Why do drafted soldiers think career soldiers are idiots?

1. 55

   peter565posted 10 years ago

   Why do drafted soldiers think career soldiers are idiots?
   
   My dad was a drafted soldier and served two years in the artillery, during the 70s.  While most of us show career soldiers with some respect to the extend they did a danger job for the service of their country (especially those who been to war).  One thing I realized is that most ex soldiers that was drafted to fight in a war, think career soldiers are idiots.  What is your thought?

   replyreport
2. 59

   djashburnalposted 10 years ago

   They never chose the military life for themselves and may not completely understand why someone would willfully chose that sort of life. (I was in the USAF, I know it can be hard).
   
   At the same time they could feel betrayed at some level. The military uprooted them from their life to fight in a war they didn't care anything about in the first place.
   
   Finally it could be because of how they're treated by careerists. From my own experience, active duty looks down on Reserve and National Guard troops all the time. They respect them for what they do but at the same time view them as inferior to AD troops because of the lack of training and discipline often found in the reserves and guard.

   replyreport
   1. 55

      peter565posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your answer, were you a career soldier or drafted?

      replyreport
   2. 59

      djashburnalposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I was a volunteer soldier. I still wouldn't call myself a career soldier because I was in for 6 years and then got out. To me career soldiers are the ones that do a full 20+ years. Also, There hasn't been a draft in the United States since Vietnam.

      replyreport
   3. 55

      peter565posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I thought most people who fought in the golf war was drafted.

      replyreport
   4. 59

      djashburnalposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Nope, the last person drafted into the military by the selective service system was in 1972.

      replyreport
   5. 55

      peter565posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You remind me though, my dad never believe in the war his was fighting for, he think Vietnam war is stupid, even before been drafted and was counting down to the day his service end.

      replyreport
3. 69

   Old-Empresarioposted 10 years ago

   I would take that a step further and say that anyone who chooses not to volunteer for the military secretly thinks that those who do are idiots. They just pretend to show respect the same way you would respect anyone who does a dirty job you wouldn't want to do yourself. If they didn't think that, then the military would be a desirable profession that parents would encourage their children to enter. But the best and brightest of American society seeks out a university degree or goes into some sort of business. A voluntary military career is for those who do not excel in academia.

   replyreport