Reply #9: Talk it over with someone you trust.

[SerpentX]

Get to the bottom of why you think you want to join. There are a number of ways to:

1. Get money for college


2. Travel/Find Adventure


3. Do something meaningful for your Country/community


4. Take control of your life

without having to join the Military. The Military just seems like the shortest path.

If you're dead set on joining up, and you're really worried about your conscience, go Regular and take a medical specialty. I did and when I got sucked into Desert Storm, I was glad I had non-combatant status.

The Reserves seriously limit your range of options, because your local units are looking to fill specific job slots. For instance, if you want to be a machinist, you'll have to find a local unit that needs one.

Finally, keep in mind that most of the soldiers over in Iraq didn't put themselves in harms way for Dumbellya. They did it for the other soldiers in their unit.