Armed Forces being exploited in pointless squabbles, for the personal, political, and financial gain of an influential institution or industry. I don't feel very comfortable contributing to the death of civilians in some ridiculous, humiliating war to fill some wretched oligarch's pockets. Thoughts?
You don't need our thoughts on this. You are asking important questions. What is good work and what is a "ridiculous humiliating war to fill some oligarch's pockets"? Can you be at West Point and do peace work?
FEMA hires a lot of military people. Not peace work, but good work, and from the outside it doesn't look like a bad place to work. I've done a few projects for them, and in spite of every one of them being along the lines of "so this disaster just happened, and we really need you to make this thing to help us deal with it, like, yesterday" they're some of my favorite users. Only organization that large I've ever worked with that never throws bullshit at you. They have better things to do.
So after 4 years at WP, and 5 years of active duty service, I'm genuinely free to go as I please (considering the 2 years of reserve duty after the 5 doesn't go into effect). At that time, I'm a civilian like any other and I look forward to grad school and a proper career. Eventually, I want to use my success to give back to a few different communities that really helped me get where I am. My issue is focused on the active duty itself, although I will most likely not be doing any "damage" if you will by my own hand, but I'll still be very much part of the machine that enables it :/
As part of the machine, you can also do your part to steer it, however slightly, to the side of doing good. Your absence in the military is unlikely to make American military action better, but your presence can. Are you familiar with James Blunt's military service?I'll still be very much part of the machine
You're right. This is really cool, thanks for the link. Most of the time, refusing to comply is a stupid move; I hope I develop the same resolve and insight to know when it is time to do so if the need arises. For some reason, this eased my mind a lot!
To me, refusing to comply with a stupid order is a stupid move. Refusing to comply with an illegal order is a brave and honorable one.
One of the huge benefits of West Point is a completely free tuition, with stipend, and a scholarship for grad school. Absolutely awesome deal.