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Posts: 7715

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Q: Would you ever join your country's military?

Perhaps a bit of a left field question (yeah, an Aussie using Yankee terminology Tongue Yes - that was a pun!)

 

But... a girl I know here is looking to join the Chinese army (and, I also live near a training barracks).

 

And she's posted on wechat about it... so it's stirred this question.

 

I think because, I'd probably never join my country's military until such time as we were actually attacked.

 

The reason being - I'm quite happy to defend my country... but not so happy to defend the stupid moronic decisions that my government is likely to get me involved in (usually by asskissing a certain other power that we have agreements with, and who can't keep their filthy hands off other's territory!).

 

And, I think that's exactly what this girl wants to sign up for... to follow the dictates of selfish, corrupt, idiots.

 

I know some of you may have had compulsory military training.. which is probably a GOOD idea! But does that mean you'd join up permanently (if you were fit enough, and all...).

 

 

Edit: I'll just add.. I'm not against the idea of getting fit, trained, learning to defend yourself, learning some useful skills in life.  But, like *Estern*said - I "think too much", and don't respect authrirty (blindly - which is what you need to do).

 

It might surprise some of you, but I do think some form of National Service should be mandatory for all people (well, so should an organisation like 'Scouts' or similar - so people learn to be self-sufficient... but not the Christian version of the Scouts!)

8 years 17 weeks ago in  Health & Safety - China

 
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I'm a former regular.  So, yes.

ScotsAlan:

I am a PVR. Thank fuck.

8 years 17 weeks ago
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I'm too old to join up now and wouldn't want to anyway unless it was to defend my home from attack.

 

But,I think a lot of the people in the military  join up for a career / job and maybe a pension, rather than ideological reasons.

 

If you're a Chinese person without the connections or money to buy a good iron rice bowl job, the army might be quite a good option.

Lord_hanson:

But without money you can't buy the promotions either. Imagine, what would happen in a war where all the generals were in their jobs because of their social status and not their ability. Oh wait, no need to imagine it has happened before. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme

8 years 17 weeks ago
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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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But the Chinese military has nothing to do with military action. There main responsibilities are disaster relief, security guards, shouting political propaganda and washing government officials cars. I work next to a barracks and see the last 3 responsibilities every day. You shouldn't compare western militaries to the the bell boys that are known as the Chinese military.

sorrel:

You forgot the really important role they play in walking the CO's dog.

I used to pass one poor grunt every day who had to walk a couple of white poodles that had their ears dyed pink and orange.

 

It's a man's life in the Chinese army. 

 

8 years 17 weeks ago
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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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No, I am not going to get my legs blown off just so some billionaire can earn a few more millions.

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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That was my career before coming to PRC, so...

 

Yes.

Edit: Call me Sergeant Spider

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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I'm going to visit Vlad's HK Embassy, if they won't stop bothering me at night.surprise

 

I've never been to Russia, yet.....

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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i did the american military service in the army when reagan was president and nobody seriously wanted to start a war with reagan in power, so i joined the french foreign legion so i could kill people, had a lot of anger issues with a lousy childhood, it worked out pretty well other than getting shot twice, well s**t happens, and i got to travel all over the world, when the eu formed they kicked everybody out and downsized from 30 legions to 10 units, i loved it and would have stayed till my death, but all good things come to an end.

Scandinavian:

Debbie did Dallas !!!! you did the military 

8 years 17 weeks ago
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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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I'm a former regular.  So, yes.

ScotsAlan:

I am a PVR. Thank fuck.

8 years 17 weeks ago
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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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Like any job you take the good with the bad
There are things i love about the Army and there are things that i despise too

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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I did it too for almost a decade.

Seems like a bit of a theme with regular users of this site.

I mostly enjoyed it and wouldn't be against encouraging a young person who doesn't know what to do with their life to throw in for a while to sort their head out a bit. It worked for me.

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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I'm American and if my country ever faced a true existential threat I'd consider joining. Otherwise, it really wouldn't be the best fit for me. I'm the kind of person who likes to question authority and its legitimacy. This would get me in trouble in the military. Plus my political views are not really suitable for serving in the military. While the U.S. Military has done some great things, unfortunately politicians are too eager to use the military and the CIA in questionable ways. Who exactly did the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan benefit? Not the American people, that's for sure. Hundreds of billions of dollars spent, hundreds of thousands of people over there killed and for what? Is the world safer from terrorism? Halliburton gets to make billions on defense contracts while other private military contractors clean up as well. I couldn't fight a war in good conscience for some corrupt politicians. I could see some personal benefits from serving such as self discipline and physical conditioning but I'm sad to say the U.S. Military is often not a force for good in the world anymore. beware the military industrial complex folks, there will always be a boogeyman to fear and the well-connected bankers, contractors and politicians will profit from it at the expense of the rest.

WooMow:

I agree with what you're saying, but that doesn't exactly rule out entering the military as a life option. I would never join the forces as a grunt straight into basic training, but ROTC (officer training) during university is still a good deal.

 

4 years of free education (no debt!)

4 years of good working experience (That's harder to come by these days)

4 years on call (Ok that would suck if you got called back)

Military benefits

 

If you study the right things, especially the right languages, you could end up in a relatively safe area like Taiwan or Korea, do some desk work, push some papers, get out at 26 with a good resume and no student loans.

 

So I agree, I wouldn't sign up to fight, but our military has more to offer than sending you to the middle east to kill for questionable motives, and I don't blame people for going that route.

8 years 16 weeks ago
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This thread made me reminisce about my time in the army.

 

Get told what to think and when to speak, have all sorts of ugly stereotypes forced down your throat, koutou to morons with no real world experience and show them respect, live in a dorm, wake up at the crack of dawn, do lots of meaningless tasks, eat crap food.....wait...... I'm talking about a Chinese high school

 

Ahhhh, good times

8 years 17 weeks ago
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Interesting how many users here are ex-military. Does it ever cause issues with visas or anything like that?

 

Personally it's not for me, I have way to many issues with authority. Experience has taught me that I don't respond at all well when told what to do, especially if its not accompanied by a good explanation as to why. The camaraderie and practical skills taught in the military do appeal to me, but all in all it's not the life for me.

Spiderboenz:

Former military, not ex.

8 years 17 weeks ago
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RachelDiD:

I was born on a military base; I write that on every visa application that I fill out. It has yet to cause problems for me.

8 years 17 weeks ago
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There many different jobs in the military that don't require you to become Rambo
From cooks to communications
Truck driver,mechanic , carpenter, plumbing ,election hair dresser , surveyors, doctor, dental and a heap more
Best part is they give you a career after your service
Now the Chinese army is another subject all together

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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I've served my country

 

Serving China for a Chinese person is not about serving the country. It is about job security, about a job for life. Remember the normal Chinese foot soldiers are useless spoiled kids that needs their afternoon nap. 

So if a girl wants to be part of that, then I would not think differently than if she wanted to work in any SOE. 

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8 years 17 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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im  a medically retired US Army , service connected disabled vet of the Gulf war, but I was injured at NTC in Cali in Nov 90' (perm blinded in right eye).  Using military HOPS (aka Space-A) has allowed me to learn about the world more this past decade...

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Shifu

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I joined when I was 18 years old as a part time soldier,I did my basic training then quit,I hated it. Army life just wasnt for me.

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8 years 16 weeks ago
 
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