Son is thinking of joining the Coast Guard (VANITY)

n/a ^ | 5/23/05 | Mom

[coder2]

My 17-old son (HS junior) told us over the weekend is thinking of joining the Coast Guard.

It was a complete surprise; he spoke of the Marines before, but never the CG. We did some research on the net and even went to the Coast Guard Academy website.

He's a great kid, all boy though (lol), is bored with school, but has a 3.7 gpa. Will be taking the ACT test next month. Great in Math & Science, but doesn't like English much. Plays varsity sports and is extremely strong physically.

We have been a little concerned over the past year 'cuz he hasn't really shown much interest in going to college, but I do realize that this is normal (just strange in this house), and attributed it to his boredom with school in general.

So I asked him why he felt that if he went to the Coast Guard Academy, what would be different.. And he made us proud when he said that it would be different because he would be doing this to serve his country..

So anyway, that's why I thought I would turn here to see what you guys thought. There is no local recruiter around, closest is about 200 miles away.

Looking for advice as to whether he should go in as enlisted, or try to get into the CGA, etc. General thoughts about the Coast Guard, sources to go for more info, etc. That kind of stuff.

Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[jjames001]

One thing I forgot to put in my original post that says much about the kind of boy we raised is this. He came home from school on 9/11/2001, and one of the first questions he asked me was how old did he have to be to join to fight those bas###ds (first time I ever heard him swear).

If he wants to fight, I recommend going into the infantry for Marines...Sounds like you have a great kid, I bet he'd make a good officer in whatever branch he decides to join.

[coder2]

He has been checking into the Marines --- that's why I was surprised when the Coast Guard came up because he had made no mention of it at all.

He is a good kid -- sometimes I swear I don't know how that happened !!!

[RinaseaofDs]

Send him to Europe maybe and let him see how the rest of the world lives. Eye opener big time.

[coder2]

Now that, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy !!!

[goldfinch]

He went in as enlisted then ??

Sorry to be so slow getting back to you. Yes. My nephew's friend went in as enlisted. He is not from a military family and he had not spent much time on the ocean. As I said, he does not know if he will make a career of it, but he likes it and feels he is doing something important.