why do we even need a military?

[YoUDeeMan]

It was nice to have the US armed forces providing a stabilizing influence on the world after WWII, if you could call the Cold War a stabilizing influence, but what purpose does the US military, in its present numbers, serve the world today?

Surely Europe would not erupt into open warfare if the US withdrew from its bases. Perhaps China would make a grab for Taiwan...but all we'd need to do is to leave Taiwan with enough nukes to make them unpalatable. Asia, other than the above, which is containable, is about as stable as it has ever been or will be...and China/India intend to keep it that way. Pakistan is the only real problem, and really, WTF are we doing to "stabilize" Pakistan? Many would submit that our presence is more of a problem than a solution.

The Middle East? Yeah, we've done a great job there.

That place will eventually come to its solution...if Palestinians keep multiplying like rats, Israel will simply go the way of South Africa...perhaps with a few nukes, but why should we care? After they are done battling Israel, they will just continue eradicating themselves. Our best weapon would be to continue to drop some Korans emphasizing the differences between the Shiites and Sunnis and sit back and watch the fireworks.

South America? Who cares?

The only real local threat is the Mexican drug cartels. Big deal. Legalize the lesser drugs, and focus the military on our borders, with the occasional adventure to snuff out any direct threats, and we'd be doing ourselves and the world a favor. Instead, we have a bloated military that is spread out all over the word while doing no one, except certain businesses, any real favors.

Divert the military budget into developing our education system, and our industrial and technological base (not just for military applications) and we'd be much better off.

Hey, I agree, there's plenty of fat to be cut in the defense budget and we should do that right away. But we're still going to have a sizeable military and I'd argue that we should. But yes, it does need to be reined in significantly in terms of cost.

Speaking of defense budget...maybe Biden can divert some of the country's military's budget to UD so that we can get a new Defensive Coordinator.

[Ibanez]

Hey, I agree, there's plenty of fat to be cut in the defense budget and we should do that right away. But we're still going to have a sizeable military and I'd argue that we should. But yes, it does need to be reined in significantly in terms of cost.

Speaking of defense budget...maybe Biden can divert some of the country's military's budget to UD so that we can get a new Defensive Coordinator.

That's not the same thi...oh wait. I see what you did there. You sly puss.

[93henfan]

Hey, I agree, there's plenty of fat to be cut in the defense budget and we should do that right away. But we're still going to have a sizeable military and I'd argue that we should. But yes, it does need to be reined in significantly in terms of cost.

Speaking of defense budget...maybe Biden can divert some of the country's military's budget to UD so that we can get a new Defensive Coordinator.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

This is just looking at Air Force, because they had the best demographic data I could find quickly. And, just going with stereotypes, I think Air Force and Navy would have the higher education %'s. I'd be shocked if the Army had 4x the % of bachelor degrees.

7.1% of those enlisted in the Air Force have a bachelor's degree
1.1% have a masters degree
http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/airforce ... aphics.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

30.4% of the general population has a bachelor's degree
10.9% have a masters degree
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/educa ... .html?_r=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hey genius, most people who serve in the military who get college degrees get them AFTER serving- ie the GI Bill.

How about comparing the percentage of vets in their 30s-60s who have college degrees versus non vets..

That is exactly what I did. It obviously delayed my college graduation but there was a lot of real world experience that I got while in the Army that other people will never get. I don't regret it for a minute.

[Chizzang]

Are you suggesting that because they are "quivering vaginas" somehow that makes their posts incorrect..?
I'm not sure I get your point..?

My only point is that you are a quivering vagina. I think you got it.

I think we're on the same page now...

[BDKJMU]

Hey genius, most people who serve in the military who get college degrees get them AFTER serving- ie the GI Bill.

How about comparing the percentage of vets in their 30s-60s who have college degrees versus non vets..

I agree.

And, I didn't forget about vets and the GI bill because that wasn't my point. In fact... it reinforces my point.

The GI Bill is a great example of why the military is a good option for someone who might not be able to go to college otherwise.

Enlisting in the military is really one of the best jobs available to someone with a high school degree but won't be able to go to college. Without the military... the VAST majority of those people would not be able to find meaningful employment. Most would just end up on the dole.

So, again, one of the most important functions of the military is employing the rural, uneducated, unskilled folks.

I'm sorry if that offends y'all.

No, it doesn't offend me. It just makes me at your , because using your logic, you could say one of the most important functions of the colleges & universities is educating the uneducated, unskilled folks.....

[93henfan]

My only point is that you are a quivering vagina. I think you got it.

I think we're on the same page now...

For the record, I have no problem with downsizing DoD....

...as long as it's not my job or my pay that gets squeezed.

[Skjellyfetti]

using your logic, you could say one of the most important functions of the colleges & universities is educating the uneducated, unskilled folks.....

...

Uhm. Pretty sure that IS one of the most important functions of colleges and universities -- particularly at the undergraduate level.


from App State's mission statement:

This mission is achieved by providing undergraduate students a rigorous liberal education that emphasizes transferable skills and preparation for professional careers

JMU's mission statement:

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

[CID1990]

It's 1921 all over again

[Pwns]

To provide jobs for the rural, uneducated, unskilled folks that tend to enlist.

Racist.

[JohnStOnge]

7.1% of those enlisted in the Air Force have a bachelor's degree
1.1% have a masters degree
http://www.afpc.af.mil/library/airforce" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... aphics.asp

30.4% of the general population has a bachelor's degree
10.9% have a masters degree
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/educa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... .html?_r=0

I think you may be right on the basic point but I think the numbers you gave on the air force are just for enlisted personnel. They have a number of other categories of personnel listed at that site. I'm not seeing a figures for the Air Force overall. But it looks, for instance, like they don't even bother with listing the percentage of officers with bachelors degrees because so many of them have advanced degrees. It says 60.5 percent of officers overall have advanced or professional degrees. I'm assuming something close to 100% have bachelors degrees. A very high percentage in any case.

On the rural thing: If 44 percent of the people in the military are from rural areas that means I would win my bet that the majority of people in the military are not from rural areas. Also, the article says that people from rural areas are 22 percent more likely than people from urban areas to be in the military. That is really not a big difference.

[Skjellyfetti]

I think you may be right on the basic point but I think the numbers you gave on the air force are just for enlisted personnel. They have a number of other categories of personnel listed at that site. I'm not seeing a figures for the Air Force overall. But it looks, for instance, like they don't even bother with listing the percentage of officers with bachelors degrees because so many of them have advanced degrees. It says 60.5 percent of officers overall have advanced or professional degrees. I'm assuming something close to 100% have bachelors degrees. A very high percentage in any case.

Dude.

I picked out enlisted.... BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY POST WAS TALKING ABOUT.

To provide jobs for the rural, uneducated, unskilled folks that tend to enlist.

No shit officers are well educated. I never said they weren't.

[craneac27]

not to read all the b.s. and cut straight to it…
ima poli sci major and attended LSU. i had to present a project and write a paper on something similar to this. one thing i have always noticed is you'll hear some kinda government person saying: to protect the interests of the United States which sounds good and dandy to the average American "yeah hey protecting America" but i question what ARE our interests? are our interests agreed upon by both Democrats & Republicans, or XYZ, or ABC, ya know? who decides that and who decides what they do and don't tell us. idk its just some food for thought and a fresh ideas for someone reading this.

[JohnStOnge]

I picked out enlisted.... BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY POST WAS TALKING ABOUT.

The statement of mine to which you responded with that data on educational attainment level, and which you quoted, is:

My bet would be that those in the military are more educated, on average, than the general population.

There is nothing in that Statement to suggest that it is limited to "enlisted" personnel.

Your original statement to which I was responding is:

To provide jobs for the rural, uneducated, unskilled folks that tend to enlist.

I know the situation is confused by use of the terminology "enlisted" to refer to military personnel who are not officers. However, everybody who is in the military enlisted at some point. When you refer to people who enlist in the military, you are referring to everybody who joins it including commissioned and non commissioned officers.

Anyway, we know that I'd win my bet about the majority of them not being from rural areas and the jury is still out on whether or not they are more educated, on average, than the general population.

I do agree that people will look at the military when they're searching for options. I did it myself after graduating from college. Didn't enlist, but I did consider it and even went as far as taking the Armed Forces Qualification Test through the National Guard. And it's true that I never would even have been looking at it as an option if I'd had a nice job lined up when I graduated.

[kalm]

not to read all the b.s. and cut straight to it…
ima poli sci major and attended LSU. i had to present a project and write a paper on something similar to this. one thing i have always noticed is you'll hear some kinda government person saying: to protect the interests of the United States which sounds good and dandy to the average American "yeah hey protecting America" but i question what ARE our interests? are our interests agreed upon by both Democrats & Republicans, or XYZ, or ABC, ya know? who decides that and who decides what they do and don't tell us. idk its just some food for thought and a fresh ideas for someone reading this.

Oil, shipping lanes/international commerce, Western Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea...

Also KBR.