Military Choices For A Son - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Plantman · #1 10-23-2007, 08:36 PM

If you guys were going to steer your kid to the armed forces, in our current state of war, what branch would you steer him to, obviously, fearing for his life?

And more importantly, why?

FYI, my son dropped out of HS and got his GED, although that probably rules him out for some of the branches.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

t walgamuth · #2 10-23-2007, 08:42 PM

coast guard. navy. air force.

marines last.

Tom W

Botnst · #3 10-23-2007, 08:51 PM

They'll accept a GED and under certain circumstances, an arrest record. But if he fails a piss test at any time they'll give him the boot. Might want to inform him of that.

Which branch depends on his aptitude. If he's mechanically inclined then the USN has the most jobs in that area. If electronic then it used to be the purvue of the USAF & Navy but all branches are going electronic. If he's interested in law enforcement and working with the public on small craft, nothing beats the Coast Guard. Like I said, it all depends on his aptitude. None of the branches appreciates a slacker. All of them believe in employing a wide array of motivational methods for those few folks who seem less willing to participate in group activities.
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In my case I have encouraged my kids to consider the military. One is marrying a soldier -- being a spouse is a military career. The other two are have considered it but thus far not expressed an interest (one of them shouldn't even consider it, she's a bright kid but couldn't give a command to a dog without hugging it first).

FYI I would not encourage a young woman to enlist, though I would a young man. I don't think MOST women can hack it and thus, become a drag and/or source of dissension in the unit. Female officers have a different world to inhabit and in that world, generally perform equally to male officers.

Plantman · #4 10-23-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

They'll accept a GED and under certain circumstances, an arrest record. But if he fails a piss test at any time they'll give him the boot. Might want to inform him of that.

Which branch depends on his aptitude. If he's mechanically inclined then the USN has the most jobs in that area. If electronic then it used to be the purvue of the USAF & Navy but all branches are going electronic. If he's interested in law enforcement and working with the public on small craft, nothing beats the Coast Guard. Like I said, it all depends on his aptitude. None of the branches appreciates a slacker. All of them believe in employing a wide array of motivational methods for those few folks who seem less willing to participate in group activities.
--------------------------------------------------------------
In my case I have encouraged my kids to consider the military. One is marrying a soldier -- being a spouse is a military career. The other two are have considered it but thus far not expressed an interest (one of them shouldn't even consider it, she's a bright kid but couldn't give a command to a dog without hugging it first).

FYI I would not encourage a young woman to enlist, though I would a young man. I don't think MOST women can hack it and thus, become a drag and/or source of dissension in the unit. Female officers have a different world to inhabit and in that world, generally perform equally to male officers.

HE was arrested for posession of weed on HS. The charge was dismissed, but he has not gotten his record expunged.

He was also arrested after 18 for reckless driving, would those incidents prohibit him from joining? The reckless driving was pleaded out to driving school, no points.

If he had one or both of these incidents expunged, would that help him?

BTW, he is very gifted with computers, and design to some degree.

THanks

Botnst · #5 10-23-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plantman

HE was arrested for posession of weed on HS. The charge was dismissed, but he has not gotten his record expunged.

He was also arrested after 18 for reckless driving, would those incidents prohibit him from joining? The reckless driving was pleaded out to driving school, no points.

If he had one or both of these incidents expunged, would that help him?

BTW, he is very gifted with computers, and design to some degree.

THanks

The traffic thing is most probably insignificant. If the weed record was while he was a legal minor I don't think they need to know about it. Not sure about that.

Call up a recruiter and ask him, "My son got busted at 15 for weed and has been clean since. Can he enlist?"

catmandoo62 · #6 10-23-2007, 08:51 PM

air force.if not then the coast guard.

Medmech · #7 10-23-2007, 09:00 PM

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genjoin/a/asvabminimum.htm

he should take the ASVAB and go from there.

Plantman · #8 10-23-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genjoin/a/asvabminimum.htm

he should take the ASVAB and go from there.

Howie, can that test be taken without enlisting or is it only when you sign on the dotted line?

raymr · #9 10-23-2007, 11:05 PM

I checked into the Coast Guard for my boy. When I called, at the beginning of this year, there was a 6-8 month wait to get into their basic training. From what I gather, you start out doing police work, only its on boats.

So the trick is keeping a kid out of trouble til he can be shipped off. He ended up not going, but it would have been my military choice.

Hatterasguy · #10 10-23-2007, 11:07 PM

Even if you have a police record you can get in. I know someone who is having to wait to join the airforce because he has a record. Something minor like a little pot, I forget. Anyway he has to wait until next spring, I think they can tweak your record a bit.

Medmech · #11 10-23-2007, 11:16 PM

I'll make it simple:
If you don't like water stay away from the CG / Navy Marines
If you don't like sand and mud stay away from the Army Marines - Air Force can get its fair share of that stuff too. You're an enlisted grease monkey not a pilot.

If you don't like Bull$hit, stay away from all of the above it takes years to start getting in on the fun. You start out sweeping parking lots/Tarmacs/Motorpools/painting boats.

TheDon · #12 10-23-2007, 09:20 PM

oh yea.. The ASVAB of course.. score high and you will have recruiters calling you left and right... Sadly the Do Not Call List doesnt cover them... I had two calls today from the Navy... again and again... and I scored a 88 on the ASVAB...