<p><<i still=“” don’t=“” get=“” why=“” a=“” student,=“” just=“” on=“” the=“” verge=“” of=“” leaving=“” childhood=“” with=“” all=“” it’s=“” rules=“” and=“” regulations=“” for=“” more=“” mature=“” existence=“” where=“” one=“” gets=“” to=“” make=“” some=“” decisions=“” their=“” own,=“” would=“” choose=“” then=“” be=“” treated=“” like=“” prisoner=“” -=“” not=“” able=“” call=“” home=“” when=“” they=“” want=“” to,=“” travel=“” off=“” grounds=“” academy=“” many=“” months,=“” own=“” drive=“” car=“” if=“” so=“” desire=“” until=“” last=“” two=“” years=“” i=“” it.=“”>></i></p><i still=“” don’t=“” get=“” why=“” a=“” student,=“” just=“” on=“” the=“” verge=“” of=“” leaving=“” childhood=“” with=“” all=“” it’s=“” rules=“” and=“” regulations=“” for=“” more=“” mature=“” existence=“” where=“” one=“” gets=“” to=“” make=“” some=“” decisions=“” their=“” own,=“” would=“” choose=“” then=“” be=“” treated=“” like=“” prisoner=“” -=“” not=“” able=“” call=“” home=“” when=“” they=“” want=“” to,=“” travel=“” off=“” grounds=“” academy=“” many=“” months,=“” own=“” drive=“” car=“” if=“” so=“” desire=“” until=“” last=“” two=“” years=“” i=“” it.=“”>
<p>They’re not being imprisoned, they’re being disciplined. For a military to be functional and successful, discipline is essential. </p>
<p><<they don’t=“” get=“” freedom,=“” but=“” can=“” lose=“” their=“” life=“” for=“” this=“” country?=“” how=“” is=“” that=“” logical?=“”>></they></p>
<p>The men and women of US service academies are being trained to defend their country. Maybe you find it “imprisoning” but anyone who joins one of the academies and truly wants to serve does not. They are willing to become the best soldier they can be for our country, and that means serving a bigger purpose. So they can’t own and drive a car for two years. That isn’t exactly their biggest concern.</p>
<p><<to me,=“” scholarship=“” dollars=“” need=“” to=“” go=“” students=“” whose=“” families=“” have=“” pay=“” for=“” the=“” attend=“” a=“” regular=“” college=“” university=“” where=“” they=“” get=“” finally=“” sense=“” of=“” adult=“” freedoms=“” and=“” decide=“” themselves=“” what=“” learn=“”>></to></p>
<p>…so what you’re saying is, people who attend US service academies don’t have adult responsibilities/freedoms and decide what they want to do? Anyone who attends a US service academy is making the choice to serve their country with all they’ve got. They’re choosing to lay risk their lives for your freedoms. They’re choosing to give up the normal college experience to train for your protection. (By the way, you do realize that the military requires people from all fields/areas of knowledge, right? You need computer scientists, you need psychologists, you need linguists, you need geographers, you need political scientists, you need military scientists… so yes, people who want to do military service do get to choose what they want to learn.)</p>
<p>Choosing to risk your life for a bigger purpose than yourself is an extremely heavy decision to make, one that requires a certain level of maturity and selflessness. I can’t help but feel irritated by your implications that people who enlist in US service academies are people just looking for a free college experience and no adult responsibilities/freedoms. That is not at all what it is about… Choosing to give up your life, if that’s what it takes, for the good of your people? Choosing to give up many freedoms that civilians take for granted to dedicate your life to those who clearly don’t appreciate them that much? That’s a pretty adult decision right there, or at least more of one that choosing how to wear your hair or when to eat dinner…</p>
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