Seriously considering joining the YPG( to fight isis)

Good evening ATS or perhaps good morning. My name is jared im a 25 year old who was in the army infantry stationed in germany, i have become more and more sickened by the mass genocide taking place in iraq and syria. I want to make a change a real difference im not a hero by any means but i love people, i feel this cause and my skill set and passion come together very nicely.


Now i do have health problems and that also plays a part in my desire, i have a pacemaker and heart problems. However i am very healthy and can certainly manage a weapon. I feel if i may die early anyway i might as well die doing something i believe in.


I bring this to ats because i love this community an appreciate your insights, not that my choice is open. I am still undecided to an extent as i have some loose ends the earlyest i could do this would be four months. Ive contacted the ypg and am in peliminary discussions.

Thank you for your time, and great discussions.

a reply to: TechniXcality

If you were medically discharged and are receiving benefits, be prepared to lose them if you do such. The YPG is considered a Terrorist organization by the State Dept still. (even though we are air-dropping supplies, hmph, go figure, eh?)

I've worked with the Kurds for two years and while they are the better of most in that region, they also have a tendency to kill each others opposing political parties quite often. I'd think twice if I were you.

a reply to: TechniXcality


Sweet Jared. I met you a long time ago in the extreme weather thread. I eagerly read every report and radar map you posted. You talked me through tornados in my area, for that I was so grateful. You were the calm in the storms to me.

You do a lot for people in your life, though so many of us have never met you. I hope you know that.

I also hope you aren't basing this possible choice on thinking you don't mean something important to a lot of people. Because you mean a lot to me. You may have a pace maker, but all I can say, it's in one of the biggest hearts I've ever met.

Have you discussed this with your family? If so, what are their feelings about it.

Your intentions are wonderful, but...is there not anything you could do that wouldn't put you in direct harms way?

You are a bright young man, Jared. I'm glad you brought this to your ATS Family. I'm sure you'll be hearing from some of them in this thread.

Bright Blessings Lion Hearted Man.

Des

a reply to: Destinyone
Thank you so much des you are such a sweetheart. Tdawg thank you for your wise words.

a reply to: TechniXcality

Do it...if for nothing else ...do it for the adventure...was prior infantry myself. Be safe brother. And those people could really use the help.

a reply to: TechniXcality

25yo? Your still a kid.

Don't throw your life away for some Agenda Driven War.

Big $$$ are being made by supplying both sides with weaponry.

You'll just end up being flown home in a casket draped in an American Flag, you'll be remembered and mourned for a couple of days.

Stay home and get laid.

Are you sure you know who you'd be fighting for?

I might be tempted to do something along these lines if my future health was questionable as well. What would stop me is the fact that I really have no idea who the bad guys are and who the good guys are anymore. If I'm to die for a cause, I want to be damn sure that cause is noble and just.

In my opinion, the powers of the world don't have any causes that are noble and just. At least none that I can see. But if you truly believe in doing this, who are any of us to say you shouldn't? Such conviction is admirable.

Just be damn sure you know what side you're on.

Hey, man. You don't know me cause I'm more or a lurker here, but I always see your posts around ATS. I respect you a lot, you're a very reasonable, clever and compassionate man.

I'm not sure if going there would be a good idea. Maybe. Only you can tell. I'll say this, though: you'll always be helping people, no matter where you are. It's who you are. So talk to your family. Weigh all the options. You might be a great asset there, true. You may also be a great asset where you are, or somewhere else, who knows where?

We could all die tomorrow. Or today, even. So I see your point about that. But maybe you could offer tactical help, organize things around, I don't know, which would probably keep you alive longer than being on the field out there. It'd still be helping.

It's your choice. And whatever you decide to do, you have my respect and admiration. You stand up for people's rights to live their own lives, and that means a lot to me.

Peace and good luck.

Nooooo, don't go! You might not come back.
Des is right, you make a difference in people's lives. You don't need to risk your life to do good in this world. How would your family and friends feel if they never saw you again, if you left and never came back to them? Think long and hard on this.

If you have a love for people , you are a person and love yourself enough not to do this , if you love people what about your family seeing you in a coffin . Isis this and isis that, are we even %100 sure who funds this group, who really leads them , what their real.motives are?

ISIS is a private army that is funded by the banking elite to destroy libya. You'd serve freedom better by fighting tyranny in your own country than firing bullets at their hired guns.

a reply to: TechniXcality

You should ultimately let your heart point you to your goal. But theres no reason to not allow your brain to chart the path.

I dont know the situation you would be going into, nor the YPG. But Ill assume it will be a very perilous one. You have to ask yourself whether or not what you intend is the most productive use of your skills and abilities over the long term, factoring in that you may not even see the long term with the course of action youre considering.

I think what you are contemplating may be the most direct path to your where your heart wishes you to go, but neither the most rational, nor potentially productive route. Do not make a rash, emotional decision here. It doesnt matter how strongly you feel about the situation; the decision you are about to make needs to be made coldly, as it has the strong potential to affect the remainder of your life.

Remember there are many different ways to reach the same place. No way is better than any other way, but just make sure the path you pick is the one you really want to go down, because sometimes, you cant turn around.

a reply to: TechniXcality

i hope you know, now that you have announced your plans/desires your on a government watch list now, and they are actively tracking you as we speak.

don't be surprised when DHS FBI or any other agency knocks down your door and you disappear.
saying you want to join a group that's is a on a terrorist list no matter who they are fighting is never a good thing.
and every ones knows that, government shills are watching ATS forums.

a reply to: TechniXcality

If I may as one veteran to a fellow veteran?

You served your country, with good faith and honor. You did all that was asked of you. You handed them a blank check, and there was always a chance it might be cashed in.

But it wasn't. You got to go home.

I understand the overwhelming need to want to protect your country, your home, your family and all that you know. I can understand that any oath you took upon entering service, you took seriously and may not have relinquished that oath when you got out.

I know I didn't. Nor will I ever.

However, now you're considering doing something that might very well cause that blank check to be cashed in.

Might your place now actually be at your home? May it perhaps be that you're home for a good reason: to protect your home.
As you said, you have the skills and knowledge to do so. Maybe home is where those skills and knowledge would be better placed.

I'm not saying that you might have to actually do any of that on the very land you call home. But, just maybe, if it were to come and pass, the place you REALLY need to be is right where you are now. It might be that where you are now, is where people need you to be to help defend or take care of them if something came to pass.

Please think about that for a while. I'm not saying "it's part of God's plan" or anything like that.

But maybe, just maybe you are where you need to be now. Going somewhere else, may take you away from those that might end up needing you so very desperately later in life.

Take it from a old vet like me. I served. I did my best with good faith. They sent me to war, and I got to come home in one piece.

While I'll never give up my oath, I know that my place now is here with my family. To be here for them, and yes, if need be protect them. I hope I never have to do that last part.

But I will make sure I'm here to do it if needed.

Maybe that is also where you need to be.

Just some thoughts to add what others have said:

It is normal for a young man to want to right the wrongs he sees in the world... That means you have a real heart.

There were some of us long ago who thought about going to Israel to help fight off some serious (what we perceived) aggressors.. Instead we raised families and worked to better our lives in the USA

I look back over my life at some of the cross roads I crossed and just by luck I took the high road.. I certainly did not realize it at the time, but hindsight is always clearer...

There may come a time in your own neighborhood that your skills will be needed. Whether it is giving some advice to a friend or digging in and doing a major sheep dog kinda thing... You never know where the future will take you..

The USA, inspite of the headlines, is not serious about taking out ISIS.. When the headlines talk about two Toyota trucks being taken out by our 30 million dollar missiles yet never a word about the Abrams tanks/APC/aircraft ISIS got from the Iraqi military.... you gotta figure something is up..? The UP, IMO, is the end goal during this Op to topple Assad and turn Syria into another Libya for whatever reason..

Your warm American body is worth allot of money; both as a propaganda tool and to someone who wants to sell you to ISIS for a nice beheading video... Just think about it...

There are very few causes or people worth dieing for. There are some I think we would agree... Just be sure the cause you are willing to commit to is worth your life, limb, eye, or balls.. Because we all can lose by taking a golden BB from an opponent in a real shooting war..

Like you, I like the bravado of the Kurds and I wish they were the ones being supported over all others... It won't happen because of Turkey..

Just my thought so takem or leavem

Wow....talk about a pivotal point in Your life! I wish you luck in your decision. ...and I agree with Des. Good luck and keep,us posted.

Ill be perfectly honest I do not feel this engagement against ISIS is being fought with any clear strategy to win by Western Powers my country has 200 SAS sitting on their bottoms in the desert waiting for legal rubbish with the Iraq government to be sorted,nothing against infantry but these are the guys you need as its asymetric warfare ISIS fights, infantry is not trained in depth for that,I understand that being a warrior is your calling but this is a confused and complex situation in which there is every possibility that you will have blue on blue or blue on green events .I hate to say it but till 2016 at least this one is not being pursued seriously.

originally posted by: TechniXcality
i might as well die doing something i believe in.

If you believe in it and are capable,.. Id do it.

Godspeed.

I'm guessing I'll go against the grain and say that if your love of humanity is pushing you in that direction, then go for it, it won't go away. I went through a similar situation back in 99, it didn't work out but I've never forgotten it.

Do some research first, there must be a unit with western volunteers....and good luck.

Keep us updated.

a reply to: TechniXcality

Please, think very hard before you do this. My advice, as the mother of a 23-yr-old and a 25-yr-old, is that you are still young - and as a person educated in human development, you are not yet fully mature (and I mean no offense by that, NOT AT ALL - it's just that biologically, your brain is still in the final stages of adult development).

For the sake of those who love you, and for your own sake - please take some time to think this over. You might never come back - and for what? The Middle East has forever been chaotic and unsettled. Personally I don't think Americans have any business over there aside from the obvious - oil.

Anyway - all the best wishes to you, no matter what you decide.
But
Don't Go.