I reckon 95% do it so they can kill people legally.

They so hate desk work and other useful areas - they want to see action - they want to KILL.

Let's be honest about this. Enough cant and hypocrisy.

All this ban the BNP crap.

When I joined the armed forces back in the 80s it was to have a secure job, learn some skills (in my case communications technology) and get free travel around the world. Very few troops get to kill anyone, and I really doubt that many join to do that. Many who found out we might be sent to fight in the Falklands were scared or worried. If you accept the reality you might get to kill, then you also accept the reality that you might be killed, but, barring events on the scale of WW2, there is a very slim chance of either.

Theforces tend to concentrate recruitment in areas of high unemployment.

Why would any body want to cut themselves off from family,friends etc and live in a field in the middle of nowhere?

Travel? A field in the middle of nowhere in Germany is pretty similar to a field in the middle of nowhere in the UK !

The fact that you can join with absolutely no qualifications (and even a criminal record) may have something to do with it !

Most used to join to see the world and learn a trade whilst getting paid. On leaving they could get decent jobs in security etc.

Since New Labour made them into an army on permanent battle fronts I would expect that it has changed. Now it probably is people who want to fight - though there are still many who come from army families who see it as a way of life.

Those who fly for the RAF are incredibly well qualified and dont expect to be shot down. E.g Price William etc. so it is also a well paid safe job for the upper classes....Sandhurst etc.

You're a bit behind the times BR. RAF pilots come from all walks of life nowadays. Even working class kids can end up with the relevant qualifications. Also, one of my young relatives has just joined the Royal Marines. He hasn't done this to kill people, and I think it's an insult to many decent young men and women to accuse them of having purely murderous intent. Even today, the majority of service personnel will never see action or fire a shot in anger. Many of those in Afghanistan are not engaged in combat; they are engineers, technicians, medics, etc.

Of course there will be a minority who want to kill, but those are generally the first ones to pee their pants when the shooting starts.

If this country is ever invaded by an army who threatens our lives and liberties, those who criticise the armed forces will be crying out for their protection.

I don't agree with the Afghan war, and was totally opposed to the invasion of Iraq, but if we can invade another country and kill civilians then another country can also invade us and kill civilians - unless we have an army to stop them. I wish it wasn't so, but it is.

There are many and varied reasons why people join the armed forces, with very few people genuinely choosing to in order to fight for queen and country.

There is a wide machismo element amongst young men inparticular and a fixation with guns. I think most of them would be scared of actually killing someone for real. What are the most popular computer games and films amongst young people Halo, Tour of duty, medal of honour etc. Kids want to live out these games for real.

Most returning soldiers are regarded as heroes by the press, even though who are vehemently against the war. What other form of work would provide that sort of hero worship, apart from professional sport.

there is something in JK's post.After WW2 the US Army did exstensive surveys of soldiers who had fought and roughly found groups-40% would shoot and kill but suffer horrors after..shell-shock etc, 20% would fire above the enemies head as they couldn't bear to kill..and the other 20% were half and half cold-blooded people who either killed without remorse or were psychotic and relished killing..often their own comrades, civillians and so on.

So some do join hoping to kill.I reckon most though really just want a career.

There are a mix of people joining for different reasons.There will no doubt be a yobish element who enjoy torturing and killin' people.Same as a far right party like the BNP will have a thug element,it'll also have little ole ladies makin' tea an scones for after.

Why do people want to be bin men? Its a demographic thing. Most privates in the States for example would be flipping burgers were it not for the armed forces.

Thanks for correcting me Francis - but I was told by someone who was attempting to become a jet pilot about the selection procedure and it sounded as if those taken on tended to be from a private school background and with top qualifications......

Angel wrote:
Most privates in the States for example would be flipping burgers were it not for the armed forces.

Most privates in the army are flipping burgers !

Are you not aware that there are McD's and Burger King instide the Green Zone ??

veritas wrote:
So some do join hoping to kill.I reckon most though really just want a career.

There are adverts of bus-sides at the moment, saying -

Soldiers start on £16K
Notice the word "start"

Well, most soldiers START with 2 arms and 2 legs (and a few even have brain cells) but I read recently that the largest group in prisons these days are ex-servicemen who cannot cope with a return to normal society.

Of course, many also have major mental illness when they leave too.

I think we all now get that you're anti-military, ITK.
No need to keep ranting on.

Don't make me laugh! Some soldiers have brain cells? Prove it.

You have to be somewhat mentally imbalanced and/or just plain thick to want to be in the army...and as mentioned, it takes a certain kind of cold person to be OK with killing another person.

Emma Bee wrote:
I think we all now get that you're anti-military, ITK.
No need to keep ranting on.

I think there is every reason to keep "ranting on" Emma Bee ... otherwise people will forget the lessons and walk straight into another Iraq / Afghanistan (Iran next time maybe?)

Lets NOT forget that everything that the anti-war movement said would happen HAS come true !

In The Know wrote:
Angel wrote:
Most privates in the States for example would be flipping burgers were it not for the armed forces.

Most privates in the army are flipping burgers !

Are you not aware that there are McD's and Burger King instide the Green Zone ??

Its good to know our "Boys" are going out to war, fuelled on a nutritious diet. It goes back to my demographic comment. Half the soldiers out there probably survived on a diet of chips and Coke before signing up. I bet Ronald Mac and Co are doing a Whopping trade! Or is that Burger King?

Ranting against illegal war is rather different to ranting against, and insulting members of, the military - as I'm sure you know really. You just like to stir up reaction.