Common Purposes Cross Paths

Generally, those interested in joining the Forces "tend to be lacking in life goals and feel alienated from society and its values."
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I did 20 in the US Army but I doubt it's significantly different up there. Sure some in the army had no plans or anything, they were just out of school and thought they'd take a "break", serve their country, maybe have a little adventure while they made up their minds. A couple years usually gets them more serious about life and they develop plans. Most however not only have goals but they continuously ratchet them up as goals are achieved.

"They are attracted to violence more than the average member of Canadian society and accept violence as a legitimate means of getting what they want," says the report
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While I disagree with that comment my reaction is so what?

I can't say I remember meeting anybody who could be fairly described like that but if he wasn't in the military he'd end up robbing convenience stores or something similar - having them in uniform is a win-win siutation.

But the truth is, whatever hot-heads they army gets, service tends to be a very mellowing situation for them. Among other reasons, if they hadn't figured it out already, people learn their actions have consequences.

What didn't receive as much press was that the individuals actually in the Army (as this was a study commissioned for the commander of the Army and not for the Navy or Air Force) were not as accepting of violence as a solution as those individuals who were considering a career as a soldier. They were unable to determine if those with those tendancies were weeded out in the recruitment psychological profiling or if they were taught impulse control during their basic training. The bottom line was that those tendencies were not considered a problem of those actually serving. We do want our Army to have folks who are able to make someone else die for their country, it just has to be disciplined and controlled. That appears to be the case.

Oh, another thing:

"accept violence as a legitimate means of getting what they want"

That implies that's their first choice so the soldiers are obviously psychos. The quoted statement implies (minus a few nutballs) the entire northern hemisphere during WWII were psychos since the people as a whole accepted violence as a legitimate means to get what they want (the destruction of Nazi Germany).

If Charlie Manson climbs in my window I want him to stop - you bet I'm gonna use violence. Color me crazy but I think that's a normal reaction.