A Path Not Taken – IOTW Report

A Path Not Taken

Too few of today’s college graduates even consider serving in the military.

Very few of the 10 million people who tuned into the Army–Navy football game on December 8 were watching for the quality of the play. They were watching for the quality of the players.

The 119th contest between the Black Knights of the U.S. Military Academy and the Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy exemplified the ideals of amateur athletics—which is not to disparage either academy’s actual athleticism. Indeed, to a person, virtually every West Point Cadet and Annapolis Mid was a high school athlete—even if they weren’t all stars. They all participate in extracurricular sports or on a varsity team every semester that they attend the academies.

The television announcers called it “America’s game,” gushed about the players’ commitment to service, and marveled about their anticipated assignments after graduation. These sentiments weren’t surprising; there is something special, and increasingly rare, about young people who choose to join the military today. Today, just 7.5 percent of the American adult population has ever served in the military; less than half of 1 percent of all Americans are on active duty.  more here

12 Comments on A Path Not Taken

  1. Anon, you are comparing Apples and oranges. There was a compulsory draft and a territory of the US was bombed during WWII. I’d rather have armed forces full of dedicated men and women who want to be there than thousands more who would be required to serve.

    10
  2. There hasn’t been a draft since 1972, I know because I was 19 in 1972 and got a low draft number so I joined the Navy before they could possibly think of drafting me. My younger brothers missed out even though they did have to register for Selective Service. And then Nixon ended the draft just prior to the 72 Presidential election while I was in boot camp. Having said that joining the Navy was one of the best things I ever did. The only reason for a draft would be in an extreme national emergency like in World War 2, otherwise only those who really want to serve should be in the military. And I don’t think that the military wants a bunch of snowflakes and malcontents to serve who don’t want to be there in the first place anymore than they did during the Vietnam war. And besides the left would shit bricks if they ever tried to reinstate the draft just like they did with Vietnam.

    5
  3. I would not recommend military service in this day and age! Why risk your life, limbs and future for a nation half filled with loser Marxists, perverts, scum bag actors, corrupt lawyers, race baiters, America haters, illegal criminal invaders, Muslim pukes, third world shit hole minorities, a butt kissing general officers corps crammed full of inept failures and a boatload of self enriching , traitorous, worthless politicians, among others!

    3
  4. The way barky treated Fort Hood survivors and the way the VA treats veterans is enough to keep you out of the military I suppose.
    I do thank them every chance I get anyhow.

    1
  5. Anon, you are comparing Apples and oranges. There was a compulsory draft and a territory of the US was bombed during WWII. I’d rather have armed forces full of dedicated men and women who want to be there than thousands more who would be required to serve.

    Stop2think, you got that right; speaking as a former senior NCO, I had my hands full with my people that were volunteers, let alone some snowflake draftee.

    I spent my time in the Navy like geoff the aardvark; 19 in 1972, low lottery number and enlisted for electronics school, so I was surrounded by nothing but volunteers.

    1
  6. Stop2think, my dad was working at Perfect Circle in Indiana on December 7th. Monday the 8th, he and almost the whole factory enlisted. He was in for the duration and was glad to serve his country. Damn pathetic to attribute that generations’service to just being drafted.

    2

Comments are closed.