[Nuclear1]

I have the article somewhere, but I read in the Army Times edition from November or so that there were over a hundred or so cases of sexual abuse by Army DIs in boot camp of recruits, but these DIs have been canned or sent to prison. Then there was Aberdeen in the 90s (with one DI being convicted of well over 30 rape charges)...

Fact is, however, it's gotten much better. Ever since Aberdeen, the Army has made reporting sexual assault much easier. You wouldn't believe the number of briefings I've had in just the past year on how to deal with this sort of thing.

[iamzack]

Women are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by an enemy. Statistically.

But keeping women out of _____ won't do anything. (Rape isn't a women's issue, it's a men's issue.) So "onoes, you'll get raped" is never a reason to tell a woman not to do something.

[Charismatic]

Im not woried about rape. Im worried about death, and mental and physical damages. Leaving and coming back changed, a diff person. I have heard lot of arguments on both sides so its hard to believe the military is as safe and person friendly as everyone is making it seem.

But yeah. Shes decided to join. Ill show her this topic sometime when I see her next (Within aweek). Im a mess because of this decision. I dont want to loose her. At the least, shes gone for 4 years. Unacceptable.

EDIT: Anyone know of any alernatives? Big coorpoations that are hiring? Any.. non college scholarships or paid inturnships for big coorporations that have job secruity? Anything?

[iamzack]

In some states, at least it used to be this way, if you went to school to become a teacher and agreed to stay in a certain area that needed teachers for a set amount of time, the state would give you a full ride. I believe they're doing that for doctors in Canada, too.

[Nuclear1]

Four years as a nurse assistant isn't all that horrible. I signed on for six years, and in my field at least, the training takes at least half of the length of the contract. I can't imagine an A School in the medical field would be exactly short either.

Her time in service includes her time spent in A School, so really, she could be up for only one or two deployments depending on how long the school.

[Dilmah G]

Im not woried about rape. Im worried about death, and mental and physical damages. Leaving and coming back changed, a diff person. I have heard lot of arguments on both sides so its hard to believe the military is as safe and person friendly as everyone is making it seem.

But yeah. Shes decided to join. Ill show her this topic sometime when I see her next (Within aweek). Im a mess because of this decision. I dont want to loose her. At the least, shes gone for 4 years. Unacceptable.

EDIT: Anyone know of any alernatives? Big coorpoations that are hiring? Any.. non college scholarships or paid inturnships for big coorporations that have job secruity? Anything?

As a nurse, she would never change as much as say, someone who decides to try the SF entry test and passes. Those are the assignments you get that change people. The only real changes she would undergo would be desensitization to death (only slightly though, she wouldn't undergo the full wrath of B.F. Skinner's ideas), higher confidence and more tough mentally.

[Mongoose]

Im not woried about rape. Im worried about death, and mental and physical damages. Leaving and coming back changed, a diff person. I have heard lot of arguments on both sides so its hard to believe the military is as safe and person friendly as everyone is making it seem.

But yeah. Shes decided to join. Ill show her this topic sometime when I see her next (Within aweek). Im a mess because of this decision. I dont want to loose her. At the least, shes gone for 4 years. Unacceptable.

Perhaps instead of irrationally freaking out about it, you could instead choose to support her in the decision that she made, which she obviously feels is what's best for herself.  That would do both of you some good.

[Scotty]

Pros: 

• Most, if not all of the costs of living for however long she stays in for are payed.
• • The military introduces a very useful set of skills that can be used later in life.
  • If she stays in for 20 years (the way this thread is going, I doubt it), she gets a badass pension (1500~2000 bucks a month)
  • Even deployed, there is a very low chance of being wounded or killed (In January, only 16 people were killed, and 30 wounded, and that's for combat troops)
  
  
  Cons:
  • Demanding.  The basic training is bad if you aren't prepared.
  • As said before, If she changes her mind, she can't leave until the end of her tour of duty
  • There is still the very remote possibility of injury or psychological disorder.  But really, you have worse odds of being killed in a car crash on your way to work each morning (1 in 81) to getting killed overseas (1 in 100 somthing)
    

[S-99]

But yeah. Shes decided to join. Ill show her this topic sometime when I see her next (Within aweek).

When you show her this thread, don't show her the misconceptions that are in here. This thread has great information, but there is a fair share of misconceptions offered in here.

I did something like this for my little brother too. But, having him talk to people his age who were dishonorably discharged from the army did not give him a real picture.

[Charismatic]

Feel free to point out misinfo. or mis conceptions.

[Black Wolf]

But really, you have worse odds of being killed in a car crash on your way to work each morning (1 in 81) to getting killed overseas (1 in 100 somthing)

I think your maths might be wrong there.
1 in 81 deaths being caused by car crashes - quite possible
1 in 81 chance of being killed in a car crash on your way to work in the morning - not likely, if only because I've gone to work hundreds of times, thousands of times, and are yet to die in a car crash

And, err, army nurse is probably a pretty sweet job right now. I'm not sure from your post whether she's already trained as a nurse or not, but if she's already trained, well, I dunno what the hiring situation is for nurses in America (the health system is screaming for them here, but we have public health), but if the private sector isn't hiring, going through the military seems OK. There's a fairly decent chance she'll be posted stateside anyway (don't most seriously wounded troops get treated in America proper anyway? So a big chunk of the medical people must be there), and if not at least she'll have a guaranteed job probably not significantly more dangerous than working in some dodgy inner city hospital (somewhat higher chance of being attacked, sure, but probably a lower chance of blood borne infections and the like from drug patients).

If she's not already trained then, again, pretty decent. Education is so expensive in America, having someone else pay for it and then having guaranteed job security is a good thing for a lot of people. I would have seriously considered going to Duntroon if I was getting an ADF friendly degree.

[IPAndrews]

But really, you have worse odds of being killed in a car crash on your way to work each morning (1 in 81) to getting killed overseas (1 in 100 somthing)

My odds of being killed in a car crash on the way to work are 1 in 81!  Holy **** that's shocking! Not least because I take the tube.

[Charismatic]

She hasent been trained yet.

So no one has any remote chance for a alternative?

[Nuclear1]

For guaranteed job security, free education and all benfits paid for? No, not really.

[BloodEagle]

I suppose you could tie her up and drag her across the border.  Since this obviously isn't her decision.

[Dilmah G]

But really, you have worse odds of being killed in a car crash on your way to work each morning (1 in 81) to getting killed overseas (1 in 100 somthing)

I would have seriously considered going to Duntroon if I was getting an ADF friendly degree.

My careers counsellor is trying to convince me to start the application process for ADFA next year while I'm still in Year 11, because "The positives far outweigh the negatives" (supposedly). I have no issues with the next 13 years of my life being in the Defence Force, problem is the selection for entry is really competitive.

For guaranteed job security, free education and all benfits paid for? No, not really.

Very true, one of the most attractive aspects of the Defence Force.

[IronBeer]

She hasent been trained yet.

So no one has any remote chance for a alternative?

Listen. Somebody else has said this, and you *have* to understand this. Your friend is going to do what she feels is right- most likely with or without your input. There are times in life when you have to know when to let go. This looks to be one of those times. Furthermore, people change over time anyways. Being afraid that somebody will change is a little irrational. I've had very close friends that have changed over time to the point where I honestly can't be friends with them anymore. We here at the forum can present you with statistics, data, personal experience, and opinions, but ultimately, this thread is about your unease with your friend's decision.
Charismatic, I do not know you at all (in fact, I don't think I've even seen you around the forum), but I say with full honesty- your friend's choice to join the military is something you need to come to terms with on your own. Because, let's face it: your feelings are exactly that- yours.

[AlphaOne]

I'm not american so i can only talk from the outside if i am permitted !

However the way i see the US armed forces is more like and expeditionary force.

The US Army has never had to fight on its own soil and well that is a damned good thing ! I would say the US is very lucky in this regard.

However one has to wonder what would happen if god forbid such an awefull thing would happen !

They have the hardware and the money to keep on top and so far that has worked well !

However fighting outside of its borders all the time has its price. No matter how you look at it the US has to maintain a huge armed force in order to make sure the war doesn't come to its home.

Sooner or later such a thing is going to come down biting. Sooner or later other countries that rely on the US army will get strong enough to stand on their own. So then what happens when the US has to downsize its armed forces in a drastic manner ??

[Janos]

For guaranteed job security, free education and all benfits paid for? No, not really.

For guaranteed job security

loooooooooooool

[Nuclear1]

Excuse me?