To help preserve the rights & beliefs of their country and countrymen.

For the action.

Be glad they do. Otherwise there would be a draft. Besides, it's a great career move for people who need opportunities. I did it and I will never regret it.

It's a paying job with a free place to sleep and free food to eat. Besides they are kept in tip top physical shape. I have know a couple of guys that joined and made a career of it because it became the family they never had. In addition, they are doing their patriotic duty for their country. Oh, it may be safer than many other occupations. Did you know that 43,400 people are killed in auto/truck accidents in the US every year???

first, young men are handicapped by the sense that "It can't happen to me" that sense that you are invulnerable and only some one else will get it. second they are suckered in with funding for college, other bonus funds. third they have an expectation of getting respect and brotherhood, similar to the reasons young men join gangs. that the corp will always have your back. the military is even indoctrinating high school students through the ROTC so their will join after graduation.

My father and grandfather were both in the Marines and it was always my intentions to enlist also. But after the whole Iraq war started and I realized I didnt agree with it and it was being run by a President who didnt know what the hell he was doing and there was no end in sight, I had to change my mind. I would proudly defend this country from an attack, but I just cant see myself going off to a war that I think is wrong. Thats not something I would put my life on the line for.

my son is 16 yrs old and asked for my permission to join the Army Reserves here in canada...I signed the permission slip...he will not be deployed when he turns 18 unless he volunteers or joins the Reg. Army Force. He did this saying it will help him in the future and the career path he will be chosing. Am I scared he will want to go away...YES...but at the same time I am so proud of him. By the way the reserve unit he joined is the black watch and he has to wear a kilt, so for a 16 yr old to wear a kilt (not a cool uniform) there has to be a sense of pride and alittle more than wanting to play war.

Getting in a car is the real death wish, if you want to get technical. More young, military age men are killed on the streets of America than in the war. They join because they can't get a job anywhere, they want to get away from their family, they want to serve their country, and many other reasons.

The world has changed a bit: I recall Charles Willeford saying it was one of the best jobs in the world back in the 1930's & 40s. You were doing what farm boys did on their days off for fun! Nowadays I think it's for a variety of reasons. Some people hate to think & make decisions: as long as you don't become an officer all you need to do is what you're told to.

Most of the young guys nowdays join the military as they THINK they are serving their county due to all the BS that has been spread around .... They join because thay cannot find jobs to pay their bills and in some cases to take care of their families . Just a couple of the reasons ..

They want to fight and preserve the country. Danger be damned.

There are many good reasons to join the military. It is easily the best decision I ever made and would do it again. If you're a young man (or woman) with no plan and limited money - you're a fool not to. I went to college, bought my house and traveled the world on my veteran's benefits. You're not alone in believing the military is a "death wish". However this is pure Media propaganda trying to (and succeeding) in portraying the Military in a bad and dangerous light.

I fear that you represent the current line of "thinking" of modern American males. I would like to here and now thank God and the American soldier, both for keeping us (US) safe. Yes, it is dangerous and no, they do not have death wishes. Everyone dies, some men never live. There are issues bigger than that of the individual. You can sleep at night because men like these guys don't. I suspect, and hope, it is hard wired into the male psychic to want to protect the tribe, clan, community or nation. If it wasn't for this trait, we would all be in deep trouble.

Death rates in Iraq & Afghanistan have been pretty low by the standard of other American wars, so no, it's not a death wish. Until they've been in battle for a while, people usually don't think that death or serious injury can happen to them, so that's not usually a factor. . People join because they need a job, because they want training or money for college, because they want to give back to and defend their country, from a desire to prove themselves, from a sense of adventure.

There are lots of reasons people join the military: 1. They are always hiring. For some, particularly the poor, it is a way to get a steady, secure job regardless of skills 2. Money for college 3. Free college if you go to military academy 4. Free training. Some people pick up skills that would be hard to pick up elsewhere. 5. Chance to travel. The average american will not get a chance to see the world. 6. Good ole fashion patriotism. yeah, people really do that. The death wish thing is exaggerated. It is more dangerous to live in a major city in the US than it is to be in Iraq. A poor black male from a city like Detroit , ironically increases his chances of not getting murdered by going to Iraq. It's not quite that simple, but sadly it is true for the most part

I was a snot nosed smart punk ass teenager at seventeen, at that time I thought I was the best thing to sliced bread. So I quit school thinking that this greatest guy in world can get a job and strike out on my own...NOT. Tried to come back home and my father told me that if I didn't go back to school, then on the street I will remain. I told him there was no way I would go back to school, it wasn't for me. My father gave one more alternative, that was to join the Marines. Well I thought this deal would be a breeze so I accepted. My father signed me in at seventeen. I arrived in San Diego and at the airport, a bunch of us where waiting on a bus to be taken to MCRD, the Marines entered the bus and my life as I knew changed in about 3 minutes. So I may have joined for the wrong reasons but, this was the best thing that ever happened to me, no regrets what so ever. The Marines had taught me what being a man, patriot, honor, sense of duty to things above my self and the list goes on. BTW, when I joined war never even crossed my mind but, if duty called I would step up and do my duty without question, three times this has happened and still no regrets. My only regret now that I am much older is that I didn't do it for 30 years. Sorry for the long winded answer, but I am passionate about our military and those who serve, a far cry from being a punk ass teenager as I was.

Everyone does it for different reasons. Some do it as a family tradition, some do it for the college benefits, others do it because they want to serve their country, and still others do it because they aren't sure what else to do an know the military will straighten them up and help them decide on their future. Everyone has their own reasons.

lack of stability in their life. need to have a definitive answer and solution NOW. lack of desire to motivate themselves. need to come up with solutions for themselves. want to get in shape. ( i know round is a shape, but isn't a desired one )

Because they are brave and would like to serve their country. Someone has to do it, and if they didn't everyone would have to.

the armed forces offer "enlistment incentives", cash payments of thousands of dollars, to entice young men and women to join. the military can be a good career, but be forewarned, lodging is minimal, free time strictly controlled, family time almost non existent, VERY difficult to have, and risks in wartime depend on the branch of service you join and the job you do while you fulfill your EIGHT YEAR obligation to serve.

It doesn't make sense to you because you don't understand it. Just because you cant comprehend something doesn't make it death wish or in any way wrong or incorrect. If it's something your opposed to or the thought turns your stomach you can stand with the rest of the sheeple. You'll have plenty of company. If you are a realist and refuse to live in denial of the wolf you can stand over here with the rest of the sheepdogs. Either way we sheepdogs love our sheep and will protect them from the wolf.

Approximately 6000 men and women died in the War in Iraq, there are approximately 1 Million in the armed forces altogether. These numbers aren't exact, but it gives you perspective. It's not like the World wars when mass amounts of people were dying, at least not on that scale. It's not really a death wish unless you put yourself in that situation. Some men want to go to war, instead of doing 4 years and getting out, using their college money.

Discipline, good opportunity to travel, want to serve and protect their country... Like the previous responder said, there could be a draft if they didn't join. I appreciate there service.

Because of one word. Honour.

people that have never served in the military tend to think that things are like on the movies. far from it. just use a little common sense, do you really think that a person that joins the army to drive trucks just grabs a rifle and goes out and starts fighting? or that a clerk typist goes on combat patrols? no, fighting in the military is a specific job, and the people that fight are trained to do just that. another point of logic, why drive a car, when so many people are killed in car accidents everyday?

Even the most jaded and least patriotic young guy might be enticed by sign-on bonuses and education opportunities. Hell, Navy Nukes earn 60+ college credits merely for their military training PLUS whatever the GI bill pays for when they get out. While other MOS/ratings are not nearly so generous, the highly intelligent ones intent on continuing their education can easily be lured in by the prospect of being halfway to a Bachelors degree by age 19 and backed by a generous scholarship so they can get their Masters degree by age 25. And then there are the more patriotic people who will join up because it gives them a chance to put their money where their mouth is. I mean, ANYBODY can say that they are willing to fight and possibly die to protect the freedoms our forefathers gave us, but how many people are willing to strap on Kevlar and pick up an M-249 to *prove* that willingness? I would imagine that YOUNG people are the most willing to do so. Then again, I know enough people who have been in Iraq in the last few years to know that it really isn't a death wish. I am a gamer and know my probabilities too well. The same goes for my buddy Joe who was crew chief for a 105mm howitzer and spent not one, but TWO tours there. Just because it doesn't make sense TO YOU, that does not mean that it is totally illogical. Some people know more/different than you do and it makes sense to them and that is what counts, at least for purposes of your question.

I think that a number of young men (and even some older ones) are in it for the compensation and benefits. Many new recruits are enticed by free college tuition. Furthermore, soldiers get reduced rates for many goods and services, and they occasionally receive free housing. Also, some guys enlist because they are insecure and want to prove their masculinity. Or they may be thrill seekers who enjoy the adrenaline rush of being chased and shot at. A lot of times, soldiers will claim that they want to serve their country, but on occasion that may be a smoke screen for the "real" reason they joined up (i.e. the ones listed above). I do think some men really join out of a sense of duty to one's country, and that's an admirable sentiment, but whenever I hear someone give this reason, it seems dismissive of other valuable forms of community service. Police officers, firefighters, civic leaders, doctors, and soup kitchen workers also keep our citizens safe and healthy.

well then your a fucking pussy. some men welcome death, and you can't change that. be glad that they do.

Young men join the military for a lot of reasons. It gives their lives purpose. It gives them an outlet to take out aggression and anger. It allows them to serve their country. It warrants respect from everyone around them. Not to mention the awesome financial benefits they receive. My friend just got approved for a super low-rate $5,000 loan from militaryloans.com The same thing wouldn't be as easy for a civilian.