I never claimed it would be easy to go into the Navy but it sure beats mud and MREs. I joined the Navy to avoid the draft and Viet Nam. It worked. The alternative was a one way ticket to Canada (About 8 miles away at the time) but I think I made the right choice. It certainly worked out for me.

As for the kid Mrrzy describes in the first post, I doubt they'd take him and if they did I doubt they'd keep him. As Poppagator rightfully pointed out the Army is needing people right now but they can still afford to be choosy.

By the way my authority on this is my position as a high school teacher. When the kids reach Junior year the military really starts swinging the carrots. I have one student who finished his Junior year with a contract to join up after he graduated. He has money to spend and no need to work this summer. He'll finish his senior year and go off to Boot camp and start working his new job right away.

A few months ago I had an Army recruiter spend the day in my classroom talking to my students about the Army. It wasn't my idea. It was the guidance counselor. Anyway I asked the questions the kids needed to be asking. I wanted to make sure they heard the answers. Allowing for the usual recruiter BS it was clear to me that the military has changed drastically since I was young.

Because the military is an all volunteer force they need to make some effort to keep the troops happy. Soldiers and sailors have more say in where they get assigned, they are allowed to marry and stay together, the college benefits are better than the G.I. Bill ever was, and the bases work hard to make sure the families are safe and happy. Here on Guam we have a huge Air Force base and a big Navy base. I have worked there and know how much of my job was involved in making sure the families were taken care of. I also have friends who are in the service as well as family members. They are not the happiest they can be but they are pretty happy.

As for the poor souls who are stuck with multiple tours overseas and for those who wish they could get out, I guess that's the down side of the system. I wish there was something that could be done for them but you have to remember that they have benefited a lot from their deal with the devil. Now they have to make good on it.