Joining the military is quite the process. Let's focus on the medical piece of it, for just a minute. This is my stab at infusing Diabetes Awareness Month and Veteran's Day. I googled "Can people with diabetes join the military" and came up with this information. Not only can you not have diabetes, you can't have: gastritis, anal fissures, artificial openings (wtf), anemia, braces, gout, hyperthyroidism (I have this), endometriosis, hermaphroditism, scurvy, missing thumbs or big toes, the list goes on and on. I can't make this shit up people, that's why I attached the link. I was really looking for a yes or no answer, what I got was so much more entertaining.Okay. Why am I glad my baby will never be a soldier/sailor/airman? There's the obvious reason. There's a war going on people! I already worry about her every second of every day, the last thing I need is for her to go off to war. The second reason, probably the bigger reason: I know what goes on when 18-year-old kids join the military! I know what happens when 18-year-old girls join the military. I was one of them! I'm not going to go into detail, not too much anyway, but there are a LOT of men in the military. In fact, there are more than twice as many men that women. Also, when you're 18 and in the military some rules just don't seem to apply like they do in the civilian world. I was stationed at Ft. Polk Louisiana right out of high school (after basic and AIT). We could go to the bars in town or on base and get trashed! Just like the "old" folks. We could buy alcohol on base, as though we were old enough to drink. In fact, I can't think of anything the 21 and older soldiers were doing that we were ever excluded from.
Don't get me wrong, we had fun! (Don't worry ya'll. I'm not going to call you out or go into detail.) We built friendships and formed our own family units that will last a lifetime. I abso-freaking-lutely loved my experience in the military. It's just not something I want for DJ. I can't imagine how my mother must have worried about me. I'm also not completely crazy; I know DJ will make similar mistakes and have similar experiences. I guess I will have to take some solace in knowing she won't be adding the element of potential danger to the mix.
I too was 18 when I joined the military. I had a total different experience than you did at that age. I could drink, but I didn't. I saw what was goin on around me and chose not to go down that path. Now once I turned 21....I, like you don't want my son to join either. I think, for the benefit of those that have a medical illness you listed it is good for them they can't enter the military. When a soldier is sick or having a bad day, the military will not care if a soldier have diabetes and not feeling good enough to perform the duties of the day. You know how hard it was for us on sick call to prove we were sick. I would feel bad if I had a soldier and I had to make that soldier perform duties knowing they had an illness and was not feeling well.I now have gout and it is painful as hell! There is no way I can get up and go do PT on a day my gout has flared up! and it can last for days, how long do you think I can ride a profile for it? I am just saying...
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the medical stuff and I totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI actually was not a big drinker before I turned 21 either. I COULD drink, but I chose not to. I remember drinking (getting drunk) twice before I turned 21. After I turned 21... fugetta about it!