Do you regret not joining the military?

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ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:33 PM
I frequently regret not joining the military. My grandfather was in the Army and in Hawaii for WW2 and my father was in the Army and in North Vietnam. I wanted to join the Navy but my Grandpa and Dad always talked me out of it since I'm the only boy on their side of the family (all girl cousins and sisters). I just feel like I should have joined the service like them though.

Anyone else regret not joining?
Nov 19, 2009 10:33pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:34 PM
No, not for me.
Nov 19, 2009 10:34pm
MANAZE's avatar

MANAZE

Senior Member

1,055 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:39 PM
When I grad I was 6'2 and 300lbs. I was to big for any of the services I went back 3-4 times and even after 9/11 and every time got turned away. But now I have my wife and kids wich I would never trade for anything so it worked out for me.
Nov 19, 2009 10:39pm
iclfan2's avatar

iclfan2

Reppin' the 330/216/843

6,360 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:40 PM
Yes. I regret it all the time. I feel like being in the military is one of the most respected professions you can be. I am only 23 and still think about it sometimes.
Nov 19, 2009 10:40pm
J

JTizzle

Senior Member

366 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:42 PM
Yes and no I was gonna go in the Air Force to be a fighter pilot and didn't. Never thought we would ever actually go to war and didn't think I would get to fly much. A friend went though and now he is a pilot, would be awesome to fly a stealth or any fighter jet for that matter!
Nov 19, 2009 10:42pm
coyotes22's avatar

coyotes22

Go Tigers

11,298 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:49 PM
Yes.

Dad and two uncles were in the Air Force. Uncle and a cousin were in the Army. An Uncle in the Marines, and a cousin in the Navy.

I was going to join the Air Force after school, but my mom talked me out of it, since I too was an only son of my mom and dad.

But, I now have a wonderful wife and two great kids. Might have missed them, had I joined the service.
Nov 19, 2009 10:49pm
F

football71

Senior Member

135 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:53 PM
If I had joined when I wanted to, I'd probably be a retired admiral living on Coronado Island. Or the owner of a dishonorable discharge, one of the two.
Nov 19, 2009 10:53pm
thePITman's avatar

thePITman

Senior Member

3,867 posts
Nov 19, 2009 10:54 PM
Nope. And it doesn't make me a bad person for not doing it, nor feel bad about doing it, like I'm getting the vibe from those on this thread that it should?
Nov 19, 2009 10:54pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Nov 19, 2009 11:10 PM
Yes, absolutely. I agree with what ccrunner said.
Nov 19, 2009 11:10pm
Mooney44Cards's avatar

Mooney44Cards

Senior Member

2,754 posts
Nov 19, 2009 11:23 PM
No.

I'd prefer not to die for some bureaucrat's idea of "honor" or "freedom".
Nov 19, 2009 11:23pm
U

Upper90

Senior Member

1,095 posts
Nov 19, 2009 11:27 PM
No, I mean, it's just not for me. It never was in my career/life plan. And while I respect those that are there, but....I never had the desire to be one of them.
Nov 19, 2009 11:27pm
Enforcer's avatar

Enforcer

Senior Member

2,140 posts
Nov 19, 2009 11:50 PM
After I graduated Highschool I tried to get in but Being a Diabetic I wasnt allowed . There isnt a day that goes by that I dont think about it .
Nov 19, 2009 11:50pm
GoJPM!'s avatar

GoJPM!

Senior Member

799 posts
Nov 19, 2009 11:58 PM
No regrets. That's what makes this such a great country. You can join the military, that's okay. You can go to college, that's okay too. Hell, you can be a slacker and go on welfare, if you want.

Life is too short to second guess yourself.
Nov 19, 2009 11:58pm
Mountlax's avatar

Mountlax

Member

79 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:03 AM
I've always thought about it, but I wouldn't be allowed in for medical reasons.
Nov 20, 2009 12:03am
LocoEngineer66's avatar

LocoEngineer66

Senior Member

790 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:05 AM
Only thing I regret is not staying ... I did 10 years ... could have been retiring in 4 years with a 30 year pension and free healthcare the rest of my life.
Nov 20, 2009 12:05am
Mr. 300's avatar

Mr. 300

Senior Member

3,090 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:06 AM
Came very close to joining, and would have been playing in one of the touring bands they have. At the last minute decided not to do it.
Nov 20, 2009 12:06am
S

Seymour Butts

Member

29 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:10 AM
I'm starting to think I should have. I'm the first male in my family that isn't/hasn't served in the military in probably 100 years. Both my Grandfathers served in WWII. One was on the Yorktown (not the one that sunk), the other was stationed in the Middle East. My uncle served in the navy and my father was in the national guard. Hell my great-grandfather was a WWI vet.

I too have been watching WWII in HD all week and am just amazed at it all.
Nov 20, 2009 12:10am
Z

Zen

Member

94 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:29 AM
Mooney44Cards wrote: No.

I'd prefer not to die for some bureaucrat's idea of "honor" or "freedom".
You don't die for honor or freedom, you die trying to protect your buddies on your left, right and the one who has your back.
Nov 20, 2009 12:29am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:34 AM
Upper90 wrote: No, I mean, it's just not for me. It never was in my career/life plan. And while I respect those that are there, but....I never had the desire to be one of them.
That's the best way for me to answer this question.
Nov 20, 2009 12:34am
BuckeyeBlue's avatar

BuckeyeBlue

Senior Member

561 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:39 AM
Having now served in the Navy for 5 years, I can safely say that the military is not for everybody. The lifestyle is difficult at times (deployments), and some people cannot handle it. They cannot stand to be away from their family and friends for 6-7 months at a time.
Nov 20, 2009 12:39am
Chesapeake's avatar

Chesapeake

Senior Member

1,603 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:40 AM
No.
Nov 20, 2009 12:40am
M

mattinctown

Nov 20, 2009 12:55 AM
No, never really thought about it, always wanted to go to college.
Nov 20, 2009 12:55am
dwccrew's avatar

dwccrew

Not Banned

7,817 posts
Nov 20, 2009 12:59 AM
Upper90 wrote: No, I mean, it's just not for me. It never was in my career/life plan. And while I respect those that are there, but....I never had the desire to be one of them.
Good answer, I respect people who choose not to serve.

As someone who has served, I have never regretted my decision to join the military. It helped me build a lot of great friendships that I continue to this day and also helped pay for 100% of my college education. Not too mention I have seen and experienced alot of awesome things.
BuckeyeBlue wrote: Having now served in the Navy for 5 years, I can safely say that the military is not for everybody. The lifestyle is difficult at times (deployments), and some people cannot handle it. They cannot stand to be away from their family and friends for 6-7 months at a time.
100% agreed.
mattinctown wrote: No, never really thought about it, always wanted to go to college.
You can go to college. I served and also graduated from college with a Bachelor's degree when I was 23.
Nov 20, 2009 12:59am
Mooney44Cards's avatar

Mooney44Cards

Senior Member

2,754 posts
Nov 20, 2009 1:11 AM
Zen wrote:
Mooney44Cards wrote: No.

I'd prefer not to die for some bureaucrat's idea of "honor" or "freedom".
You don't die for honor or freedom, you die trying to protect your buddies on your left, right and the one who has your back.
But you get sent to "war" because of some bureaucrats idea of honor or freedom or protecting either, and you die because you were sent to war.

I am not questioning anyone who chooses to join, and if there were a cause great enough I'm sure I could see myself joining. None of the causes for war of the past 65 years have been justified enough in MY mind for ME to die for. For those who believe the current or past causes for war were enough to die for, I respect you endlessly, just don't agree.
Nov 20, 2009 1:11am
hoops23's avatar

hoops23

Senior Member

15,696 posts
Nov 20, 2009 1:17 AM
Nope. I was close to joining back when I was 18, but quickly decided against it.

I don't regret it either.
Nov 20, 2009 1:17am