Agree with the assessment of the article, disagree with the assessment of the comment. I don't see how a supply of weapons, a mandate to use them, and an indoctrination to remind a bunch of foreigners who's in charge won't affect teenagers. I also think it's important to note that kids going to college are experiencing an exponential expansion of their freedoms; kids going to war are experiencing an exponential reduction. The more vets and prisoners I talk to, the more parallels I draw: two years in lockup and two years FOB have a lot more in common with each other than either does with two years in community college. And that's what it comes down to: when you're deployed, your life is on hold. You are volunteering to give up your individual initiative to your country. This choice is usually made at or before the point of legal adulthood. There will be blowback. The article is a screed from an angry teenager. Following one of this links: I nearly enlisted for four years running through college and I'd have to say "d: none of the above." What I just read is an angry diatribe in defense of the unexamined life. I think this sort of thinking is where "thanks for your service" comes from: "I acknowledge that you have done something I have not, and I need a quick equalizer so that we can continue to communicate on equal footing."So you decided to join the United States Army because:
a. You are super patriotic. America!
b. Your high school sweetheart broke up with you.
c. You had nothing better to do and going to war sounds cool.