Honestly how bad is the Army?

My friend joined the Army. And i hear the most negative out of all of the services for the Army.
I hear that they are the bait and the bullet shields. My grandfather was also in the Army back in the day and he says very negative stuff about the army as well. They have the highest death and they are on leave for years at a time. Like being in Iraq for a year instead of a Marine being in Iraq for 4-6 mts. I just want to know the pros and cons about the Army.

Also, dont they take just pretty much anyone? So they dont really care about the weak and small people they send over. Im not trying to mean. just saying

Thank you. Best answer will get 10 pts.

Please no stupid answers.

thanks for all the answers. and i love how "stupid" people gave the good answers poor ratings. wow. haha and honestly the Army is a joke so have fun leaving more stupid answers. ill have fun laughing. you go to war, get shot at a million times and ur one in a million!

Things are alot more complex than you described. The army is all about holding ground, the marines are about quick surgical strike. The army is several times larger than any other military branch, and has the most variety of jobs that need to be filled.

To say that they are all bullet catchers is ignoring the fact that alot of people join the army with no intention to fire their weapons outside of the firing range (although they may be required to at some point anyway). The army may stay the longest in deployments, but also build the biggest bases and some soldiers never have to leave base during their deployment (although they can still be in danger from mortar rounds).

If you are weak, you won't make it through basic training and won't get send over. The army is good at preventing people most likely to break physically and mentally from making into dangerous situations like Iraq where they can endanger others.

Things were undoubtly somewhat different in your grandfather's day. There is a big difference between a volunteer army and a drafted army, and soldiers now-a-days take on alot more responsibility than they did in the past.

The most dangerous jobs is something both army and marine personnel do, and that's going out on patrol and trying to maintain order. The lack of overall plan to bring order in Iraq really prevents any real progress of the military in the region though.

And they don't take just anyone. Anyone with medical problems such as diabetes are automatically out. Serious criminals are also barred, although minor crimes you can get waivers for. You have to take a intelligence/skill test called the asvab, and if you aren't very bright, you aren't going to get into the better jobs (or might not be able to get in at all). But relatively speaking, it is easier to get into the army than other branches just because they have such a greater need of personnel (and they often offer very good bonuses to sweeten the deal). Usually you also need a high school diploma, although might be waiverable as well.

The death rate is the highest because its the largest branch, its simple math. I loved being in the army, best times of my life. Marines serve less in Iraq because they have their own rules. And they do not take just anyone they have standards just like any other branch. They train every soldier the same, and no matter how big or strong you are taught to kill and survive just as good as anyone else.

I have been in the Army for 15 years. I have been to Iraq. Guess what. I have no extra holes in my body. I am not a homicidal manic. I am not a quivering pile of jello. I am a rational, disciplined, thinking human being who is proud of what I do.

The Army protects you from raging lunatics that hate you simply for being different. They hate YOU. Can you understand that? There you are sitting in your room surfing the net and living your clueless life, and they hate you. Please stop insulting me while I keep them from dragging you into the street as sawing off your head.

I would appreciate it. Keep your 10 points.