A Military Career: Definitely not an INTP's cup of tea.

[ryuzaki]

When I joined the Army, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I was working a dead end job and figured it couldn't be any worse than what I was doing at the time. After spending nearly three years pretending to respect a bunch of retards who think that they are America's best and brightest, I'm glad my tour in the military is nearly over. This career is about as far from ideal for an INTP as I could have found. Is there anyone else who has made this error in judgement or am I the only one? The slick sales talk of an Army recruiter and promises of lots of money for college seduced me and caused me to commit to something that I wish I hadn't.

Oh well, they say hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Claverhouse]

Did you get the college money ?




Claverhouse

 

[WorkInProgress]

No but....

I was in an rotc class in the 10th grade and was put in a similar situation minus the commitment. The lead guy was this distinguished sergeant who was basically a mix between the drill instructor from Full Metal Jacket and Leonidas from 300. I was always one of the best at whatever we were made to do (marching, pt, marksmanship despite having a less than perfect right eye!, history papers, etc) but I easily saw through all of his little tricks. He was a shorter guy and I liked to analyze him and picture him getting beat up as a kid.

Anyway, I quit after that year and was overall better off. The one thing that really got to me was how so many smart kids in the class looked up (or down) to him and absorbed his propaganda as fact.

So sorry. Yours is a cautionary tale.

 

[EditorOne]

The military, especially the Army, appears to be not much fun for an INTP until you reach the rank of colonel, where a lot of the bullshit stops and it suddenly becomes important to know the right thing to do to get goals accomplished and whatnot as opposed to swaggering around full of yourself.

The Navy, here and in Britain, as I understand it from afar, might be easier to take as they are very big on "situational authority," regardless of your formal rank. Once you've acquired skills and demonstrated responsibility, you might find yourself in charge of something relatively critical to success of your unit. And that can change and you could move on to something else, different but with your abilities to think and analyze and see a variety of possibilities given some play.

I gave up on the Marines as a valid entity when a friend who enlisted told me they'd been roused out at 2 in the morning to water the parade ground lawn, during a torrential rainstorm. I quite get the concept of conditioning people to obey even incredibly stupid orders, like the Battle of the Somme when anyone with a brain would know they'd die if they went across that field. I just have no room for that much wrongheadedness.

 

[Decaf]

My 6 years in the Air Guard were pleasant enough. I suppose it benefitted from spending the latter half under the command of a lt. colonel who was likely also an INTP.

 

[Jordan~]

If there is a God, I'll be drafted when I die.

 

[intuitivet]

I like the idea of being able to fight, but I don't like the idea of being made to respect idiots! Martial arts it is.
I did go to an army training day with my school and did pretty well, but I hate people yelling at me even if it's their job.
I would agree it's not for most INTP's.

 

[JohnnyBravo]

I like the idea of being able to fight
I would agree it's not for most INTP's.

Completely off topic, but this statement makes me wonder. I for one do enjoy a good fight. I worked as a casino security officer for 7 years. (4 as an officer, 3 as the manager) The Job sucked, but there were more than a few times that I got to throw down on some drunken moron who wouldn't mind his manners and It was perfectly legal so long as I didn't over do it. I hated that job, but goddamn I miss being able to kick ass and get away with it.
Is anyone else a fan of violent confrontation?