My experience with the recruiters was not good. So I was going to get everything "in line" in case I wanted to join after I graduated college and I had made this more than clear, they just didn't listen and kept on making their "moves" always focused on me signing the contract NOW. I grew up with my father always telling me he thought everyone should serve at least 2 years. I was going to get a physical and all that stuff and think about it some more. Thing is you can't just go get checked out, you have to stay in a hotel the night before and they tell you that you can't leave the hotel. Well they found out how much authority that whole idea had come next morning (and only cause they didn't answer their phone that night).

After meeting some other people that were going to join (and not being impressed in the least, all they talked about was money, had nothing to do with serving their country) and finding out I'd have to sleep in a hotel room alone with a total stranger who they probably know as much about as they do me (close to nothing), I decided to leave.

So I try to call the recruiter and tell her I'm going to leave. No answer, 6 oclock in the evening I guess her work was done. I leave a voicemail telling her that there is no way I'm joining, all bets are off, no chance I'm out.

And ultimately it was the recruitment process that decided this for me. They want to treat you like cattle and act like they own you far before you sign the dotted line.

So my parents come to get me. Next morning I get a call from a lieutenant. She says why didn't you report to sgt. whover. I said, well I did I left her a voicemail. BTW I don't have to report to her, she doesn't own me. I owe her COURTESY, yes, common courtesy. And I've never heard from this lieutenant lady before who seemed to specialize in false authority and guilt trips. I owed my recruiter the same courtesy that you would owe a saleswoman of any type. And once I know that the contract is a no-go, what else am I to do but call her and say it's over. No need to waste more time.

You don't owe them anything for their "time." You owe them courtesy and respect for their time which I did.

I scored a 99 on the ASVAB. It's asking me questions about carpentry and car motors. I don't know jack about that. I couldn't even identify the tools and there I am in the 99.x percentile... righto. Based on this she says I have a great future with the military. How can you not see through this BS. They aren't going by that test, they aren't THAT dumb. It has nothing to do with that score, it would have everything with what you were willing to "put into it" including your very soul and ability to think for yourself.

So the lieutenant goes on to belittle my town. Saying what's xxx town going to do for you. You will have no life. The military can give you "a life." Make you somebody worthwhile. Insinuating that I have no life and am worthless. Maybe she picked up on that on her own, but on paper at my age I was a college graduate etc. so... wow, I guess you are a nobody unless you are military.

Anyway it's a total guilt trip, they act on false authority, they think they are better than you so they can just tell you what to do.

i guess my response would be: I have been out of the army for a year. i was active duty, infantry, who was deployed in OIF 06-08. pretty sure i know what im talking about too, on the combat parts more than you, im sure.
1. the military most certainly will lie to get you in. documented fact. read pretty much any paper from 2003, all the recruiters did was lie. i was told to lie at MEPS. pretty much everyone i served with was advised to lie about something or another to get in. my recruiter falsified college documents for my packet, covered up the fact that i have a chronic disease in my intestines, and that one of my ankles was messed up. so there went that point.
2. disinfo....ever seen a military commercial? lots of fast roping, zodiac boats and camo paint. never once have i see red cycle set to music, ive never seen a video of a 2 hour safety brief on fridays, or picking weeds out of a motor pool when its 110 degrees out. in short, they appeal to your machoness and how cool itd be, then you get there and....its not like that at all. which doesnt even bring up the shady stuff theyre willing to do to get you to reenlist.
3. my PSG, section, line and first sergeants were all recruiters. ive heard firsthand what they are willing to do to 'meet mission'. recruiting is HOW my section sergeant got his 6.

Ist comment. Let the buyer beware and anyone joining the military is a buyer. Second comment. Most people joinging the military are NOT doing it for their country but doing it for the money, college, sign on bonus, whatever. Same with the guards. They don't EXPECT to do what they really sign up for. Fight for their country. They expect money, free education while in the military, and money for college after. Not having to pay the price for what they get. Their is no such thing as a free lunch. Never has been one. Problem with people today is they are taught their is. SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS TO PAY. Way it is. So they cry foul when it is their turn, I didn't expect to have to do this. It was just for college.
I am tired of hearing people cry about what they have signed up to do whether it be the military or a mortgage. You signed the contract. You should have read it. It doesn't matter what you are told what is in print? If you didn't read the contract you shouldn't have signed it. PERIOD!

OK here is what i see. I have not read the whole thing, but the first three pages i have read are constant attacks on the op, who is posting his thoughts and ideas in a way that isnt attacking anybody.

People that attack others harshly are the cause of fights and misunderstandings. Sure he may be wrong, but this isnt high school. Nobody called you a "mama's boy" or "idiot" or anything harsher. So if you dont like what the op is saying, post in a polite and informative way, why you think he is wrong or why you dont like it.

upon reading further, this thread turned into a military-bashing area. not even close to what the op was saying.

Originally posted by suzque66
You live in your world that you believe humans are destined to continue to be murderers of their own species (in the name of offense or defence) and that it is our innate calling and purpose.

I come from along line of military within my family, even did it myself. Now that I grew up and learned how to think for myself and became enlightened to how we should be better than what we are--I know better.

Your world involves keeping some territory by some other nation under some form of military occupation and thus status quo ....how is that working for us?

Actually the world you speak of is the world of politicians..the ones you vote into office... Any sound minded military person would not think the same for we truly understand the dire consequences on both sides.

I do need to ask you a question though, what enlightenment do you have that suggests humans do not act as we see them do daily around the world?

I never agreed with the Iraq war for I saw how it doesn't work in Somalia, and I was right. But I do agree with the protection and care of the Kurds we did for 8 plus years, I also agree with the countless humanitarian missions we consistently do around the world.