Should I Support My Son's Desire To Sign?

[jetproppilot]

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Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date. Average to poor high school grades despite pleas/positive reenforcement/disciplinary action for poor grades etc etc.

He's recently had an epiphany and sees himself approaching adulthood (will be 18 in December), realizes he's burned bridges with his lack of motivation, and is looking to make a committment to improving himself.

I've told him it isnt too late. Go to a community college. do well, then to a university, etc.

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons. He wants to be proud of accomplishment, likes what time in the service will do for him as far as direction/respect for authority/satisfaction of serving country/etc.

I personally think the service would be good for him. He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...

only problem is...uhhhhh....son....WE'RE AT WAR.

....guess I'm struggling with this decision since I (of course) don't want my son to die in battle....

He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

Whats a dad to do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

 

[NavyFP]

Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date. Average to poor high school grades despite pleas/positive reenforcement/disciplinary action for poor grades etc etc.

He's recently had an epiphany and sees himself approaching adulthood (will be 18 in December), realizes he's burned bridges with his lack of motivation, and is looking to make a committment to improving himself.

I've told him it isnt too late. Go to a community college. do well, then to a university, etc.

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons. He wants to be proud of accomplishment, likes what time in the service will do for him as far as direction/respect for authority/satisfaction of serving country/etc.

I personally think the service would be good for him. He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...

only problem is...uhhhhh....son....WE'RE AT WAR.

....guess I'm struggling with this decision since I (of course) don't want my son to die in battle....

He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

Whats a dad to do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

If he is decided to go military, suggest Navy and AF. Some better technical training is available. Will still be able to "succeed" and less likely for direct action.

Have spent 4+ years playing with Marines, they are a fun group to be with.

 

[island doc]

Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date. Average to poor high school grades despite pleas/positive reenforcement/disciplinary action for poor grades etc etc.

He's recently had an epiphany and sees himself approaching adulthood (will be 18 in December), realizes he's burned bridges with his lack of motivation, and is looking to make a committment to improving himself.

I've told him it isnt too late. Go to a community college. do well, then to a university, etc.

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons. He wants to be proud of accomplishment, likes what time in the service will do for him as far as direction/respect for authority/satisfaction of serving country/etc.

I personally think the service would be good for him. He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...

only problem is...uhhhhh....son....WE'RE AT WAR.

....guess I'm struggling with this decision since I (of course) don't want my son to die in battle....

He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

Whats a dad to do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

I have a son who became a marine reservist after finishing high school. He spent almost a year in Iraq, as a gunner on a transport vehicle, before returning safely home, then was seriously injured in an off-road motorcycle accident soon after returning from deployment. He had wanted to become a marine for a long time. I actually think it was good for him to accomplish the goal he had set for himself. Of course, we were concerned for his safety while he was deployed, but all we could do was pray for his safe return, along with all the others.

My advice to you: you might as well support his becoming a marine, because your son also sounds determined to do it. But I would not support not completing a high school education to do so, and I don't think you would either.

Hope this helps.

 

[Monty Python]

Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date........

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons......

...... He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...


He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

My father passed away a well-respected dentist in the community.

Before his time in the USMC you would have thought (based on his HS performance and behavior) that he was penitentiary-bound.

He graduated HS in May, 1941 and got a job driving a chicken truck. Along came Pearl Harbor, draft, four years Pacific island-hopping with the USMC, Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, honorable discharge ..... and a completely new sense of purpose, self-discipline, attention to detail, goal-setting, and the GI Bill. Wound up graduating Stetson with honors, getting into dental school against ferocious competition, etc etc.

Throughout his life he credited the USMC with turning him into a successful citizen, without which he would have wound up on the garbage heap.

As a drilling Naval Reserve officer of course I'm partial to the USN/USMC team. And I have a special fondness for the grunts. My thoughts:

1. do not sign, allowing him to enlist early. That may tick him off, but it's with his best interest at heart. Make him think this through a little longer, but most importantly make him finish HS first. Even though he turns 18 this December but doesn't finish HS until next May, really put the pressure on him to finish school first. Has he talked to the recruiters yet? Depending on supply/demand of new recruits, usually the services REQUIRE a HS degree to enlist. I don't know the current recruiting environment.
Getting in without a HS degree would require a higher score on the entrance test.

2. if he's cock-sure about enlisting, I echo what another poster said: there are other services which will give vaulable training and life lessons without quite as much personal risk. Don't overlook the Coast Guard either.

3. if he's unshakeable in his desire to join the USMC, tell him to really bust his a@@ in boot camp and stand out ---> and possibly receive an invitation to join the elite embassy security team. All US embassies and consulates around the globe (as well as the White House) are guarded by Marines. No one else. Far removed from the desert. There are also other non-infantry options, behind the lines: aviation mechanics, avionics repair, logistics, etc.
The infantry is only one very small part of enlisted Marine job options.

For a listing of options:

http://parents.marines.com/page/Enlisted-P2.jsp
http://parents.marines.com/page/Enlisted-P3.jsp

For more generalized parental Q+A see:

http://parents.marines.com/

 

[jetproppilot]

Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date. Average to poor high school grades despite pleas/positive reenforcement/disciplinary action for poor grades etc etc.

He's recently had an epiphany and sees himself approaching adulthood (will be 18 in December), realizes he's burned bridges with his lack of motivation, and is looking to make a committment to improving himself.

I've told him it isnt too late. Go to a community college. do well, then to a university, etc.

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons. He wants to be proud of accomplishment, likes what time in the service will do for him as far as direction/respect for authority/satisfaction of serving country/etc.

I personally think the service would be good for him. He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...

only problem is...uhhhhh....son....WE'RE AT WAR.

....guess I'm struggling with this decision since I (of course) don't want my son to die in battle....

He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

Whats a dad to do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

Very appreciative of the posts so far. Please keep them coming.

Just for clarification he is going to finish high school...and thats what I don't understand....why the rush to sign him up now? As I understand it you can sign up after high school and be in boot camp in 2 weeks...or some short time thereafter...why does a recruiter want to have him sign now, when he still has to complete senior year of high school?

Again, very appreciative of input. Thank you.

Sincerely,

struggling Jet

 

[bogatyr]

why does a recruiter want to have him sign now, when he still has to complete senior year of high school?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The longer a potential recruit has to think about their decision and weigh alternatives the less likely they are to join.

 

[Monty Python]

..why the rush to sign him up now? As I understand it you can sign up after high school and be in boot camp in 2 weeks...

I've done reserve time at both USMC boot camp clinics: San Diego and Parris Island, SC, outside Beaufort.

If you live west of the Mississippi River you go to San Diego. Live east, and you go to Parris Island = brutally hot and steamy in the summer.

If your son is bound for Parris Island may I suggest timing his enlistment so that he arrives at boot camp somewhere in the October - April timeframe?

 

[jetproppilot]

My father passed away a well-respected dentist in the community.

Before his time in the USMC you would have thought (based on his HS performance and behavior) that he was penitentiary-bound.

He graduated HS in May, 1941 and got a job driving a chicken truck. Along came Pearl Harbor, draft, four years Pacific island-hopping with the USMC, Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, honorable discharge ..... and a completely new sense of purpose, self-discipline, attention to detail, goal-setting, and the GI Bill. Wound up graduating Stetson with honors, getting into dental school against ferocious competition, etc etc.

Throughout his life he credited the USMC with turning him into a successful citizen, without which he would have wound up on the garbage heap.

As a drilling Naval Reserve officer of course I'm partial to the USN/USMC team. And I have a special fondness for the grunts. My thoughts:

1. do not sign, allowing him to enlist early. That may tick him off, but it's with his best interest at heart. Make him think this through a little longer, but most importantly make him finish HS first. Even though he turns 18 this December but doesn't finish HS until next May, really put the pressure on him to finish school first. Has he talked to the recruiters yet? Depending on supply/demand of new recruits, usually the services REQUIRE a HS degree to enlist. I don't know the current recruiting environment.
Getting in without a HS degree would require a higher score on the entrance test.

2. if he's cock-sure about enlisting, I echo what another poster said: there are other services which will give vaulable training and life lessons without quite as much personal risk. Don't overlook the Coast Guard either.

3. if he's unshakeable in his desire to join the USMC, tell him to really bust his a@@ in boot camp and stand out ---> and possibly receive an invitation to join the elite embassy security team. All US embassies and consulates around the globe (as well as the White House) are guarded by Marines. No one else. Far removed from the desert. There are also other non-infantry options, behind the lines: aviation mechanics, avionics repair, logistics, etc.
The infantry is only one very small part of enlisted Marine job options.

For a listing of options:

http://parents.marines.com/page/Enlisted-P2.jsp
http://parents.marines.com/page/Enlisted-P3.jsp

For more generalized parental Q+A see:

http://parents.marines.com/

Thanks for the great links, Don.

 

[DieselDoctor]

I joined the Army after high school, and had friends that also did the AF and Marines. I can say without a doubt, that the Marines gave my friend the least amount of valuable training and college funds. He was also slower to make rank, and generally had a ****ty life as a marine.

 

[MicroBugs]

Very appreciative of the posts so far. Please keep them coming.

Just for clarification he is going to finish high school...and thats what I don't understand....why the rush to sign him up now? As I understand it you can sign up after high school and be in boot camp in 2 weeks...or some short time thereafter...why does a recruiter want to have him sign now, when he still has to complete senior year of high school?

Again, very appreciative of input. Thank you.

Sincerely,

struggling Jet

I agree that they longer they have to think about it, the better the chance of backing out. I had a cousin who had been 17 when he signed and was able to back out of the contract because of that after he graduated HS. Had another cousin though that signed before leaving HS and by doing that it somehow qualified her for PFC rank after boot camp, rather than buck private. Not sure if you're son will have that opportunity by signing early.

 

[Monty Python]

.....Had another cousin though that signed before leaving HS and by doing that it somehow qualified her for PFC rank after boot camp, rather than buck private. Not sure if you're son will have that opportunity by signing early.

There are several variations of that theme, depending on the supply/demand of recruits. Over the years I've seen:

-- automatic promotion to E-3 (versus remaining an E-1) at boot camp graduation if you participated in high school JROTC.

-- automatic promotion to E-3 if you signed a longer (6 yrs?) enlistment contract.

JPP, another option for your son: he can consider joining the reserves. This would entail boot camp, technical training school, and then (I think) 6 months active duty. After that he would become a drilling reservist one weekend per month with a civilian life.

Although being a reservist in this day and age entails the probability that you're going to be activated. Navy reserve officers were told by our three star admiral recently that we can reasonably expect to be activated one full year out of every six. That may entail an overseas visit to someplace sandy, or it may just involve backfilling at a military activity somewhere in North America.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I would effectively disown my child if she decided to disobey me by doing something as counterproductive as enlisting in the military. Given what I witnessed as the way the military works nowadays, I would say the chances of an outcome like Trinityalumnus described is very slim. Most of the people I dealt with in the military became MORE criminal minded and self-serving as they went along...I don't want my daughter to have anything to do with that type of culture.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Don't overlook the Coast Guard either.

The Coast Guard is the only branch of the "military" that I would support Lydia enlisting in.....

 

[militarymd]

Jet,


I don't know what to tell you. I spent 11 years in the military. You know how I feel about military medicine.

However, the non-medical careers can be a great way of life.

I think the only way for you to go is to support your boy unconditionally....either in or out of the marines....AND give him all the info he needs to make his decision.

 

[jetproppilot]

Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date. Average to poor high school grades despite pleas/positive reenforcement/disciplinary action for poor grades etc etc.

He's recently had an epiphany and sees himself approaching adulthood (will be 18 in December), realizes he's burned bridges with his lack of motivation, and is looking to make a committment to improving himself.

I've told him it isnt too late. Go to a community college. do well, then to a university, etc.

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons. He wants to be proud of accomplishment, likes what time in the service will do for him as far as direction/respect for authority/satisfaction of serving country/etc.

I personally think the service would be good for him. He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...

only problem is...uhhhhh....son....WE'RE AT WAR.

....guess I'm struggling with this decision since I (of course) don't want my son to die in battle....

He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

Whats a dad to do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

Very, very appreciative of all of you taking the time to post.

Thank you.

I suggested the Coasties....he loves boats...but he perceives the Marine Core to be the baddest dudes out there. And he wants to be a part of that.

I just don't want him to get capped.

Gotta admit I'll be proud of him.

I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks again.

 

[Pilot Doc]

I suggested the Coasties....he loves boats...but he perceives the Marine Core to be the baddest dudes out there. And he wants to be a part of that.

Call around to navy or airforce recruiters and see if they can offer him a better deal - guaranteed slot at their respective badass schools, etc.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

One compound word: Pararescue. You want to blow **** up and learn how to take care of people at the same time? 😉 Even my friends who are Marines give respect to my buddy who is a PJ.

 

[Croooz]

One compound word: Pararescue. You want to blow **** up and learn how to take care of people at the same time? 😉 Even my friends who are Marines give respect to my buddy who is a PJ.

Definitely! Every single high speed, low drag school the military has to offer UP FRONT! You go from boot to indoc and if you pass indoc into the year long pipeline of HSLD. In the end they're just ways to get to work but fun just the same.

Heck the Army SF is recruiting off the streets but you must be 20 years old. None of these are for the weak at heart or lame brain...so proceed with caution. There is Force Recon which are the USMC's bad boys. With now going into USSOCOM they will probably get more time on the field than in previous years.

I would opt for PJ/CCT over anything else knowing and having experienced what I have at this point. However all of these have high attrition rates and let's not lose focus of what their purpose is... 😎

 

[r90t]

I'd say he is feeling his adult independence and wants to be a bad ass. He is obviously aware of the war in Iraq and the risks involved in joining the military at this time. Unfortunately, at his age, he likely considers himself indestructable.

When Gulf War I kicked off, I tried my hardest to get out of my navy assignment and get deployed to SW Asia. 15 years later, I'm a little bit wiser and will go when asked, but the hand doesn't go up as far when they ask for volunteers. I've sacrificed enough in the last 20 years.

As for the recruiters wanting him to sign as soon as possible. Quotas. They have numbers to meet. BTW, if you look at the recruiters, most marines look like they come from the USMC ads, sailors come from mac donalds, and AF from the bus station. Army guys usually look like the advertised soldiers that they air.

One thing that I've noticed in marines, is that there is no such thing as an ex-marine. Marines after they put in their time and get out, still consider themselves marines. Less so, than for the other services.

 

[Ankylosed]

Would very much appreciate your opinions.

I have a 17 year old son who, to make a long story short, has not applied himself to date. Average to poor high school grades despite pleas/positive reenforcement/disciplinary action for poor grades etc etc.

He's recently had an epiphany and sees himself approaching adulthood (will be 18 in December), realizes he's burned bridges with his lack of motivation, and is looking to make a committment to improving himself.

I've told him it isnt too late. Go to a community college. do well, then to a university, etc.

He's hell-bent on joining the marines, and after several conversations with him, sounds like for all the right reasons. He wants to be proud of accomplishment, likes what time in the service will do for him as far as direction/respect for authority/satisfaction of serving country/etc.

I personally think the service would be good for him. He's wanting me to sign something that enables him to enlist before he is 18...he turns 18 in December and finishes high school in 2007...

only problem is...uhhhhh....son....WE'RE AT WAR.

....guess I'm struggling with this decision since I (of course) don't want my son to die in battle....

He says regardless of my decision, he's gonna sign up when he turns 18 anyway (in December).

Whats a dad to do?

Thanks for your input in advance.

Sign him in soon as possible, but only if he enlists as a Navy Corpsman!!!! He can spend AS MUCH time as he wants with the grunts, and will get some great training if he chooses to utilize all the technical specialties the Navy offers 👍 . Some Corpsman even wear the Marine uniforms with the Navy patches. Not to mention when he gets out, traveling technicians can rake in $250+/hour these days depending on the specialty!

Your son will get over that Hoo-rah bs quick when he is kicking back in an air conditioned hospital, or he may love it and spend a career in Camp Lejuene! My grades were similar to his in HS, but when I got in the Navy (at 17) I realized everything was on me and I excelled to the top of my classes (Hospital Corps School, USMC Field Medical Service School, Surgical Technologist). It even motivated me to get accepted to professional school when I never thought I would go to college in the first place 👍 . Navy Corpsman are hard core!! Look up the history and show your son how many Medals of Honor have been presented and he just might change his mind about where he wants to serve. Good Luck

 

[tec]

I am always amazed at the people who think GWB is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but when it comes to actually executing his policies, turn around and say "but not my son/daughter".

Military service is a great expereince, especially for young people who would like more discipline, direction, sense of accomplishement, etc. The selection of service has mush to do with a person's personailty. Someone who find the lore of the USMC appealing may be miserable in the AF or Coast Gaurd.

Let the flamming begin 😎

 

[Pemberley]

I am always amazed at the people who think GWB is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but when it comes to actually executing his policies, turn around and say "but not my son/daughter".

Military service is a great expereince, especially for young people who would like more discipline, direction, sense of accomplishement, etc. The selection of service has mush to do with a person's personailty. Someone who find the lore of the USMC appealing may be miserable in the AF or Coast Gaurd.

Let the flamming begin 😎

I think that's a bit harsh. I think military service was a formative experience in my life, that service in the Marine Corps especially would be character-building for many people, and that service in defense of democracy is both a duty and an honor... but if someday I have a son/daughter who signs up for the USMC I will be both proud of him/her and SCARED ****LESS.

Edit: one can think all those things about military service without being a Republican

 

[notdeadyet]

One thing that I've noticed in marines, is that there is no such thing as an ex-marine. Marines after they put in their time and get out, still consider themselves marines.

Same with folks who've been to prison. The analogy is not accidental.

Jetprop- let him sign when he's 18. He may very well change his mind two or three times by then (though you can't tell him this, obviously). God help all of us if we were forced into the career we were "certain" about at 17. There's no upside to signing up now other than the recruiter making his numbers.

 

[cmeshy]

Your son sounds like he wants to sign and you can support him in your own comforting way. The delayed entrance program or DEP (did this with the AF so not sure if the Marines also partake) is the ticket. He can sign all the papers up front get excited about his future commitment and then spend all the rest of the year contemplating and have the choice of up to the last few days before he leaves to withdrawal and not be penalized what so ever. Make sure he enters guaranteed job title too. Don't send him open enlistment where he might end up sporting a rifle or wose yet, a spatula for hungry grunts.

Oh and for sure make him go to the AF recruiter and check-out AF Special Tactics (PJ/CCT). By far the most highspeed and challenging enlisted job in the AF with the most respect and pay. If he watches the video, he will surely change his mind and have some of the best training and credentials to walk with if he decides to not go career. The PJs personally gave me the best direction, motivation, and confidence to take on any hurdle and challenge I have yet found in life. He will be a new man if he can hack it. (by the way, my class of 127 graduated 5 after 2.5 years of training. so he better be up to the challenge).

 

[VolatileNavyDoc]

It's a hard decision about whether or not to support your son wanting to join the military. My son is only 3 y.o. and I already think about it. I joined the Navy when I was 18 and had the best time of my life. I was a poor HS student with a 2.7 GPA with a lot of VoTech courses. I joined, learned Arabic, got some discipline, "visited" most of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. After I got out, I ended up with a 3.9 GPA in college and did well in med school. My 3 best friends now were all enlisted with me. One is an officer in the Navy, one is an executive at Southwest, and one is a corporate executive.

Now I work with a marine infantry training command, so I have a lot of interaction with the infantry and recon marines on the base. They are some of the most upstanding citizens I know. In general, they look you in the eye, tell you what is on their mind, will work 40 hours straight if something needs to get accomplished, and are good natured people. The downside is that most of their skills are not transferable to the civilian world (unless you want to be a policeman.) They also get shot. Many of the guys I work with have multiple scars where lead has entered their body. However, these guys do get some discipline and will learn anything that is thrown at them. I teach a Wilderness First Responder and CASEVAC course to marine instructors on base, and they are just sponges for information.

In my opinion, the best thing would be to support his decision and help him be as informed as possible, but don't sign for him. If he is going to be in high school all year and will turn 18 in December, then there is no reason to sign up now. There are lots of good jobs in all of the services. The marines have many technically oriented positions, but he will still be a marine. I went to Arabic language school with 10 marines, and most of those guys are officers now or are doing well as civilians. As was mentioned before, a recruiter is a salesman. They have quotas and get points based on how many XXX marines they enlist. I would imagine that enlisting guys out of high school gets them some bonus points. I would try to find a marine who is not a recruiter and talk to them about their experience. Some marines are gun toting infantrymen, and some sit in an office doing admin work all day. Hope this helps some.

 

[alpha62]

Let him join. There are a lot of physician's and pilots kids that are in drug rehab right now. It could be worse. Pick your poison.

 

[Ankylosed]

Oh and for sure make him go to the AF recruiter and check-out AF Special Tactics (PJ/CCT). By far the most highspeed and challenging enlisted job in the AF with the most respect and pay. If he watches the video, he will surely change his mind and have some of the best training and credentials to walk with if he decides to not go career. The PJs personally gave me the best direction, motivation, and confidence to take on any hurdle and challenge I have yet found in life. He will be a new man if he can hack it. (by the way, my class of 127 graduated 5 after 2.5 years of training. so he better be up to the challenge).

!This is really crappy advice! Whatever branch and specialty he chooses, just advise him to pick something he would be interested in doing as a civilian career later. Special Forces type stuff is great, but many people drop out and forced to hit the fleet with no schooling.

One of my buddies was an aviation electronics enlisted in the Navy, and now works on helicopters doing major electronics. He clears $60,000 and is happy. Point is don't let him leave the military with no technical skills! He doesn't want to pack parachutes the rest of his life.. The option to go to college is readily available INCONUS and I finished almost my entire bachelor degree along with the other schools mentioned in previous post in less than five years active. Make him realize that he holds the entire future in HIS hands, and if he chooses to, he can become very educated almost for free.

Sign him in if he feels ready to sign!!!!!!!!!

 

[notdeadyet]

Sign him in if he feels ready to sign!!!!!!!!!

At 17? Just a difference in perspective, I guess. If he ain't old enough to vote or play lotto, I can't imagine letting him sign his life away to the military yet. Lot of growing up occurs between 17 and 18.

 

[Ankylosed]

At 17? Just a difference in perspective, I guess. If he ain't old enough to vote or play lotto, I can't imagine letting him sign his life away to the military yet. Lot of growing up occurs between 17 and 18.

He will be 18 in six months! I signed into DEP the day I turned 17. Some people are dedicated and can make solid decisions at this age. I was still 17 in boot camp and given leadership positions and told I was "officer material". His actual age does not have to correlate to his military performance.

You, on the other hand, are at the other end of the spectrum. You are 34 and just APPLYING to med school. Not everyone wants to start their career at age 50. Let the young lad in if he is ready..

 

[jetproppilot]

He will be 18 in six months! I signed into DEP the day I turned 17. Some people are dedicated and can make solid decisions at this age. I was still 17 in boot camp and given leadership positions and told I was "officer material". His actual age does not have to correlate to his military performance.

You, on the other hand, are at the other end of the spectrum. You are 34 and just APPLYING to med school. Not everyone wants to start their career at age 50. Let the young lad in if he is ready..

thanks again for all the continued posts.

pick your poison....

hmmmmm.....

thats deep.

and very true.

 

[GMO_52]

If he scores high enough, there are 2 great enlisted jobs in the military (IMHO), linguist and nuke. Neither are typically USMC jobs. If he wants to be a badass, maybe a future in law enforcement for example, the coasties are the only service that can arrest people, chase drug smugglers, etc. If he's deadset on swordfighting with dragons in the marines (i know they do that cause i saw it on tv), then get him into tanks, arty or amtraks, he's less likely to die that way...course he might end up a little hard of hearing.

 

[Croooz]

He will be 18 in six months! I signed into DEP the day I turned 17. Some people are dedicated and can make solid decisions at this age. I was still 17 in boot camp and given leadership positions and told I was "officer material". His actual age does not have to correlate to his military performance.

You, on the other hand, are at the other end of the spectrum. You are 34 and just APPLYING to med school. Not everyone wants to start their career at age 50. Let the young lad in if he is ready..

With what I know about officer's & company commanders, I'm not sure they were giving you a compliment.

Sure he can come in. That isn't the point, the point is this isn't the cold war military where you went from duty station to duty station and racked up on college credits. There's that pesky thing called Iraq that this father is worried about.

On the one hand you mention that he shouldn't get out without skills he can use as a civilian and then turn around and say that his future is in his hands. Crazy as it sounds there are those who went SF and got out of the military and didn't become mercenaries or parachute riggers. If his future is in his hands then he can do whatever he'd like to in the military and get out and do something else. Not everyone wants to live their life with "what if" at 50.


Joining the tankers with the Marines....well they have the lowest ASVAB requirement for any job in the military.

 

[alpha62]

1) If somebody as stupid as Geraldo Rivera can read the handwriting on the wall, we're doomed... he said on O'Reily last night..

" we'll be in Iraq for 50 years, just like Korea... get over it"

2) those two kids that were killed last week. Leaving 3 privates under age 24 to fend for themselves outside the wire.... I wouldn't let 3 privates manage a garbage detail by themselves.

 

[notdeadyet]

His actual age does not have to correlate to his military performance.

I think you're missing the point here. I don't think JetProp is particularly concerned about his son's military performance. I think he's concerned about his son.

There are downsides to a 17 year old who hasn't finished high school committing to 4 years of military service. What if he changes his mind? What if better opportunities present themselves? What happens if the war dies down and he's left doing time in the Marines with no war to fight (I know a lot of friends who signed up for the first Gulf War due to wartime patriotism and had the thing finish before they completed their training; found that they didn't like the military so much when it consisted mostly of training in the South)?

There are no upsides to signing up at 17. Military recruiting is way down. He can get a great package signing up at 18. At an age when he's legally responsible for his actions.

You, on the other hand, ...

This ain't about me, Ankylosed. But I'm touched you care...

 

[alpha62]

Yeah, do a spring break, get drunk, get laid, THEN turn 18 and see if you still want to sign your life away

I think you're missing the point here. I don't think JetProp is particularly concerned about his son's military performance. I think he's concerned about his son.

There are downsides to a 17 year old who hasn't finished high school committing to 4 years of military service. What if he changes his mind? What if better opportunities present themselves? What happens if the war dies down and he's left doing time in the Marines with no war to fight (I know a lot of friends who signed up for the first Gulf War due to wartime patriotism and had the thing finish before they completed their training; found that they didn't like the military so much when it consisted mostly of training in the South)?

There are no upsides to signing up at 17. Military recruiting is way down. He can get a great package signing up at 18. At an age when he's legally responsible for his actions.


This ain't about me, Ankylosed. But I'm touched you care...