The brainwashing only intensifies once they get to boot camp. But I take your point. I’m not trying to excuse the military, just saying things are complicated.
balderdash
I’m mostly half-serious.
- 0 Posts
- 3 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
Cake day: August 15th, 2023
You are not logged in. If you use a Fediverse account that is able to follow users, you can follow this user.
They recruit 18 year olds and lie to them. No one tells them about the civilian casualties. They also recruit financially vulnerable kids who are facing touch choices about how to meet their needs. Obviously the US is the fucking death star, but many of the stormtroopers are brainwashed.
Shit, a lot of the stuff YOU think about the USSR, Cuba, and China is likely propaganda, and you have the benefit of knowing the US lies about its enemies and ignores the atrocities of its allies. What chance does an 18 year old have?
The increase in military recruitment age is a very recent development. It is typically closer to 18-19. Average age also varies by branch, with the Marine Corps having the youngest recruits, for example: https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-05-14/army-older-recruits-17780089.html https://www.cna.org/pop-rep/2000/html/chapter2/c2_age.htm
Most have a high school diploma or GED, but a minority have any college experience: https://recruiting.army.mil/pao/facts_figures/
Couple this with the fact that armed service members recently got a pay raise during the Trump administration: https://usafacts.org/articles/is-military-enlistment-down/
Yes, these are young men and women, but let’s not be so quick to judge. Our culture praises joining the military as a noble sacrifice (e.g. “Thank you for your service”), portrays America as the “good guys” on the world stage, and gives financial incentives (e.g., college, home loans, business loans, etc). It is a trap designed for the working class to fuel the military industrial complex and further US imperialism.