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8 ArMED FORCES On the other hand, there are definite disadvantages to joining the U.S. armed forces. The first drawback is obvious; you may be killed or seriously injured. Similarly, you may have to kill someone else whom you don’t know and with whom you don’t have a personal quarrel. In some eras, this was a remote possibility. In others, such as during the VietnamWar or the Gulf Wars in Iraq, the chances increased dramatically. The main purpose of the military is to fight; if you want the benefits, you may have to walk the walk. In addition, the military is not for every type of personality, especially if you have trouble following orders. The U.S. armed forces is rigidly hierarchical, and respect for the authority of all higher-ranking people is a core principle. As a member, you have to assume and trust that higher-ranking people are acting in your (and the nation’s) best interest. If the United States goes to war, you have to fight regardless of your personal views. Once you enlist, you can’t choose whether to take up arms. Before you decide to enlist, look carefully at what you will actually be doing. Jobs with fancy-sounding titles often hide low-skill and nontechnical positions. Some military jobs are so different from their civilian counterparts that you may have to be retrained after you leave the military. Most important, the military is not required to keep you full time in the job for which you trained. Nor do they have to keep you in it for the entire time you are in the military. Keep in mind as well that some advanced training programs require additional service com- mitments or additional active duty time. If you do not like to travel, the armed forces is probably not for you. Military units in all services can be deployed away from home ports, bases, or airfields at any time. As of 2015, the United States occupied nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories around the world. It’s true that joining the military is a way to “serve your country.” However, it is not the only way, and it is not unpatriotic to pass on military service. Fighting fires or helping students in an inner city aids the country as much as driving a forklift on an airbase in Germany. The ul- timate value of military service is a judgment only each individual can make for him or herself. This does not mean you shouldn’t enlist. But you should only enlist if you are sure this is the right choice for you. Your decision will affect your own life, the lives of your family members, and, possibly, the lives of many other people. If you do decide to enlist, don’t sign any papers until you take them home for a parent, teacher, or someone else you trust to review them. When you enlist, you sign an enlistment contract. This contract determines your initial commitment, signing bonuses, job-training guarantees, and any other incentives. Make absolutely sure to get all the recruiter’s promises in writing in your enlistment agreement. No oral agreement you made with the recruiter is binding; it has to be in writing. Find out whether you need to pass a special •