Military
When I was 19, I gave serious consideration to joining the Marines. The reason I didn't join relates to my personality. Basically, my belief is and always has been, to question authority. I don't like to do things that I don't agree with without an explanation. I'm not saying I'm smarter than everyone else, just that those who are in leadership positions aren't necessarily smarter than me. It sounds as if this is especially true in the military.
As much enjoyment as I got from driving as fast as I can, in pushing the limits of my vehicles (and getting tickets and accidents in the process), I always thought that I would enjoy being a fighter jet pilot. I listened to reports of others that in order to fly a military jet, you must be in perfect health and have a perfect driving record. My allergies, eye limitations (not bad, but not 20/20 either), and poor driving record definitely didn't meet this profile. So I didn't even attempt to conquer this career.
One of my childhood friends was in the ARMY reserve. He described what a joke his reserve duties were during his one weekend per month. His fellow reservists were all men who were undedicated, undisciplined, and uncaring to perform anything above what they were required to. This was a large deterrant from joining any military reserve units. The 4 years of high school seemed like an eternity to me at that point and signing up for 4-5 years of my adult life seemed like wasting that which I had been longing for most of my life and could now finally experience: freedom of choice. I could work, go to college, be a bum, live at home, move out, whatever. To join the military would mean I give up all rights of choice. They tell me where to go, how to act, who to respect, how to dress, what to put in my body (potentially experimental anti-disease drugs, military food, etc.).
In retrospect, however, I think it would have been a wise choice to enlist in some form of the military. I would have a lot less debt from college. I would have the benefits and respect that a military service carries. I would perhaps have been able to travel around the world some. I would have the comradery that military personnel enjoy together.
In regards to today's military, I hold to a similar view as most conservatives. We, as a nation, need to be fully equipped and staffed, prepared for whatever battle we might face. I wish our government (both Republican and Democratic) will realize that air power alone does not win wars! It has been proven repetitively. If we're going to commit to a conflict, go all out and just win it. We should use all methods of military might for the fight, not just flight (cool rhyme eh?).
Women should not be in a position of battle in the military. The issue of gender is generally fought on the female side by those who do not understand that there are fundamental physical, mental, and hormonal differences between the sexes. They are physically weaker than men. Yes, I know that there are exceptions to this rule. I have seen and met women who I'm relatively certain would kick my arse, but that does not alter the next point. They would cause disruption among the ranks, adding an additional element of conflict among individuals due to sexual and relationship related tensions and desires. They is no additonal advantage to women being present where men could be. I have heard stories of lowering the physical standards for women for training purposes. This is preposterous! A women who would want to weaken the ground fighting capabilities of our country for the sake of promoting her feminist adgenda is, in my opinion, a traitor. This is not to say that women should not be in the military. There are many cases in which women are better suited than men, as long as they are not in a position which is dependant on physical strength, it's possible that they will be captured (therefore potentially tortured and raped) by the enemy, and if the cohesiveness of the unit is not of primary importance.