Army Recruit Inspired to Join by Lord of the Rings

'I joined so I could go on an adventure like Frodo Baggins'

Who says Comic-Con types aren't cut out for the armed forces?

An Army recruit in basic training was asked by his or her drill sergeant to write down why they joined the military, and produced an answer that was anything but reality-based, reports Business Insider. The explanation had little to do with earning money, gaining job skills, or duty to country:

I joined the Army so I could go on an adventure like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. I would always get sad that my life wasn't like that of my DnD characters. I want to travel, know how to fight, and know how to survive and be strong like a true adventurer...

The writer claims to be a mere weeks into basic training, which includes exposure to a variety of weaponry, notes BI, which include a "belt-fed machine gun, a rocket launcher, a claymore mine, and six types of hand grenades."

The handwritten letter was shared Reddit by drill sergeant "Looney82," and is judged to be authentic by Business Insider's Robert Johnson on the basis of Looney82's "sterling reputation" on Reddit. Via Business Insider.

Do you think recruits often join the military for the wrong reasons?

[Clarke12]

I think the Army should let this kid know that ogres are not real and that Gandalf will not save him when the going gets tough.

[Hireman]

I don't know about that. Have you ever gone to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles? Ogres are real.

[GmanGSW]

@Hireman LOL! I don't have the time to agree with you more, but there are real "ogres" & other "monsters" out there, be it @ the DMV or otherwise...

[Denizen_Kate]

Ogres? Don't you mean orcs? The book is always better than the movie.:)

[PoliticalSpice]

Wrong reason, unless they want to bring death to defenseless innocent people. Since world war II the only against al quada is justified. Iraq, panama, grenada, vietnam, somolia, etc. were all wars of aggression with the u.s. invading smaller countries that never threatened us.

[DogLady_1]

I agree with you, except that the war on al qaeda is not justified. War is supposed to be used against nations... letters of marques are supposed to be used against individuals and groups. We would be better off today if we had used our constitutional provisions for dealing with al qaeda. Warring against them has caused many innocent people to die.

[PoliticalSpice]

@DogLady_1 Agreed, but most people do not even know the letters of marques phrase appears in the constitution or even know what it means. In any event the functions of such letters have, in the last 60 pr so years largely been replaced by intelligence agencies.

My main point however being that al quada is the first group we have had any justification to go after in any military fashion, and that all the other wars were unjustified attacks on people who had done nothing to the u.s. in the first place.

[DogLady_1]

@PoliticalSpice - Yeah, and it's a crying shame that we have people sworn to uphold the US Constitution that have no idea what's in it.

[stepped_in_it]

@DogLady_1 Words pulled directly from my (big) mouth! touche

[Gunny68]

@DogLady_1 you mean like politicians?

[joshinAZ]

See this is what's becoming wrong with our military....kids think it's 'cool' to go out on 'adventures' and watch your buddies brains get blown all over a wall. So glad I'm getting out.

[Cobra]

It's a nerd searching for some value to his life. I say good on him for being brave enough to sign up. Afghanistan, Mordor, no one really wants to visit either. Orcs, insurgents, doesn't matter. As far as we as a country is concerned, neither is human. Go forth, young warrior. There and back again.

[Zazziness]

Speak for yourself. I never forget that our enemies are still human.

[PoliticalSpice]

@Zazziness most the time they are not even our enemies, until the u.s. decides to inbade their country...

[mudpike]

@Zazziness - Cool , that's your opinion. But, have you been in combat , have you ever been taunted & threatened from voices in the dark jungle ? Have you ever found a brother solidier or friend mutilated on a trail by other 'humans' or from a land mine or mortar ? I hope you haven't . But , since you see enemies as friends , understand this - singing kumbaya & drinking herbal tea don't mean shyt . When you're young & shocked by all of the above - when the survival instinct kicks in - you too , liberal moonie or not, will do anything you have to do to simply remain alive .
Bank on it .

[Zazziness]

@mudpike I didn't say I see enemies as friends; I said I always remember they are human.

[mudpike]

@Zazziness - not meaning to come off as confrontational , I can only slightly see your point. When one is up to their butts in alligators , we all will react differently. Begging your pardon - I just can't call those who mutilate their women , make suicide bombers out of their own children & mentally handicapped & stone people to death (among other attrocities)-- human.

[WattheTyler]

The sad part is that he doesn't know he's going off to fight for US global imperialism and the interests of big corporations and elite rich few.

[RobertJHarsh]

Post of the Day! What a shame he or she won't realize that America isn't a free nation until they come back and realize they've been lied to for X number of years.

I have kids, and unless some major changes happen, I will not allow them to fight for the place. One of my greatest fears is mandated military service, and that is typically one of the last steps that occur (from a historical perspective) before a nation goes under.

[DARSB]

His reasons for joining really don't matter much once he's in. Come to think of it, an E3's reasons for anything don't matter much for anything. ;)

[stepped_in_it]

Always rely on you for the wit(s) of the day....nice start for being so early!

[Zazziness]

You know, the military doesn't care very much if your reasons are good, unless it's something like "I want to kill, kill, kill!" That's why they want recruits young -- so they're still inexperienced at decision making and easily molded by authority figures. Not saying that's right or wrong; it's just the way it is.

[stepped_in_it]

I believe "falling in line" did come from the military....but I could be wrong, as I always was a little skewed when it came to lines!

[NormalFlora]

Whatever the reason for joining, most (and I do mean most, but not all) servicemembers mature very quickly once they travel out beyond the 30 mile radius of their hometown and meet other cultures. If they are deserving, they also have the opportunity for leadership and responsibilities far beyond anything in the civilian world.

[sevenSecrets]

Adventure? did gandalf know what corporate imperialism is?
btw the military is one of the only avenues of "true" adventure any more. no, an adventure isnt hiking up a mountain with your green safe water bottles and hemp packs.

[Real4WheelDrv]

You people are hilarious, truly. Make fun of the person for their reasons, disregarding what they chose to do entirely. Hell, I could say that Mythbusters made me want to be a scientist or engineer, does that invalidate my choice because the hosts are all fun loving goofballs? The one point I even come close to agreeing with you on is the idea that this person would openly SAY this, as it suggests they have serious delusions of grandeur....delusions which will be pounded out of them VERY quickly. The military, even in non combat roles is one of the quickest and harshest ways to strip away all childish mentality. Besides, LoTR will teach him a lot about PTSD too, since that's essentially what Frodo ended up with, so he's ahead of the curve.

[stepped_in_it]

"I could say that Mythbusters made me want to be a scientist or engineer, does that invalidate my choice because the hosts are all fun loving goofballs?" That would be a statement with "delusions of grandeur"...as the majority of sciences are not as we see on Mythbusters (though I do like watching those "goof balls") ;-)

[Real4WheelDrv]

While I'm at it, as long as we're picking on this person for their mentality....looney82...hmmm.. .suggesting either that they are crazy....or that they watch a lot of looney tunes cartoons. Uh oh! Someone better tell him that if you blow someone up they aren't ok ten seconds later! And, anonymous or not...flawless "E-cred" or not, what gives this person the right to publish someone else's thoughts for everyone to see?

[Real4WheelDrv]

@stepped_in_it Oh I agree, my whole point was more who cares if it's ENTERTAINMENT as long as it sparks something good...and with us languishing behind in academia nowadays we need all the help we can get. They'll learn that science isn't like that for real, unless they choose to go into actual special effects work, but the ones who get that bubble burst and STILL want to stick with it will be very important people.

[Real4WheelDrv]

@stepped_in_it and it's nice to meet other fans heh.

[stepped_in_it]

@Real4WheelDrv LOL....I like shows like Mythbusters....they educate me and add the spark of science to it. Reminds me of Bill Nigh The Science Guy!

[stepped_in_it]

Any fool who is inspired by Hollywood's fantasy to join the service (or the real world) truly UNinspires me....to the point of a back head slap!

[hwyangel]

Amazing how inspiring even Christian fiction can be. No surprise there.

[Libertyiskey]

I think the worst reason ever would be joining because you want to kill somebody, not because you want to go on an adventure, at least he joined and not cause he has a thirst for blood.

[seedtick]

Kids say the darnest things! That statement will forever be true. But, no, today most who join the military have a desire to serve our nation in some way, to follow in someone's footsteps, prove themselves in someway, seek freedom from government debt they owe, seek citizenship, or to escape their own situation in life. Since the draft was stopped young people volunteer and the vast majority are not ignorant about what they are in for while in the military.
So, to cherry pick this statement as representative of all recruits is in of itself wrong and is only meant to attack the military. Our military is real, not a Hollywood production, and without it you would not be doing what you are today...in fact, many of us may not even be here today.

[SomethinsFishy]

As someone who DID enlist in the US Army in the late 1960s, the 17-19 year olds that I enlisted with had all sorts of reasons just as funny as this Lord of the Rings kid. Some enlisted to impress a girl; others to get away from an abusive parent or parents; others because their family was poor and joining would reduce the number of mouths to feed; others because their number on the Draft Lottery was very low and by joining they could sign an agreement (that had lots of weasel clauses) with a recruiter for a certain type of military occupational specialty, rather than be arbitrarily placed in Infantry, Artillery or Armor; many others because they were genuinely patriotic; others because of a broken heart leading to self-destructive behavior. You name it. Enlistees have always had a variety of reasons that seem strange, funny, etc. to others, whether they were joining the French Foreign Legion or America's Armed Forces. Remember, they are still basically young kids.

[MarkJM]

Hey, I don't care what reason, no matter how dumb it is. If you choose to go off and serve your country then you're alright in my book. So long as that service is honorable.

[thatgirl]

"The handwritten letter was shared Reddit by drill sergeant "Looney82," and is judged to be authentic by Business Insider's Robert Johnson on the basis of Looney82's "sterling reputation" on Reddit."
Really??????
OMFG.

[harold_lloyd]

Despite what you see on TV, not every soldier is particularly intelligent.

[jessejaymes]

Most join the Military because they can't find a job. That's no way to run a railroad. Says we 're getting the dregs of society.

[Fishbone345]

It doesn't matter what they are when they join, it's about what they are when they leave. The military makes men out of boys and women out of girls, it teaches honor and loyalty to something bigger than themselves.
There are small percentages that leak around cracks, but the majority become something better.

[jessejaymes]

@Fishbone345 I do agree with you on the end result of the majority. I have to say though that I am somewhat appalled at the number of atrocities committed by our troops. I don't remember that being so common in the past but maybe it's just because of the internet we hear of it more now. I know damn well from personal experience what war does to people. I'm not blanket condemning them but things like peeing on dead bodies is just out and out immature and they should have known that would cause serious repercussions.

[Fishbone345]

@jessejaymes I think we hear about it more often. The Net has made the world a smaller place. Anyone can post on it and stories are ran without delay by news sources.
My dad told me about some things he saw in Viet Nam and its pretty similar.
The soldiers doing the things you talk about are without a doubt out of line. Leadership needs to do something about it though, first thing you learn.

[jessejaymes]

@Fishbone345 I saw a few things in Nam. Most did. But I certainly didn't feel the need to commit atrocities against people that I really didn't want to piss off anymore than they already were. I was more concerned with getting home alive.

[JoeJared]

That's the most delusional reason I've heard of to date.

[jvchen]

Could some people may develop the "right" mindset for the army as they go through training? Well, that's assuming there is a "right" mindset.