What is the political and religious makeup of the military like? Is it mostly religious neo-conservatives? Many of the servicemen I have met have been that or something similar. Doesn't seem like my kind of crowd. I'm an apatheist and I do not subscribe to the whole "USA #1" ideology. I try to remember that the world is less black and white than petty nationalism would seem to dictate.
I've always seen recruitment drives based on "pride for your country" and "service to your land" as transparent attempts to convert more serfs into meatshields. Perhaps I think this way because my immediate family is very international in nature. My dad got us out of Pakistan while the going was good and I am the first American-born in the family. My mother is strongly attached to her homeland of Pakistan, but I, my siblings, and my father don't peg ourselves down as being of a particular country, except for the purpose of having something to record on paper. I feel more like "a dude who happens to possess an American passport from birth" than "an American". I've been to many different places around the world in my short life and it feels strange and off-putting to call myself "an American", except as a formality. I try to place myself above nationalism. That's why I've always had trouble picturing myself as a military serviceman. Unless Earth gets invaded by hostile alien lifeforms and all the world's militaries team up to fight them off. I would be on my way to the recruiter's office within five minutes of seeing that on the news.
I've never understood the saying "proud to be an American". Pride is felt when you've earned something by your own labor. I am glad to be an American. Lucky to be an American. But I wouldn't go so far as to say "proud".
Also if I were to give it a go, would they be able to read all of this? Does the military normally accept any suicidally-depressed people who have thoughts of killing every new person they meet?
And one more thing, while I do try to keep fit, I am not an athlete. I've never had any desire or drive to join track teams, sports teams, whatever. Those activities never held much interest for me because I was so horrible at them in middle school that I've been turned off to the very idea. Now I just keep fit so that I can fit inside my H&M clothes and so that my body doesn't atrophy. I also have never had any interest in watching or following any sports. Isn't military culture a lot more sports-oriented?
You see, sports has always been this thing that everyone else in the world seems to be interested in, but in which I have absolutely *no* interest.
I'm not saying the military option is impossible, it just seems rather unlikely at this juncture.