Bond of brothers: They enlist together in Army

[PA Democrat]

<snip>
They stopped at a Sheetz for coffee. Sgt. Wiley asked them if they'd watched President Bush's address the night before, when he announced that the U.S. would send some 20,000 more forces to Iraq. Neither had watched. They'd been getting new tires put on a truck of theirs.

Like it or not, the brothers already knew from brief experience that talk about their enlistment provoked talk about Iraq. They preferred a different course, though: they talked instead about the benefits of the U.S. Army -- the education opportunities, the fitness, the potential discounts on future car purchases. Those reasons, not the war itself, moved them to enlist.

"In Iraq, I see it this way," Marc said. "If you survive, you can get out and do what you want to do. You'll have more opportunities. People will respect you. And you've already seen the worst."

Though the brothers only recently began spending more time together, similar paths brought them to the swearing-in ceremony. Both dropped out of South Allegheny High School. Both received their GEDs through courses at the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center. Both enjoyed riding dirt bikes. Both disliked their McDonald's jobs. Both, at the end of last week, took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) -- a multiple-choice test necessary for enlistment. Both passed. Both gave two-weeks notice to McDonald's.



http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07012/753300-85.stm

[Squatch]

1. Good luck to the both of them!

10 years ago this May, I took a similar oath. Never regretted it for a second.

[peace13]

2. Wow!

That should make mom proud! I wonder what job they qualified for?

[Squatch]

3. As long as they scored well on the ASVAB, they should

have a selection of most of the Army's MOS', other factors notwithstanding.

[peace13]

8. You are more positive than I am.

Under the * empire the military has gone from a good career choice to a roll of the dice. Underfunded, lack of proper safety equipment, dirty food and water, decreased veterans benefits. I would encourage waiting for a regime change before signing up. It is pretty clear to me that one way or another the new job will be... cannon fodder. Just my opinion however. Peace on earth, Kim

[bleedingheart]

4. they are not unlike many other young men and women in their situation

both are high school dropouts
both got GED's and work at McDonalds..

Life looked bleak...and the promise of a career, education..etc via the Army sounded better than where they were.

They don't appear to know much about current events or even the war...all they want is to change their lives....this comment sums it up...

"In Iraq, I see it this way," Marc said. "If you survive, you can get out and do what you want to do. You'll have more opportunities. People will respect you. And you've already seen the worst."

[PA Democrat]

5. Yes, that broke my heart.

In years past kids like these could have gotten jobs in the steel mills. All those types of jobs have gone overseas.

[alarimer]

6. Poor suckers

I hope they don't die. Or get maimed for life.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Hey, there's a new recruitment slogan in there!

Join the Army - It's better than McDonalds!