Why would one choose to be a soldier?

[Catwoman]

Originally Posted by soldier

And that is why I’m proud to call myself a soldier...Its about what kind of world I want to leave for my children if I am lucky enough to be a father

While the altruistic intentions of soldiers are most honourable, it seems so sad to me that sometimes they are not fighting for freedom, or progress, but for one country's self-interest, for oil or power or money. They risk their lives for a lottery - many wars don't work, lives are lost without progress. They think they're fighting for something - but it is something quite far from the truth. I would never blame a soldier for a government's mistake, but if no one enlisted, we wouldn't lose our soldiers to unwinnable wars.