Choosing a High-Risk Occupation: Canadian Infantry Soldiers in Wartime
In our opinion, academic research into why young Canadians choose a military career in times of war remains very peripheral. Nevertheless, during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, many young people joined the Canadian Armed Forces, including as infantry soldiers. We address this phenomenon as a way of reflecting on the sociological, cultural, and existential factors that lead young people to make such a career choice – one that, in the contemporary context, remains unconventional and can prove fatal. The notion of risk taking and the role it plays in the lives and career choices of certain young people serves as both the starting point and common thread for our analysis.