Posted on 03/16/2011 3:47:45 AM PDT by freelancer
My son is enlisting in the Army. I am proud. I am scared. Forgive me if I have posted in the wrong forum.
Atta Boy!
BTW-this is the best thread of the day.
I was an enlisted USAF SIGINT grunt about a half-century ago, serving in Southeast Asia and Europe. My service led to a civilian career. I'll never regret one day (except for maybe those endless days spent on KP) of it.
Congratulations!! I’m sure you’re very proud of him. Most parents are hesitant. I signed up at 17 to go to the Marine Corps and had to get my mother to sign a waiver. At first she didn’t, but I convinced her that I would just wait until 18 to go so she might as well sign. She did.
If you would like a good book to read about Boot Camp, pick up “Making the Corps” by Thomas Ricks. It is about Marine Corps boot camp and came out in 1997 so it’s a little dated. However, being a former drill instructor it’s the best book I ever read on boot camp. I think it also helps the parents understand what’s going on. It is written by someone who was not in the military so it gives a “civilian” perspective. Though Army boot camp is shorter, a lot of similar training takes place I’m sure.
Congratulations, you have every reason to be proud!
Proud and scared that about sums it up.....be proud you raised such a wonderful man that is willing to serve......God decided we needed another warrior......and he felt your young man was the right one for the job.....
Thank him for his service.
You have every right to both concerns.
I wish I could thank everybody for their responses.
Why should he not volunteer for anything during basic? (I’ll relay that advice to him.)
Once you volunteer for something in basic, the drill SGTs will be asking him to do detail (chores) after detail after detail. They are lazy too. One thing I was told before basic was to keep your mouth shut and never volunteer for anything.
We had a guy in my BCT who always volunteered for KP and didn't graduate because he missed too many classes. Your son needs to be in class and on the ranges, not doing every detail there is.
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