Quote:
Originally posted by Phasad1913
Why do you feel that way? Just curious. I am not conducting a survey or anything, I would just like to know more specifics (if appropriate) about what would make you feel so ademant about not serving or so dissatisfied with your time in the service.
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Sorry it took me so long to get back with you.
I've been busy
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There were several experiences that helped make my mind up.
I remember one day when I first arrived at my permanent duty station, I was helping someone type a letter and this 1st Lt. walked up and said, "Wow... You can type!" It was as if black men have no business knowing how to type.
Also, some (not all) black men who go to the army go there for discipline or to keep from getting into (more) trouble. As a result, some people like to assume that black men in the army are not intelligent and can't think for themselves without being given orders. Seeing as how I knew I was intelligent, I knew it was not the place for me.
Third, there is no excuse for sending men to fight in an unecessary war. People in the military don't have the option to say, "Hey this war is a bunch of crap. And I am not going." Fighting for your country is an honor, when what you are fighting for is honorable. However, when the people who send you to war have no honor, then you are fighting for no reason at all (but to make them richer).
Another problem is that I didn't like the idea of being told what to do everyday. I know we live in a world where we will always have bosses in some shape form or fashion, still the army way is far different than any other way. There's a right way, there's a wrong way, and there is an army way. Once you make a certain rank in the army (about E7 or above), you are virtually untouchable and always right even if you are wrong.
Oh yeah, I saw too many husbands and wives (particularly when I went overseas) acting like they were not husband and wife. I know adultery exists everywhere, but I have NEVER seen so many people cheat on their spouse than I did in KOREA. I mean I witnessed
RECORD numbers. I knew I didn't want to be married and be in the army. 365 days in another country is a LONG DAYUM time. It was unbelieveable. People tell their husband or wife, "I LOVE YOU, SWEETIE" on the phone with a female or dude sitting right there in the bed with them.
Last, I remember putting in a request to get out early, so I could get into summer school at the time. I was scheduled to get out in June, but I needed to get out in May. The request went all the way up to batallion and my racist Sergeant Major tried to give me the WE ARE LOW ON MTOE (STAFFED) right now, even though he had previously approved another young man who didn't look like me, if you know what I mean. Now there is racism everywhere in the world, but ARMY RACISM is different from civilian racism. Normally there are only a few blacks in command (Captain or above), so unless you are dealing with open minded people, you won't be treated fairly and there is very little you can do about it.
Now I don't want you to assume I was a troublemaker, because I was actually good at the army. I maxed out the physical standards, I got promoted quickly, and they wanted me to re-enlist. I just chose not to.
Now, there are some good things I liked about it.
1. I really got a chance to meet some cool people. I met one of my best friends there and was a groomsmen in his wedding.
(I got to meet this FINE AZZ bride's maid.) Sorry back to the point.
2. It helped me stay in shape, because I didn't have a choice. PT was waiting for me every day before sunrise. Plus, I worked out alot with friends.
3. I am still getting paid extra money for school from my GI Bill.