Joined the military - didn't expect to fight?

[Reader]

OK, I started typing this in the thread asking if you can support the troops but not the war, but then decided not to go off track and to start another thread.

So here's what I don't get: Troops who are angry they had to go to Iraq because "they only signed up to get an education." I mean really, didn't they consider that they ARE joining the military and they MIGHT have to fight at some point? I read and heard this several times at the beginning of the Iraq war. And every time I heard it I had to ask myself, "Are they kidding?!"

I mean, I don't blame them, I wouldn't want to be there either. But if I joined up in any branch remotely connected to the military I'd realize that something could happen and I might be called on to report for active duty. It wouldn't surprise or anger me if it happened.

Any thoughts?