Even many of those that become lifers spend their lives grumbling about much that goes on about them.

I think for most of them there's some sort of rationalization that must occur for someone to subject themselves to the years of dehumanization that must occur to sustain military discipline.

In some cases the people that stay in do so because they truly believe in the mission and sacrifice. I met very few of them but they often were exemplary people unless their patriotism was also infused with blood lust.

In other cases it became a matter of putting up with the nasty parts for the benefits that do come from national service - travel, education, job training, etc. Generally I got along well with this group as well.

Unfortunately, for many I met that become "lifers", it was clear that they stayed in because they had to. Their rate, power, and influence within the system would continue to increase not simply because they were good at their jobs but because the military has to reward years of service to keep any numbers at all. Often these putzes had not a lick of leadership skills but they would naturally evolve into positions of control over others with often sadistic results. Other than the basic skills they were taught in regards to military matters, they had no real marketable skills in the real world. The military did their best to encourage spouses and families (you'd get paid more and have access to housing and other benefits that the single personnel wouldn't) which made it tougher for them to get out and start over. Often alcoholism was a major factor in their lives at all and it seemed, at least when I was in, to be encouraged within the ranks.

It is not a life I'd recommend to anyone with a strong sense of individuality.

Art