Advantages and Disadvantages of Joining the Armed Forces
Advantages and Disadvantages of Joining the Armed Forces
The Modernization of the Military
The military of today is in no way like that of a century, or even three decades ago. The threats to the national environment have been greatly exacerbated by the heightening of the “war on terror” and international situation as a result thereof. The armed forces are seeking to adapt to the growing trends of globalization, challenges to national sovereignty, the relocation of political authority to transnational and sub-national agencies. The armed forces must also deal with an increased risk complexity, as the level of danger a soldier is exposed to the battlefield far surpasses the cannon and musket-balls of the past. The range of missions of the armed forces in this modern environment is being broadened, with significant changes being made in regards to the political and military relationship. While their size has been reduced as they grow smaller, a greater degree of flexibility is necessary within the organizational structures should they hope to be filled, while also heeding to social equality in all aspects, including sex and sexual orientation, former taboos of the military. (Dandeker 637) This adherence to social equality enables the military to increase overall enrollment while maintaining a positive image to an extent, enabling them to mask over the negative aspects of the job, which are growing increasingly larger.
The Expanding Difficulty of the Job
The armed forces in today’s modern world must broaden their role to include functions in addition to the one of war-fighting, such as peacekeeping, disaster, and humanitarian relief. (Dandeker 651) These alternate exercises of power have been further exacerbated by the war on terror, making the job of the soldier not only that of a fighter, but a global hunter, being sent around the globe to weed out these potential threats which our government delineates and orders the attack upon. While the
The Modernization of the Military
The military of today is in no way like that of a century, or even three decades ago. The threats to the national environment have been greatly exacerbated by the heightening of the “war on terror” and international situation as a result thereof. The armed forces are seeking to adapt to the growing trends of globalization, challenges to national sovereignty, the relocation of political authority to transnational and sub-national agencies. The armed forces must also deal with an increased risk complexity, as the level of danger a soldier is exposed to the battlefield far surpasses the cannon and musket-balls of the past. The range of missions of the armed forces in this modern environment is being broadened, with significant changes being made in regards to the political and military relationship. While their size has been reduced as they grow smaller, a greater degree of flexibility is necessary within the organizational structures should they hope to be filled, while also heeding to social equality in all aspects, including sex and sexual orientation, former taboos of the military. (Dandeker 637) This adherence to social equality enables the military to increase overall enrollment while maintaining a positive image to an extent, enabling them to mask over the negative aspects of the job, which are growing increasingly larger.
The Expanding Difficulty of the Job
The armed forces in today’s modern world must broaden their role to include functions in addition to the one of war-fighting, such as peacekeeping, disaster, and humanitarian relief. (Dandeker 651) These alternate exercises of power have been further exacerbated by the war on terror, making the job of the soldier not only that of a fighter, but a global hunter, being sent around the globe to weed out these potential threats which our government delineates and orders the attack upon. While the
Bibliography: Dandeker, Christopher. “New Times for the Military: Some Sociological Remarks on the Changing Role and Structure of the Armed Forces of the Advanced Societies.” The British Journal of Sociology. 45.4, (1994) pp. 637-654. Angrist, Joshua D.; Johnson IV, John H. “Effects of Work-Related Absences on Families: Evidence from the Gulf War.” Industrial and Labor Relations Review. 54.1, (2000) pp. 41-58. “Profile of the Average Soldier.” The Official Website of the US Army. Retrieved on 28 November 2007, from: http://www.army.mil/ “The Montgomery GI Bill.” The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Retrieved on 28 November 2007, from: http://www.va.gov/