It was 115 degrees; the platoon was walking through the middle of the desert each of them with 40 pounds of gear on and an M16A2 rifle. It was summer time in the country of Afghanistan and the temperature was rising. At this point I asked myself what the hell I am doing here and why did I join the United States Army? Right when I was thinking that I felt a tug on my leg and there stood a young boy about 7 years old with only one arm, “Candy,Candy” he asked. Upon speaking with the local villagers we found out that his arm was taken from an improvised explosive device (IED) planted there by the rebeles that wanted to “rid their country of the weak”. That is when it occurred to me that I was here to protect my country from those that think that we are weak.
On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream. For this reason young men and women should want to join the military and protect their nation’s freedom. Even though men and women do not want to go to war especially one that they do not believe in, they should join the military because exceptional benefits, life changing experience, and most of all to protect our nation’s freedom from those that want to harm us.
In 2005 statistics continue to be released showing a slump in both US military recruitment and the rate of re-enlistment by personnel whose contract has expired. The worst branch that was affected when the war started was active duty or full-time Army followed by the Army Reserves and National Guard. According to Major General Michael Rochelle, polling among “influencers”—the parents, sports coaches and other adult role models of 17-to-24-year old Americans—shows a sharp
References: Lane, Larry. "Training recruiters: the war against terrorism has reshaped the Army in many ways, including the ways in which the service recruits new Soldiers. The U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention School at Fort Jackson, S.C., is where today 's recruiters learn the tools and techniques of their vital mission.(Recruiting and Retention School)." Soldiers Magazine 62.11 (Nov 2007): 20(4). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. 17 May 2008 http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS . Zuniga, Markos Moulitsas. "The soldier in me." The American Prospect 17.5 (May 2006): 52(1). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. 17 May 2008 http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS . Garatti, Marinella, and Rose A. Rudnitski. "Adolescents ' views on war and peace in the early phases of the Iraq conflict.(Report)." Adolescence 42.167 (Fall 2007): 501(23). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. 17 May 2008 http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS . Rockwell, Paul.” One reason not to join the military: You may be ordered to kill civilians.” www.commondreams.org News center (April 29, 2006) Cogan, James. “US military recruitment crisis deepens” World Socialist Web Site www.wsws.org News & Analysis North America (June 1, 2005)