Women are the new men.
After wearing the uniform for 29 years, and having retired 21 years ago, today’s military is far, far different, and the leadership, i.e. 0bama, has watered it down so much, this military does not resemble the military in which I was proud to serve. I cannot support anyone going into a military with a president who stomps on the Constitution military members swear to support and defend... Take it for what it’s worth, but things are going to have to change drastically.
Advice? Yes. Tell her to join the Army or the Air Force, not the Navy. I have two daughters in the Navy. They would say the same thing.
I felt the same way when my 15 year old told me she wanted to go to West Point. By the time high school was over she no longer wished to do that but instead went to North Georgia State College and University (now called University of North Georgia). In those days (not that long ago) all the men had to be in ROTC and part of the corps.
I do not feel bad that she didn’t go into the military. In today’s military if you love your country you are not respected or valued (I read the stories). I do not trust the O admin to oversee the use of our military. I would not encourage anyone to go into the service these days.
I hate that it has come to that
FYI, the Navy used to have a program for young people referred to as “kiddie cruisers.” Join at 17 when you graduate from high school and exit the Navy on your 21st birthday with full benefits as if you had served 4 years.
I don’t know what this is worth now since I don’t know what benefits exist now, but perhaps this is something that you and she might want to look into.
No experience with a daughter in the mil...
I will say this, Being a FMF Corpsman is great training, and if worth their salt, being a Corpsman with the Corp, is hands down the best job in the Navy (I retired as a FMF Corpsman, but my first 4 years was as a Marine) hold the jokes please....
The services have changed (retired 19 years this year) but still the best place to gain vastly diverse experiences.
I would have her check out the Navy or Marines...
Share? The truth is that they are on the whole completely unqualified physically and psychologically for the armed forces. Double standards abound so that girls and the left can try to pretend that displacing men with women hasn’t caused reduced combat readiness and many other problems in the armed forces.
USMC
Don’t worry about the haters on here. I’ve been in all through the Bush years and through the current occupant of the White House. It’s not terribly different, but the drawdown has made it more difficult for advancement in general. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since promotions for anyone/everyone were almost guaranteed during the Bush years due to the need for people.
Is she looking at officer or enlisted?
I served 20 years in the Navy, retiring in 1998. I currently work for the Navy, providing technical assistance to the ships. So I work with today’s sailors on a daily basis. This gives me some insight of the Navy at the deckplate level.
Recently I served on a jury hearing a case of a young man(?) who shot and killed a sleeping homeless man. That made me see the other side of our young people. It was so refreshing to go back and work with the outstanding sailors of our Navy.
There are bad apples in every bunch, but from my experience they are few in the Navy. The sailors I work with are hard working dedicated professionals who give more than should be expected.
When I joined I was not mature enough to be on my own. I had partied my way out of college. The Navy gave me the structure and discipline I needed to succeed.
The Navy will train her for her job, and will help her get a college education while she is in (in fact that is recommended). She will get to see places she maybe never could have otherwise. The more places I visited overseas the more I appreciated the U.S.
Fredhead, ET1, USN Retired
She sounds fantastic. Consider steering her towards Hillsdale College first. Friends Marine son started there, enlisted and finished there with support from the Marines, graduated as an officer and is in good shape. At a young age she would be extremely vulnerable and would be so much wiser and stronger after a conservative college education. Best wishes!
Unlike most of these people I am actually currently on active duty in the USCG. This crap about the military being taught to turn on civilians is hysteria at best. If she wants to join the military and is willing to work as hard as everyone else to get where she wants to be then I say go for it.
Even if she doesn’t really want to make it a 20 year career the benefits are tremendous. 5 years in the military has definitely given me the background and drive (and money) to succeed in the (future) civilian career field that I’ve set my sights on.
I come from a military family (my husband was in the USN for 20 years, my dad spent 4 years in WWII) Lots of career uncles and enlisted ancestors.
I could not in good conscience advocate military service under Obama’s rule. However, she won’t be 18 for a couple more years, wait and see who gets in and what they are doing to the military.
One of the prettiest girls I ever knew was very successful in USAF. I met her when I was 4, and knew her all her life until she passed from cancer in her 40s. She was one of the very first active USAF female pilots. She was able to handle herself well with boys and girls of all ages and types. She met her husband (a USAF Contractor) while serving, and was in a very happy (albeit short) marriage. There is a tendency for some troops to be attracted to / want to take advantage of a pretty female or a handsome male. Fortunately, these folks have generally learned how to handle that. ‘Street smarts’; she will definitely need ‘street smarts.’ Martial arts may come in handy. My sister in law once had to use a Flamenco dance shoe as an improvised defensive weapon. It worked so well that when the police showed up 30 minutes later, he was still, -er immobilized in a fetal position.
I just retired from the army last year after 24 years of service (My first 4 were USMC). Our commander gave us a mandatory briefing on the repeal of DADT. When I brought up questions regarding higher disease rates and higher rates of domestic violence he didn’t have an answer. He finally told me , “I didn’t write this briefing. I was simply ordered to give it.” I responded with, “Well, whoever wrote it is an idiot that obviously didn’t think about a lot of stuff.”
I’d say if she wants to join support her decision. But remind her that her oath is to the Constitution NOT the president! I carried a copy in my pocket and passed out copies to my Soldiers.