The advice I give my students when they ask this is to point out that when they are lying in the mud eating cold food and dodging bullets the Navy is eating three hot meals a day, and sleeping in beds. Many of the jobs in the Navy involve sitting in an air conditioned electronics room.

This may not work with someone who is convinced that they are going to go "over there" to kill people. However, the Army is an all volunteer force and can afford to be picky when it comes to individuals. There is extensive psychological screening. Remember Arlo Guthrie's experience that he relates in Alice's Restaurant? That was in the days when the draft would take just about anyone. Today's Army wants to create a professional fighting force. If they have someone who might go nuts with a machine gun they will boot him out faster than you can say "You're fired!"

Also, if, for some reason he gets through the initial screening and nobody picks it up in basic training then he will still be under scrutiny by the NCO's and the officers. They all have a vested interest in making sure everyone around them is cool under fire and will not do something stupid.

Remember, the military today is very different from the military I served in. They have made huge improvements. I have two family members in service right now and one who just got out. The one who just got out wanted to go "over there" and kill and maim and walk around with guts hanging from his teeth, etc. Now he is in college and thinking about going to medical school. He is a devoted father and a great songwriter. Big change!

That's my $.02.