I was recruited for two tacos and a large horchata.

dead ass, was walking from high-school with a friend, and two sailors pulled up along side us and told us they'd buy us mexican food if we came with them to the recruiter station. and naturally, of course we got into the strangers car who promised us tacos.

Turns out they were two sailors who had just graduated basic and we briefly back of leave and decided to drop in on their recruiter. Anyways, they made good on their promise of tacos, so I went ahead and took the asvab then and there. Did well enough to get a 10 grand signing bonus offer on the spot (this was in 2001, before 9/11). And realistically, I didn't have any plan for after I graduated (I was a few years early to graduate because I was doing dual enrollment). So I kinda just said.. fuck it and signed up.

My thinking at the time? It was a guaranteed paycheck; I knew I wouldn't starve; it would eventually pay for college; and it was going to give me a hiring preference for other federal jobs down the line. It would give me time to figure things out, and it wouldn't be wasted time. Also, it would get me out of the house and let me "have a plan", and maybe I'd actually get to see some places. Growing up as poor as I did, the military was basically the only option I would have to do those kinds of things.

Anyways, a few months later 9-11 happened. They gave me the option to drop (I had depped in but hadn't shipped out yet). But nah. I stuck with it. It really did give me advantages later in life, and because of my rate and the timing, I didn't get wrapped up in WoT/Iraq/ Afghanistan. Did my time, got out. Very close friends of mine weren't' so lucky.

And honestly it was a hugely eye opening experience and really guided my politics. I would download shows like Democracy Now! because I could download it for free and was something I could put on mp3 and rip to a CD. The US military, at least the enlisted ranks, is one of the most diverse work forces on the planet. It really gets you out of your space and shows you the true diversity of (at least, the poor/ working class) of America.

I'm communicating this not because I think it in any way justifies what I did or what new recruits might decide to do. I'm mostly putting this out there to give one example of what a teenager who goes and signs up might be thinking.