Calling all Freepers.
My son came to us last week and said he was interested in joining the military and wanted our advice as to which branch to join.
I am at a complete loss as neither my spouse nor I have ever served.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
"Odds are you'll go over, you might as well learn the best and right way to do things."
I concurred. We made sure his head was on straight, that he really had a good clear realistic, unglorified picture (seek out some vets-old ones are the best, they've got the wisdom of sages), and then, all that was left to do was cover him in prayer before he left home and we've never let up since he left. God bless you all.
Invite the recruiters(one by one) to your house and sit around the kitchen table with your son and see what each branch has to offer...then decide.....make sure everything you want is written in the contract.....Good luck....and thank your son for wanting to serve....HOO'AH..
Air Force if you want an education and decent living conditions. Navy is you want good chow Marines if you REALLY want to see some action. I was drafted, so I had no choice - but I enjoyed my service with some of the best soldiers in the world.
So the second question answered is .. Why?
After that ... then check out the different branches.
Is he planing to be career military or just four years?
First, I commend you for raising a fine young man who is looking to serve others. I was in a similar predicament years ago, although I came from a Navy family and thought I'd go that route. But I decided to talk to the four Dept of Defense recruiters (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) and listen to their pitches. (I didn't talk to the Coast Guard back then, but I'd certainly recommend your son check it out. Its already important mission is IMHO even more important in this terrorism environment.)
I ended up choosing the Marines and really enjoyed my service. But I can also say that I ran into some awesome people in all branches. Your son's desires will likely decide for him. (For instance, technical training might push him toward the AF or Navy, while physical challenges/fitness/leadership may push him toward the Marines or Army).
Since neither of you have any preconceptions, I'd recommend going to each recruiter's office with him, or calling them on the phone with him on another line. (Only if he's comfortable with this approach.)
I've probably blabbed enough. :-) Good luck on his decision, and below I included a nice one-stop shopping link for more info. Of course check out each individual service's sites as well.
(Commander USNR Ret.)
If he's pretty positive the military is what he wants, and he still has a year or two left in High School, have him start looking seriously at the Academies and ROTC programs at civilian colleges and Universities....and emphasize that his academic performance between now and then will be a factor of major consideration....
The rest are wanna-be's.....
(time to LRRP out of here!)
My son is sitting on an airplane at this very moment. His flight to Quantico, VA to begin officer candidate school takes off in about 2 minutes.
I'm not sure I have any advice. If your son wants to join the military, God bless him. It's not an easy decision to make.
Foreign Legion
What a way to hijack a thread!
What service your son shoudl go to depends on what he wants to do and what sort of man he is already.
If he wants to fight, he should probably join the Army or Marines. They do the fighting. Twenty years ago I would not have recommended the conventional Army at the same level as the Marines; today I would. A young man does not need to be in the Marines, SF or paratroops to be with good peers and great leaders. Of course, in any of those elite forces he gets valuable bragging rights.
If he is more interested in something else, like saving money for college, or learning a trade, the Air Force is the best bet. It has the most technical fields (although few of them translate into a specific civilian job). There are a few gems in there though. A military trained air traffic controller can step right into an FAA job on leaving the service, and the FAA is hiring (Army, Navy and AF all have this specialty).
The Navy has some challenging jobs but it is also the least egalitarian, most feudal service. While the physical conditions (housing, food) of Army service are the worst, the navy can be an unpleasant place for a free man, unless he is an officer. In recent years the "travel" has become a lot of riding around in the ship with not so many visits to exotic ports. One good thing for the education minded, on the bigger ships (especially carriers) they have college classes... professors and everything.
If he wants to help his country and people there is one more service that deserves fair consideration: the Coast Guard. I was talking to a young man a while back that said his job -- rescue swimmer -- was the best job not only in the service, but the world. And he meant it. For that job, you need to be smart and strong.
But there are a lot of different jobs and with a smaller military, most of them make a real contribution to the safety and security of the nation.
Finally, a young man looking to "find himself" probably belongs on active duty (rather than in college burning mom and dad's money. The college will still be there in four years). But for some people the reserves or Guard are a better option. That lets you combine military service with civilian living.
My own background colours my own opinions, of course. As a college dropout, I joined the Army in the 1970s intending to do four years and go back to school. Somehow I wound up getting into it, and served 8 years active, 8 years reserve, and over 10 in the Guard. Along the way I finished the college degree, while getting a lot of training that doesn't apply well to civilian life. (I can disassemble a BAR, construct a 1/4 wave HF antenna, treat severe deceleration trauma, construct an anchor point in earth or snow for hoisting a vehicle up a cliff, and name all the pieces of a Madsen submachine gun... I can command a unit of up to battalion size in about six languages. None of which impresses dates).
As a mother, you will worry about risks. You know, it's a rough age for young men. The ones that are not facing IEDs in Anbar will be learning lessons about drunken driving and other youthful risk-taking behavior. At least in the service, like the Boy Scouts, there are some adult leaders.
And their moms worry about them, too. I was in my 40s in my last tour and my elderly mom was still worried sick the whole time. Sorry, Mom.
By the way, when he comes home from basic training -- whichever service he selects -- he will have much new vocabulary. You are STILL his mom and don't need to tolerate that!
Best of luck
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
It all depends on what skills he wants to learn. I joined the Air Force because I loved technology and Aviation. (the quality of life the AF provides was a good bonus!)
Go Navy, Go Submarines
He didn't die; he broke his neck and his mother/father spent the next 30 years dealing with caring for him. He died in an automobile accident a few years later.
Your situation? I don't know what to tell you other than to let him make his own decision. If you brought him up right, he'll make the right one. Interceding in someone else's future should be left to those with wings.
I don't care what color your son's uniform is -- when he says those words, or some form therefore, he's OK in my book. And you must have been pretty good parents for him to see and respond to the need of our Nation.
As for my service, I'm just an old Army guy. Now at the twilight of my career, I'm mighty glad to see more men coming up to replace old Reagan Cowboy's like me.
Here's what you can do...get a copy of the oath of enlistment, or oath of commission, and read it. Learn what each word and phrase means. Then teach it to him, and tell him what it means to you. If he understands the oath, and desires to fulfill it -- that's a man you've raised! A mighty fine man!
First, how athletic is he? The Army and Marines are very physical. Beyond that what does he want to do with his life? What are his interests? The reason they are behind in enlistments is that they are replacing some of the military that Clinton got rid of., so many fields are going to be available to him. Be patient. Be persistent and make the recruiter earn his paycheck. Some jobs do not translate well to the outside world, others ensure you have a job when you get out. Feel free to get with me with whatever questions you have. I come from a long military family and live in a military town. I'd be happy to help your son get the most out of his military experience.