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Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

chrisseaton.com

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Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#41

Post by [deleted] »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #25
jmyeet wrote: post #14

So one of the things I like about Tiktok is you get exposed to something you normally wouldn't and it can be fascinating. One example of this I had an Air Force recruiter pop up on my fyp. This is obviously US-centric (as opposed to the article, which is the UK) but here are some things I've learned: 1. The difference between Reserve and Guard? Reserve is Federal, Guard is State (this was news to me); 2. Signing up f…

This isn't a positive. It is a tragedy that these services (education, healthcare) are difficult to obtain without military service in a supposedly developed country.

[deleted]

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#42

Post by bobkazamakis »

hunterb123 wrote: post #22
namelessoracle wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The American military is a social welfare program in many parts yes.

It's not welfare, you put work in, it's a great route for many people. It set my entire family along their career paths. I wouldn't really recommend it while warhawks are in charge, but generally it's a nice route to take.

it's absolutely welfare. Just because you're working doesn't make it not a socialist policy for the benefit of those who join.

You can have a jobs program that pays the civilians to dig the holes and the military to burn shit in them and fill them - just because they all now have jobs doesn't make it not welfare, and you've got 100% employment rate.

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#43

Post by chrisBob »

shantnutiwari wrote: post #18

> First of all, nobody ever shouts ‘sir yes sir’. Yeah, that myth comes from Hollywood's portrayal of US Marines-- I dont know if actual US Marines are like that, but that's certainly how Hollywood (and most fiction) portrays them.

As an Army officer, I didn't say `sir yes sir` very much, because most people don't like a sir sandwich. I did say "Hoorah" (Who-Ra) a lot.

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#44

Post by micromacrofoot »

dogman144 wrote: post #35
toomuchtodo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't a positive. It is a tragedy that these services (education, healthcare) are difficult to obtain without military service in a supposedly developed country.

I'd argue it's a positive in that its the only route out currently for people born in certain zip codes, such that with 2 years in active duty, your whole life trajectory can change (free college, "honorable military service" stamp on your resume, so on - I'll spare the recruiting pitch). The local high schools aren't doing it, the government isn't doing it, but the military will. But... The tragedy is that this is t…

How can you call something a positive and then immediately call it a tragedy? that's not a positive at all!

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#45

Post by robwg »

shantnutiwari wrote: post #18

> First of all, nobody ever shouts ‘sir yes sir’. Yeah, that myth comes from Hollywood's portrayal of US Marines-- I dont know if actual US Marines are like that, but that's certainly how Hollywood (and most fiction) portrays them.

The closest accurate Hollywood portrayal IMO would be the series "The Pacific". As far as shouting something similar to "sir yes sir" that typically can be found from boots(folks who havent deployed yet).

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#46

Post by voakbasda »

watwut wrote: post #16
advisedwang wrote: post #7

The author glosses over my biggest question "Who might you have to fight?" with a informative "Queen’s enemies." Might his squadron be called in to quash civil disturbance? Sent to the next Iraq? Is it reserved for defending the UK from invasion?

Afaik, soldiers don't get to choose. The queens enemies is pretty much good description, because his guess is as good as yours.

Every soldier has the choice whether to follow or disobey an order of dubious legal/moral consequence. If you are asked to kill babies, you sure as shit had better say "no". As a species, there is broad agreement that "just following orders" is not a defense for committing crimes against humanity.

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#47

Post by namelessoracle »

hunterb123 wrote: post #22
namelessoracle wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The American military is a social welfare program in many parts yes.

It's not welfare, you put work in, it's a great route for many people. It set my entire family along their career paths. I wouldn't really recommend it while warhawks are in charge, but generally it's a nice route to take.

Many other social welfare programs require you to do X or Y to keep receiving benefits as well. From a societal level its absolutely used as a social welfare program to create opportunities for lower class individuals to advance. Thats even used as a part of their recruitment pitch! If you can handle the military service its well known that its a very easy way to make 6 figure salary is to join the military get a high clearance level and then go get a job that requires the clearance after you leave.

Its also a social welfare program in the sense that its goal is to create jobs/employment/training more so than to accomplish its ostensible mission of winning wars. (see how aggressively states try to keep military bases nearby, and a little thing called the military industrial complex)

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#48

Post by HL33tibCe7 »

ZanyProgrammer wrote: post #5

> I spend about a hundred days a year of my spare-time in evenings, weekends, and holidays, training my Squadron. From an American perspective, as someone who was in our Army Reserve, that's an insane amount of time if you aren't a full time AGR. I guess he like's his big time Major pay and status, but if you're really dedicated to being a part time soldier, the higher you rise in rank the more you'll be expected to…

> I guess he like's his big time Major pay

I doubt pay is a factor for the author at all. A quick look (https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/army-reserve/army-re...) reveals Majors in the reserves make £135/day, which is frankly nothing compared to what the author would earn in his job at Shopify.

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#49

Post by Justsignedup »

The saddest thing is the #1 reason why people join the military in the US is financial or college assistance.

Shows why the US is so hesitant to provide UBI or Free college. We'd lose one of our biggest recruiting tools.

If the US Military can appropriately show why people should be enthusiastic about joining, I'd be much more positive about it.

Also I have ex-military friends... Getting that college funding isn't easy. The health insurance they provide for you is sub-par (I know a lady who had Indemetriosis, and was completely untreated and in excruciating pain for years because... they just don't understand female anatomy at the VA hospitals apparently)

Re: Why I'm in the Army Reserve – an explainer for my friends in tech

#50

Post by 0des »

Bahamut wrote: post #27
shantnutiwari wrote: post #18

> First of all, nobody ever shouts ‘sir yes sir’. Yeah, that myth comes from Hollywood's portrayal of US Marines-- I dont know if actual US Marines are like that, but that's certainly how Hollywood (and most fiction) portrays them.

In the Marine Corps you never do a sir sandwich - that gets corrected in boot camp or beforehand for the few that do do that.

Don't ask don't tell was a long time ago. Sir sandwiches are fine.
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