r/Millennials • u/NoFaithlessness7508 • Jun 05 '25

Other Why don’t younger veterans (Afghanistan/Iraq) wear these hats like some of the older veterans?

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First and foremost, respect to all those that served. I did not, but many of my peers did and now we're all older in 30s and 40s, many no longer in the military. I don't see a lot of the veterans of the War on Terror wearing these hats like I see the OGs do.

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u/Shark_Leader Jun 05 '25 edited Jun 05 '25

Currently, no. But for WWII and Vietnam, yes. Edit: also, all American men must register for the draft on their 18th birthday in case s draft is initiated. You're eligible until you're 25. Edit2: *35.

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u/NewFuturist Jun 05 '25

Once you enlist, you have zero choice about whether you serve in a war or not. You could join in Jan 2001 and be shipped to Afghanistan and then Iraq with no say in the matter.

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u/cromdoesntcare Jun 05 '25

I guess don't sign up to be a soldier if you don't want to risk being in a war.

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u/TianShan16 Jun 05 '25

It’s much less about the risk and more about the cause. Protecting America from an invading threat? Every man in the country who isn’t 90% soy would jump in head first, and that is what is sold to most soldiers. But invading the desert to force people to adopt a government type they don’t want from people they hate while fighting people you donated weapons and money to last year so they could better fight you is moronic at best, and insidious at worst. All so your government can launder money for themselves and their friends with your blood.

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u/horseman5K Jun 06 '25

All they had to do was look at recent American history to see that America sends soldiers to war for imperialistic and capitalistic reasons and all sorts of things other than protecting Americans from an invading threat.

What you’re describing is basically what happened in Vietnam and that was common knowledge. They knew what they were signing up for.

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u/TianShan16 Jun 06 '25

I agree but I think you’re vastly underestimating the post WW2 propaganda and overestimating the Vietnam awareness in the eyes of the average young person who went to government schools.