part of your question.

Answer 2

This isn't a question; you know the answer and are just trying to draw attention to the situation.

Answer 3

Typically I answer specific questions about the military and don't answer the ones like "whats the military like?" and "should I join?"

The first of those questions would take an essay to answer and the second isn't my place to say.

Joining the military is a life decision and a person needs to make it on their own.  The truth is if a person makes the decision to join the military becuase some total strangers on the internet told them they should then they probably will regret the decision.  

You are right when you say that there are pros and cons to joining.  You should add that both of those are extreme.  The military can dramatically change your life for the better, open doors that were closed, give opportunities that will let a person go nearly anywhere they want with their lives, instill qualities that make a person better to themselves and everyone they know.  It can also utterly destroy your life in too many ways to list. The pros are the biggest of pretty much any job there is and so are the cons.

Answer 4

Don't ask it in the way you have framed it, you should post another question and frame it something like this then-

"I know there are Pros to joining the Military but what are the Con of joining the Military? "-just a thought.

As for the Cons-some are obvious, you give up many of the rights you enjoy as a civilian, you can be killed in the course of your duty, you are under a system that once you join you cannot quit if you are not happy at work, etc....

Answer 5

Well my personal opinion on the subject is when someone talks about the cons of the military, it's taken as they have a problem with the military. It's pretty obvious to me that you're not against the millitary, but I'm sure some ones answer later on will accuse you of it. Any ways I think everyone now a days refuses to accept the idea that in the military theres a good chance you can get killed, or hurt. No one wants to think about our soliders getting hurt, and me personally I don't like thinking about because I have family over their. Nonetheless it's a cold reality. So I don't know it this answers your question, but my opinion is people just don't want to believe that being a solider could get you killed.

Answer 6

ex Marine and proud of it. space limitations would keep me from answering your question. but look,in all honesty,the military isn't for everyone.like any other job,it really is what you make of it. but I will say this to the young people: this isn't like a job at McDonald's.you cant just quit if you dont like it.do your research and take your time before you make your decision.

Answer 7

We're an Army family. There are plenty of cons, especially since they seem to like sending our husband's to war every other year and trainings every other month. Oh, and then there's the crappy housing (my post stinks) and the fact that the pay sucks compared to the civilian sector.

What sucks worst of all? The average American has NO idea what it means to be an Army Family. They don't care because they're out buying c**p and watching reality tv.

And I'm a liberal. I think this war is ridiculous and our troops are overstretched. I sacrifice a lot more everyday than any 'conservative' (you're conserving what again?) who supports the war without making sacrifices like modern Army and Marine families do.  

Answer 8

Every job has pros and cons and the military is no different. Before you take a job, you weigh the pros against the cons and then make your decision.

When you take a civilian job you make a commitment to show up every day, but unless you sign a contract you can walk away if you want to.

When you join the military you make a more serious commitment AND you sign a binding contract. Is that a con? You decide if it is and then you make your decision.  

Answer 9

I have listed cons as well as pros to the military at various times some of which agree with yours.  I also think though that life in the military, especially for the lower ranking individuals, especially those with families, is harder now because of the deployments and ops tempo and "doing more with less".  Being higher ranking, not having any children, nor married for half of my career it was much easier for me and on me than those individuals like yourself now.  A lot of that will have to do with your perspective on all this right now and some of it will change if you make it a career and stay with it and as you rise in rank I think.  In the meantime that's one of the reasons why I always also tell people that the military today is not always the best choice or meant for everyone.  My love and support for it is not necessarily the standard whereby they should judge the satisfaction and quality of life for those individuals who are just first or second term individuals like yourself who bare the brunt of the current situation a lot more than I did as a senior ranking individual.  Like anything, even civilian life there are pros and cons to it but there is no doubt in my mind that it is harder on individuals like yourself than it was on or for me.