I&#x27;d be cautious about assuming what people know&#x2F;don&#x27;t know, read&#x2F;don&#x27;t read, and the like.<p>I don&#x27;t know how many young men joined the Marines because of the influence of their friends who were already serving. If they thought they were going to be anything other than Marines then my reaction would be precisely the same. If you join the military there&#x27;s a reasonably good chance you&#x27;re going to go into combat, and that it will suck soundly.<p>Who thinks we&#x27;re &quot;knights in shining armor&quot;? Not me--not sure who you&#x27;re talking to.