I am under no illusion that a lot of people have gone into the military because it looks like a good line on an education and career. Or that the military has actively sold this aspect of it.

I am also under no illusion that some people who enlisted as a career move were unpleasantly surprised that a war started. To their credit, damn few of them bitched about it, and they went and did their duty anyway.

I'm sure there's lots of people who, when their tour is done, would be happy to see the Army in the rear view mirror. But there are also lots of people who want back in, and not just for the money. The people over there in Iraq and Afghanistan believe, for the most part, that they are doing something good and important. The most common thing you hear from a wounded soldier is "how soon can I get back to duty?" Some of that, for sure, is loyalty to his comrades and unit, as opposed to any big philosophical reason, but not all of it.

If we have to pay through the nose to get people into the military, so be it. God knows they're earning it. And it's a hell of a lot better than dragging them in unwillingly.

As for milblogs, here's a post with a lot of links. Spend a little time here. You aren't going to get this news from the New York Times.