I find myself agreeing with the majority of responses to this thread. Ignoring for a moment that I am female and not likely ever to be needed to serve:

For one thing, I don't have the personality for it. I'm solitary and pacifistic, and I avoid both giving and taking orders when possible. I didn't do well within the rigid hierarchy of public schooling and I certainly don't expect that I would in the military. I could be trained to shoot or command or encrypt, but I would be mentally too much of a wreck to do so.

For another, I tend not to agree with many of the military actions being taken. (Granted, I am a political outlier.) I couldn't bring myself to fight a battle I didn't believe in, assuming I could ever get past the idea of all that killing to begin with.

And as for patriotism? I love my country... and I believe I would be far more of an asset to it outside the military.

-Fob"doesn't know of any close relatives in the service, but has some friends who enlisted"ulis

> I suggested the current poll question. I expected about at least 50 percent of the people to have enlisted or been drafted. I was *extremely* surprised when I saw 60% had never joined because they didn't want to. I myself plan to join the Marines or Army, and my father was two months away from Vietnam. I was just wondering why some of you people weren't interested. Was it a personal situation or was it you did't want any personal risk?
>
> By the way, I didn't mean the title, that was just to catch you're attention.