Guard recruit from South St. Paul has second thoughts about joining

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star_ ^ | 7/10/06 | Randy Furst - Staff Reporter

[MplsSteve]

At 17, Leo Valle was dazzled by the money and other perks that came with service in the National Guard. So in March, the South St. Paul resident signed up to join.

He soon had second thoughts.

Valle's parents, who had given their written consent, didn't want him to go. His girlfriend was against it, too. When Valle saw a video about the rigors of basic training, he decided he had made the wrong decision. "I didn't want to do it anymore," he said recently. "They yell in your face and you take orders."

[MplsSteve]

I read this article and I thought "You are just gonna have to drag your ass to basic training. No ifs, ands or buts about it".

But the more I read, I'm convinced that I don't want this guy anywhere near a military uniform. He doesn't sound mentally ready to do it.

Opinions or comments - anyone?

[Patrick1]

He wants to go the other way and work for The New York Times.

[mystery-ak]

I am sure he will be released from his contract....WTH did he think would happen during basic!!!!...what a wuss....btw..I think 17yo is too young to make a decision like this...I refused to sign for my son at that age, but when he turned 18 he went ahead and did it himself.

[Obadiah]

His girlfriend was against it, too.

"They yell in your face and you take orders."

To be honest, the kid needs to go home to Mommy and grow up. Sheesh.

[AntiGuv]

He sounds like he'd be about useless. I dunno what'd be the point of sending him to basic, especially since all he'd be doing is looking for a way to get kicked out.

[Redleg Duke]

"I didn't want to do it anymore," he said recently. "They yell in your face and you take orders."

Awwww...ain't that a pity-poo shame! Imagine that! Making some kid "take orders"!

What a scumbag. Tell you what. Let him out, but flag his name so that he cannot appy for or receive any government benefits or participate in any government employment programs, ever. Cut him off from the government teat!

[mtbopfuyn]

I did not want to sign the papers," he said through an interpreter. "I told my son to stop and think.

Ok, Dad, did you think? Sonny-boy failed the first test and his parents hire a tutor to pass the second go around and they still claim they didn't know what they were signing? What a bunch of lying little pansies. Well, better the NG knows now what they'd be getting.

[Thunderchief F-105]

.......hmmmmm; I sorta/kinda agree with you, unfortunately. I went to U.S. Navy boot camp as a 17-year old punk kid; came off of Active Duty four years later as a 21-year old man....maybe that's what this sniveling brat needs after all.... the military has little patience with children-in-uniform within its ranks, though....he probably would make such a PITA of himself that after a few "knuckle sandwiches," they'd have to let him go.... BTW, my military career, including Active Duty, Guard and Reserve duty, spanned 28 years.... one of the best things I ever did in my life...

[nuke rocketeer]

Chickensh*t crapweasel. Does not like to follow orders, but wants all the bennies that come from enlisting.

[Edgerunner]

BOO F'in HOO...let him run home to mommy.

[thoughtomator]

"I didn't want to do it anymore," he said recently. "They yell in your face and you take orders."

God help him when it comes time for him to get a job.

[Ouderkirk]

Ahhh in the end it doesn't matter. If he goes, he may get a valuable education and some discipline. If he's a screw-up they'll thow him out, and if he's a coward he'll get fragged.

[rlmorel]

"...They yell in your face and you take orders..."

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I joined the Army 3 days after I turned 17, my father signed for me.
It was the best thing for me at that time.
Basic training was a breeze and much easier than the jobs I had done.

[OmahaFields]

I hope all that criticize this guy have already been to boot camp...

[mystery-ak]

....here's a pic of the little darling.

[taxcontrol]

Agree....

When I went through basic they were giving a discharge to anyone who wanted out. In retrospect, it was a good policy. If they don't have the fortitude to get through basic, I don't want to saddle some Sergent somewhere with a dud.

Since he has not reported, don't waste any more money on the scumbag. Give him a less than honorable discharge and be done with him.

[photodawg]

But the more I read, I'm convinced that I don't want this guy anywhere near a military uniform. He doesn't sound mentally ready to do it.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Get the recruit some counseling, make him understand the seriousness of what he is asking, if he still can't function give him his section eight and turn him loose. I hope , for his sake, that he can tough it out and become a man. If he runs from this challenge he'll run the rest of his life.

[Obadiah]

Yep, and at about the same age as this kid.

[pabianice]

When Valle saw a video about the rigors of basic training, he decided he had made the wrong decision. "I didn't want to do it anymore," he said recently. "They yell in your face and you take orders."

Those Army savages! /s