Yes. They did force me. That’s how the military works. If you’d like to express anger over this, I’d suggest starting with Dick Cheney and George Bush, and not popping off on a low ranking enlisted person.
I joined in 1999. There was no war going on and the last military conflict the US was in was peacekeeping in Somalia or the Balkans. I was 17 when I signed up, and like many low income people saw it as the only way to pay for college, because I couldn’t afford any other route.
Once you sign up, refusing orders will get you sent to military prison plus a dishonorable/OTA discharge.
I’m glad you’ve lived the privileged life that has allowed you to think that this was some ascetic choice, like picking a school or an outfit, but this was the only way I could figure out how to exist because I had no money and no skills, and no help.
I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish, but you’re punching down. Never a good look. You have no idea the burden put on people like me, lower class that have no options because capitalism has ripped away most sources of a better life, and then sold at 17 a way out, you just have to offer to serve for a chance for it. Then you end up in a war. Sounds like you haven’t had to make a hard choice in your entire life.
Military service in Switzerland... lol, I'll repeat my previous comment, you've never made a hard choice in your life. Living in one of the richest countries in the world that is famously neutral and cosplaying as a soldier, what a joke.
