Right now, in the case of the Army and marines, I can't recommend young men or women join at this time. My son is in Afghanistan, by choice, btw, with a private contractor. He thinks moral has slipped. The rules of engagement are horsechit and apparently marines are dying and we are not hearing much about the deaths.
Since the muzzies know our engagement rules, he's told me they are pretty bold, riding scooters close to base, assembling as their may be an attack, stuff like this. Plus, it is the locals who are contracted to cook and deliver their water, which makes for uneasy eating or drinking.
He has been in a firefight. What made it frightening is a suicide bomber, on a scooter, drove into the fence and blew a hole in it and even though he is private contract, many of them ran to assist and found marines waiting TO RETURN FIRE!!!! until they got the ok. which, in his words, seemed like forever. Two marines were shot and if it wasn't for the Apache helicopter swooping in and taking care of business, my son didn't know how long it would have taken to end this...... and according to him the helicoptors are being removed as they move out.
So no, no way I would join today.
