Have you served in your Nation's military?

[Bayou Bum]

Originally Posted by D.O.A.R.

Affectionately known as our "Shallow Water Navy". This coming from a former reservist/national guardsman. I'm sure the active duty guys of my time used to regard us as slow speed, high drag, retarded cousins.

I wasn't in the Coast Guard and once considered them as police/lifeguards also, but I have since learned the truth and now realize the contribution many in the Coast Guard have made.

Some stats for the US Coast Guard:

War / Number Served / Number Killed In Action / Number Wounded / Total Casualties
World War I / 8,835 / 111 / unknown / unknown
World War II / 241,093 / 574 / unknown / 1,917
Korean War / 8,500 / 0 / 0 / 0
Vietnam War / 8,000 / 7 / 60 / 67
Mayaguez Incident / 7* / 0 / 0 / 0
Grenada: Operation Urgent Fury / 162 / 0 / 0 / 0
Panama: Operation Just Cause / 9** / 0 / 0 / 0
Operations Desert Shield-Storm / 400 / 0 / 0 / 0
Kosovo / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0
Operation Iraqi Freedom / 1,250*** / 1 / 1 / 2

Does not include all of the wars prior to WWI.
*=Crewmen on board HC-130B CG-1339.
**There were 6 personnel from Group Miami LEDET who were stationed aboard the USS Vreeland (FF-1068) which was conducting CN operations when the ship was diverted for Operation Just Cause. Three others were assigned permanently to Panama and were also involved in the conflict. No casualties were incurred.
***=As of 3 June 2004

[Slim]

Originally Posted by pigeonmeister

You don't know Slim do you

Interesting. Are you insinuating RL and I are the same person? Heh, that's funny.

[pigeonmeister]

Originally Posted by Slim

Interesting. Are you insinuating RL and I are the same person? Heh, that's funny.

Sorry Slim, I am not sure why I did that

[Slim]

Originally Posted by pigeonmeister

Thank god Britain scrapped national service.

join the army- Have you any idea how dangerous that is?

No surprises by this comment. Afterall, what kind of barbaric half-wit would actually volunteer to carry a weapon and be TOLD what to do???

[Slim]

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

I served in Nam. Danang and My Lai 68-70.

And what SEAL team were you attached to?

[Epee_Pox]

National service in continental european countries isn't such a big deal. It's not as though they actually run the risk of being shot at, except in very rare cases. (I often wonder if there is anything at all that they would consider worth fighting for.)

Mandatory military service in a country continually under attack makes sense, as the population must be mobilized for its own defence.

But for anyplace else, mandatory military service is a bad idea. An all-volunteer force does a better job, with better morale and ability.

Now, if there was a mandatory general public service, with the military as simply one of many options left up to the individual, perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad idea.

[civiltech]

Originally Posted by jBirch

Same reason police don't.

I'm not saying that the coast guard (or police or fire or foreign affairs) are not noble, valuable, national assets. They just ain't the military.

James.

The RCMP is considered a "paramilitary" branch of the Canadian Forces as it does serve overseas with our military from time to time providing MP, investigative services, etc. Thats why you always see them at memorial services, remeberance day, and often (not always) guarding the cenataph. NO other police service does this.

[civiltech]

Never served here. Wanted to join the reserves as a combat engineer, but cannot realisticly leave work for 2 months to do basic training on the east coast. So, never will.

[PalmFrond]

The Irish army? Ha! The best-fed army in the world and the best-trained, too - because they never have to go on anything resembling active service.

[fencerbill]

Originally Posted by VELISARIOS

Cool.
But in Greece you have must to join the army because we are few.

The skirts are cool.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by fencerbill

The skirts are cool.

I particularly like the slippers with the fluffy yarn ball on the toes!

[Phrogger]

Originally Posted by Epee_Pox

Now, if there was a mandatory general public service, with the military as simply one of many options left up to the individual, perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I like a variation on this idea. For example, two years of free tuition at a state university in exchange for two years of service (Peace Corps, Military, or other public service). I think something compulsory would run up against too much opposition.

[civiltech]

I think I saw this type of system once....on the movie Starship Troopers...kinda scary actually.

[Phrogger]

I just think more people should be involved. Using incentives, it wouldn't be hard. What you are thinking of in Starship Troopers is where nobody could vote unless they served in the military and became a "full citizen." I think it's based on the ancient Spartans.

[jBirch]

I used to think this too...but then I realised that I'd get a bunch of people on patrol who were trying their damnedest to go home instead of achieving the mission. Very scary.

Best situation is to make service honourable and respected.

James.

[Phrogger]

So you're saying that you don't think we should offer college tuition as an incentive to be in the military...hmm, then what would you call the G.I. Bill? I'm just saying that the same incentives should be offered for civil service if they aren't already. Not sure if there's a compensation package for the Peace Corps.

Edit: Oh, and I never said that the standards should be relaxed, either...

Edit 2: Or were you referring to the "Starship Troopers" thing? You didn't quote...

[jBirch]

In Canada we don't offer any sort of tuition or other recruitment "perks" except for our military college (RMC: full room, board, tuition and beatings).

We do pay well enough that a summer spent serving in the enlisted military will pay for the following two semesters of university. And there are career improvement courses (university degress generally) that can be taken once you're a full member, but nothing guarenteed up front.

James.

[Larrison]

ROTC? Hmm.. probably doesn't count, since I wasn't on scholarship.

[jeff]

Did not serve - during 'Nam and compulsory draft. 4F (I'm waiting for a non-USA member to ask what that is) due to pathetic eyes; they would have had to have been desperate to take me. "Shoot that bad guy" "What bad guy?".

Yes, that was Starship Troopers. Mind you, Heinlein fenced with Italian foil, which must indicate something.

[needle]

Originally Posted by Larrison

ROTC? Hmm.. probably doesn't count, since I wasn't on scholarship.

too late - already voted in mine - Soviet version of ROTC, leutenant in Army anti-aircraft troops