Every soldier that goes into battle and survives should be rewarded when he comes back home for risking his life for us.

I propose, the following rewards:

1..The soldier should not have to pay any taxes for the rest of his life.
2..The soldier should be given land, to hold tax free, and a modest sum of cash to build a decent home to live in.
3..The more outstanding the soldier, more distinguished in battle, the larger the plot of land and size of cash to build.
4..Free medical care for the soldier and his immediate family for as long as the soldier and his spouse are alive.
5..Free food for himself, wife, and any kids for the rest of his life, so the soldier doesn't have to work if he doesn't want to ever again. He lives like a Lord.
6..Free electricity, internet access, water, heating and cooling, for life.
7..A modest living stipend for the rest of his life to cover basic transportation and entertainment expenses.
8..Free tickets to all Football games for the rest of his life, for two people. Box seats for the outstanding soldiers.

These simple things should be the right of every soldier that actually puts his life at risk by going into battle for the nations freedom.

Originally posted by Tardacus
i would take him/her down to the local V.A. hospital and have the VETs relate to them how they have to wait months just to get an appointment,

Not so. Just went to the local VA yesterday and had my appointment scheduled last week.

Originally posted by Tardacus
how the V.A. made them wait for years and years to get their deserved disability pensions,

Has nothing to do with the Military. It has to do with the fact that it is run by Govt Workers backed by a Govt Union.

Originally posted by Tardacus
how the V.A. employees are lazy, rude and incompetent in their dealings with VETs.

I have yet to see this over the past 10 years of visiting the VA. BS.

Originally posted by Tardacus
in short i would make sure they know that joining the military isn`t going to be like the movies where everyone comes home a hero and lives happily ever after.
at the end of the day though i`ll support them in whatever it is they want to do.

Go talk to the VETS down there. Most will say they were/are proud to serve.

I would train them and make sure they are in the best of shape, physically and mentally. I would also inform them as best I could by talking to any one with actual experience.

I would support them. My opinion would come last but would come. Nothing is absolute good or evil. I would try and orient them toward the best possible good. Try to get them to go to college first so they can be officers, or inform them as best I could about getting into officer candidacy school.

I would encourage them to be the best they can be at everything. If their profession is one of arms, I would do my best to prepare them to succeed.

For you people saying nope no matter what for a million reasons: I have news for you, you need people in the military or none of us would be here. Second, equally show him the positives and negatives to the military and other routes. I got a lot of good from it and would not change. The travel, free college, responsibility, leadership, language capability, and work after.. I would be proud either way. And your making your argument subjective if there was or wasnt a war, so if the wars are so bad, what if we were not in a war ? or what if it was justified to everyone? And the military now is hard to get into, iv seen people get turned down, due to economic issues and the war dying down. (Marine recruiters telling candidates who think they can just walk in , "what can you provide us"?) Taking the best candidates is the best way to go, they can be picky now. So this conspiracy theory of taking it out on the Govt, crap is ridiculous.

So many people posting here who are in desperate need dropping in a third world country for awhile to get a reality check. Pacifist are the vilest humans on the planet, a person who will not defend themselves or their loved one or their community, is a person with no real value or virtue.....

That said if my son were to want to join I would talk to him and make sure it was for the right reasons, try to enlighten him as to the crap you may have to deal with sometimes. I would look forward to his discharge or retirement because he is after all my son, but I would be proud, very proud. My people have served this country since 1776, and arguably before that in the colonies.....the original ideal is still worth fighting for, and the rest of the government may be corrupt, and certainly much if not most of the higher brass seem to be, but the majority of military people are still the best hope for that original ideal, and the best defense against losing our constitution.

Now what would piss me off is if he joined the occupy freaks, became a socialist, or wanted to get a job with the ACLU.... I'd drive him to a recruiter myself at that point and tell him not to come out until he had signed or was prepared to leave this world.

My son saw enough combat veterans when he had to sit in the waiting areas at Vet Centers and VA Hospitals to know the ones doing the killing will always be in pain.. He's been a tower worker for 20 years and is doing fine He had considered hiring on with Bechtel to make big bucks in Iraq but hooked up with a gal in Georgia and didn't go... The three bodies displayed hanging off of a bridge structure were friends he had worked with that had been encouraging him to go with them...I never have to look hard to tell the REMFs and pogues from those that were squeezing off rounds at other human beings and picked up pieces of others.. I was part of that 3 years before I was old enough to vote.