If you were to join the military,

[Jamastiene]

which branch would you pick and why?

[billyskank]

1. Army? Fuck that.

Navy. If not that, then the Air Force. That'd be the RAF in my case, of course.

[Jamastiene]

3. I'd either do navy or coast guard, although

I'd be tempted to say they'd kill me with friendly fire just to shut me up. :P

Yeah, I tried to make it so it didn't say U.S. this and U.S. that, so that everyone could sorta vote.

Of couse, I understand the army is mostly ground based and the air force is mostly air based, but I never got the marines/navy thing, especially the rivalry between them. I'm hoping to learn a lot from this poll.

[billyskank]

7. I don't get it all either

I mean, it's obvious why the army is the least prestigious; they're the ones who are overwhelmingly most likely to be shot at. Nobody wants that.

I do know that the Royal Navy considers itself the best wing of the British armed forces - I dare say the RAF would have something to say about that, but both are pretty damn snooty. Having a degree, if I joined I think I'd go straight in as an officer, which would be pretty cool. Not that I am about to join, that is.

I have always wondered why the marines are so called, since what they're about is not really connected with water.

[Jamastiene]

9. I have always wondered about that too.

Maybe someone will clear it up for us. Maybe that is part of the rivalry they have. I think of marine life and I think of water right away, but when I think of Marine life, I think of a really tough branch of the armed services. :shrug:

It would be nice to know the answer.

[evlbstrd]

19. Navy and Marines.

The Marines are a part of the Navy. They were used to board enemy ships at sea, and are still used for assaults from the sea.

[LaurenG]

4. Ooo, cool visual

I love a man in uniform! *swoon* :loveya: :hug:

[billyskank]

5. Hey!

:hug: :loveya:

[Robb]

2. Navy.

Conflicts for the foreseeable future appear to be set in the desert climes of the world. And the Navy has air conditioning. :)

[Mutley]

6. Yeah, I picked that friendly fire one.

Unless they gave me a desk job, I'd be absolutely useless to the military. :P


I'm serious, though.

[Jamastiene]

11. I thought about picking that one, but

I have always had a strange fascination with ships and the sea, so I picked navy. Plus all the stories one of my teachers used to tell about "Sam's Navy" were funny. He makes the U.S. Navy sound very interesting to me.

[Broken_Hero]

8. Army

why? Because my father was in the army, one of my best friends was in teh Army(special forces), and another one of my friends was in the Army as well as a helicopter mechanic...

Besides, all the marines I have met IRL tend to be brainwashed a bit to much, at least the army guys I have met are somewhat normal....:)

[Jamastiene]

10. I was always terrified of marines

because they seemed so brutal to me. I met one in school recently who isn't that way. He can defend if he has to, but he's a gentle type guy. He really helped me understand that not all marines are just ready to kill everything around even at home. I really had a misconception about that and I don't know where I got it.

[Broken_Hero]

12. I know that not all marines are crazy

but my father in law was a marine, and he was nuts after he got out of the service, still is in some regards, and he has been to tons of counesling. Another...my army helicopter mechanic friend, his brother was a marine, and he was a total arrogant, brutal, violent, woman beating, socio path...I couldn't stand him at all....but I don't know that many marines. And this was the guy who tried getting with my wife(not while my wife and I were dating, years before we got married), and he treated her badly, which of course made me suspect/dislike of this man from the begining...

My bud Curtis was a marine, he seems fine, but I only correspond with him via emails and what not, havne't seen him in person in 11 yrs or so...so I don't know how the marine corp effected him...

on edit: to add, NOT in my subject header...whew, almost started a flame war...

[Jamastiene]

15. Sorry.

I didn't mean to start one either nor did I mean anything bad toward you. :pals:

I was just saying what I used to think as compared to what I realized later. Marines are just like everybody else; some are nice and some are mean. It all depends on the individual.

[Broken_Hero]

22. true

:) No issue from me, just in my subject line i had "I know that All marines are crazy"...I realized my mistake, and did the edit, cause if i left it, oh boy...flame war time...:)

It all depends on the person, no doubt about that, I do believe that the certain people have absolutely no reason to be in the military, like my father in law, it messed him up good, he is so...belligerent in some area's, and down right mental in others...

[Jamastiene]

24. LOL.

:rofl: Now, THAT would have been a flame war, but it was a funny sort of typo. As hard as I try to watch out for typos and other errors, I sometimes go back and find something that I didn't mean to say. I have to go back and edit so people won't misunderstand me. It's really messed up how missing as few as 1 or 2 letters can COMPLETELY change the meaning on an entire post.

I understand what you were saying better now. :pals:

[Broken_Hero]

25. Thanks

I'm not that crazy...:silly: :hug: :toast:

[Magrittes Pipe]

13. Coast Guard.

I think there'd be less getting killed involved. :thumbsup:

[LynzM]

23. Same here. Plus, they do good stuff.

BWI enforcement, rescue, etc.

[Critters2]

49. Exactly

I'd rather rescue people than kill 'em.

[qnr]

43. That kind of depends. For example, most people aren't aware that the

Coast Guard suffered the highest percentage of casualties of any of the US services during World War I. I'd give details, but sometimes it's just more fun to explore things yourself, since you come across all sorts of info you wouldn't otherwise think of :)

[jmowreader]

45. The USCG is "at war" all the time, not just when the GOP is in power

The Coast Guard interdicts drug smugglers--it's one of their primary missions. Those guys don't have rules of engagement, so shit can get hairy quick and stay that way.

Then again...the Coast Guard also rescues people in distress and ensures that our waterways are safe for navigation, and those are great missions.

The Coast Guard has the best motto of all the services, too: Semper Paratus. Always prepared. The Marines may be faithful, but the Coast Guard is ready!

Oh, and there's the other motto the USCG has, and it's just as fine: You have to go out. You don't have to come back.

[Breeze54]

51. They have better ganja!

;)

[qnr]

52. Naturally, they get it fresh from the source :) n/t

[Breeze54]

53. You can say that again!

:)

[Breeze54]

54. US Coast Guard was in Vietnam.

http://www.uscg.mil/history/h_tulichvietnam.html

[qnr]

55. Yeah, and a CG patrol boat was sunk by the Air Force there :) n/t

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

14. Marines

From what I've understood for the most part is that the army has been stricken with a wave of incompetence and carelessness while the marines are remaining as disciplined as ever. If I'm on the battle field I want to be surrounded by those kind of people watching my back. It seems to me that whether you live or die is really in the hands of those around you. I'd really want to be a medic though, before I joined I'd get some expierence as an EMT.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. Air Force all the way - I can't be a pilot, so I wouldn't me in any danger

situation pretty much ever.

Navy would be second choice, because of the travel and because I love being on the ocean. But I'd only want to be on an aircraft carrier.

[Deep13]

17. I've just been impressed with the performance of the Navy,...

...here and in Britain, throughout history. Nothing against the other branches. A more relevent question would be "If you were to join the military, how soon woulf you get kicked out for being a fat, old man?"

[datasuspect]

18. marine corps

best trained to kill. which is the sole fundamental purpose of the military. i would have no illusions about that.

[khashka]

50. Are you sure about that?

Killing? The ads never mention that!
I thought it was about getting an education and training for a career and making good money. No one ever said anything about killing!


Khash.

[LeftyMom]

20. None

There's no way that my ethical needs, food allergies and god konws what else could be accomodated. Anyhow, I have a kid I couldn't bear to be away from and can't risk leaving him motherless.

[xchrom]

21. air force -- for purely horny reasons --

they have the cutest boys.

otherwise the marines -- because they have the horniest boys.

[Skittles]

32. cutest gals too

I was WAF; yes INDEED !!! :D

[sarge43]

36. Jeez, I haven't heard 'WAF' in 30 years

Yes, we were a fine looking bunch. :applause:

[Skittles]

39. I was in 30 years ago

yes INDEED. :D

[sarge43]

40. I enlisted in '62

You saw the end of that era.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

26. If I *were* to join it would be the Royal Navy

They seem to do some good: helping to rescue people and preventing drug smuggling. I'd have a hard time justifying any military operation though.

[One_Life_To_Give]

27. Have to go with CG - Surfman

Cox'n on the 47MLB would be a cool job.

[tjwmason]

28. Another for the Royal Navy

Looks like we could infiltrate it very well...well maybe not.

"Come cheer up me lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
A prize more than all to an Englishman dear.
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves.
Hearts of oak are our ships,
Jolly tars are our men,
We always are ready,
Steady boys, steady,
We'll fight and we'll conquer again, and again."

The fact that they have a pretty cool song does feature, not the words so much as the music (see above) - and I damn well hope I wouldn't be on a ship made of oak...though H.M.S. Victory is still technically a serving naval vessel, and would be a pretty easy job.

I've got lots of family history connected with the sea (though more as fishermen than as Tars), and I still feel a romantic pull to it now and then. Also, like A.S. says above, the Navy does seem to be more involved in humanitarian missions - which is definitely a good thing.

[sarge43]

38. The US Navy has a good one, too.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/usa/navyhymn.htm

Not a good version. Best heard done by a male choir.

[Katina]

29. Navy

I like the bell bottom pants! :bounce:

[Jamastiene]

34. LOL

Of all the reasons, :rofl:.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. :pals:

[NMMNG]

30. I couldn't join if I wanted to

I'm too gay.

[Jamastiene]

33. LOL.

I has been a while since I have heard anyone say "too gay."

[CrushTheDLC]

31. Alabama Air National Guard

Apparently they don't even care if you show up for months at a time :evilgrin:

[Jamastiene]

35. LOL

:rofl:

That was a good one.

[NMDemDist2]

37. AF cuz they have the best food and the Officers do the fighting

the grunts stay on the base and work on the planes etc

and they really have good food

did i mention the food??

[qnr]

41. Coast Guard - They've always been involved in the fighting, but more

importantly, even during wartime they continue with all the other jobs.... Search and Rescue, wildlife administration, law enforcement, pollution control and abatement, and many other activities that most people aren't aware of.

Of course, I'm biased :) -- and I won't actually take the poll since I won't be joining the military as I'm retired.

[sarge43]

44. If the Coast Guard had been open to women in the early '60's,

I would have signed up with them - a great group.

[qnr]

46. in the 70's and 80's, it was a great place for women to go - not being

part of the DOD, there weren't any restrictions, and being such a small service with so many responsibilities, there were all sorts of options open.

[sarge43]

56. Yes I know

The Coast Guard was the first to have women ship commanders; that was major crack in the glass ceiling.

[CBHagman]

42. I came close to joining the Air Force.

It's a long, silly story, but in the end, I wound up at university (and not even in ROTC).

But I put Army as my choice up there. My father and grandfather both served in that branch (WWII and WWI, respectively).

[InvisibleTouch]

47. Air Force, 'cause that's where I grew up. n/t

[khashka]

48. Navy

Being locked on a ship in the middle of nowhere with a thousand horny men? It might just make war worth it :)

But I'm afraid the only rank I'd earn would be "camp follower" and the long term career prospects aren't that great :(

Khash.

[ghostsofgiants]

57. None.

No way in hell would you catch me in the military. My mom spent many years trying to convince me to join.

[Blue-Jay]

58. USAF, because I'm good at doing paperwork.

[Roon]

59. I tried joining the Army when I was 18

I thought it was a heck of a deal, serve 20 years and retire. I was stupid and didn't know you couldn't join if you had a hearing impairment.

[Bucky]

60. TANG. I wanna be a war hero, too

or maybe the 601st Fighting Keyboardists.