Was out enjoying my sunday, therefore the delay in my answer.

First off, thank you serving as an EMT/firefighter.I have several in my family. Tough job.

Now on to your question.

Technically it is a choice, but that choice is predicated on how you get to choose. If you have the choice to go to college and get an education without joining then you have infinitely more choices. If you come from abject poverty, well then your choices are a completely different matter.
You obviously went to college and went on to serve in the manner you did.
Others do not have that choice and must approach their paths with a completely different set of choices and some have almost no choice, if they want to get out of the situation they live in.
I have seen such abject poverty that the kids in the family do not get shoes until they are they go to high school, or to work. They lived in homes with dirt floors and some with no running water. What kind of choices do they have.

Your question was loaded and meant to box me in and answer that everyone has a choice, but not everyone has the same choices.

Everyone that serves should be commended and while your chosen profession and service is commendable it is not really the same as being trained with ordnance,small arms and explosives as an everyday part of your job.While your job may have put you into harms way at times, those that serve militarily train to be in harms way as a usual part of their job and expect to be put in that situation daily!

Choice or mandatory, some people don't have the choices that others may have.

Again sorry for the delay, I was enjoying my sunday with the family.


Fishy