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As I'm flying down 696 yesterday morning on my way to work my daughter calls me. She says "I lost your address again, can you give it to me." Being the wonderful mother that I am and knowing my children, I immediately ask "Why?"
She says "Well, the Army recruiter needs it." She didn't appreciate my yelling "WHY?" back at her. She's heard that tone before and I'm sure would of loved to end the conversation right at that point. She hems and haws a bit then rapidly starts talking without breathing "Well Jess (my 17 year old) wants to go in the Army for 2 years before he goes to college and then they will pay for it and they are going to give him a bunch of money and you won't have to worry about it, besides they are testing him today and he goes for his physical next week and I tried to talk him out of this but you know how he is and he's not listening to me. So the Army guy wants your address because I told him it would be better that way rather than to call you." I hear her taking a deep breath.
Well fuck. I'm speechless.
Then she goes on to say "Well the Army guy keeps telling him about all this money and stuff they are going to give him."
At this point all I can say is "Yeah, sunscreen and a used gun." Then I'm on a roll.."What the fuck is he thinking? Tell him that guy is nothing more than a used car salesman and the Army is not going to give him shit for Christs sake!"
So anyway, I quit taking it out on my daughter and told her I'd call him when I cooled down...well that hasn't happened yet. At this rate Christmas could come and go.
I have no clue at this point what to say to this kid. He has a 4.0 GPA and more (I thought) intelligence than anyone in our family has ever had.
I remember the Army recruiter that was dancing with my daughter when she was in high school and all the bogus shit they were laying on her. I'm sure it's illegal to bitchslap an Army recruiter....but still. Anyway...my daughter does know me, it wouldn't be wise for him to call me.
I was an Army recruiter for a spell.
Posted by: Sgt Hook at October 31, 2003 09:37 AMEnlisting was something I had seriously considered my senior year of HS, until my brother talked me out of it.
My life has turned out very well, so I'm not complaining, but I still have the occasional regrets and "what if"s. Lord knows, I could have used the structure and discipline.
Anyway, there are worse things than serving in the military. (probably not what you wanted to hear) But he needs to talk to some veterans on his own and not just listen to the spiel of the recruiter so he can develop more realistic expectations and at least make an informed decision.
One way or the other, I hope everything works out.
Posted by: LittleA at October 31, 2003 10:34 AMI'd be glad to answer any of your questions as long as you don't bitchslap me. Well, too hard.
Posted by: Sgt Hook at October 31, 2003 11:24 AMThe Army really does have very generous college benefits. If he can't get any scholarships, it could help him a lot, in a number of ways.
Yes, there's the danger he'll be sent into combat. But in terms of promising stuff to him--the only worry you have is how they underplay the stuff they put you through in training, and overstate your options for where you'll be shipped after basic training. As far as promised college benefits and stuff? They're actually pretty primo.
Posted by: Dean Esmay at November 2, 2003 08:27 AMThe military actually does offer very good college programs, and you don't even have to go in as a combatant. In fact, if he is as intelligent as you make him out to be, he would probably qualify to be in a non combat position, which would make it more than worth his while. I didn't even have a 4.0, and I would have qualified to be a nuclear technician in the Navy. That is not, and by contract, cannot be a combat position.
As fo rhte recruiter being "nothing more than a used car salesman," that's a sure fine way to tell someone thank you for the fact that you are able to say that.
As for your comment about having more sense, what do you have to say to people that are very intelligent, very common sense smart, and are in the army? You claim that you, having not gone into the military, are more intelligent than that guy who runs all of the nuclear technology in submarines below the ocean? I doubt that. In fact, the military is a good route if you get into a non combatant position, which, as I said before, he would be more than capable of doing if he is as bright as you say he is.
Anyway, that's all I have to say to you.
Posted by: Joe at October 20, 2004 06:14 PMI'm sorry, I came off as a jerk. I apologize. That was unintentional, and stems from the fact that I had someone that was totally anti-Bush, anti-everything I stand for use that kind of a thing on me right before I replied, and since I have an uncle who is in Bahrain right now, I know what it's like having someone you love in the service. I guess beig a parent would bea little more stressful than I can imagine. Anyway...sorry again...
Joe
Posted by: Joe at October 20, 2004 06:18 PM