Your teen says they are leaning toward the military…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

[Anonymous]

Some people high skills and credentials that are high in demand, but low in supply.

You can figure it out from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enlisting in the Navy his senior year of high school was the best decision my nephew ever made. He spent 10 years in Japan, where he met his wife. Bought a house at 28. He's been to more countries than I can count, and is working on his college degree. Next year, because of his exemplary service, he will become a commissioned officer even without the degree.

He has a life now that could have been working at Home Depot. He is one of the people I most admire.

What a great story! Congratulations to your nephew, and please thank him for his service (from an internet stranger). I am a federal hiring manager, and military officers and NCO's are my favorite hires. They understand leadership, take their jobs seriously, and have a level of grit that most pampered, Ivy grads will never have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

'

No, because they are inherently unstable, subject to government funding/contract re-competitions, and quality of life can be bad depending on the client.

[Anonymous]

When my DD was in 9th grade, she told me she decided she wanted to go to West Point and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

Then after listening to why, etc, (per PP 23:04), I did everything I could to support her in pursuing her goal.

She's a plebe (first year) at West Point right now and she loves it. I have learned a lot about the military culture--I knew nothing--and I have been blown away by how fantastic it is for the right person, the right fit.

I can't speak beyond the West Point experience, but what I can say about it is it's one of, if not, the top leadership training program in the world. Everything they do is geared toward being a good leader, and dealing with moral/ethical challenges etc. because it's real stuff, not boardroom stuff. It's on a whole other level and I recommend anyone who is interested to get a clearance to go on the post (campus) and learn about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

'

No, because they are inherently unstable, subject to government funding/contract re-competitions, and quality of life can be bad depending on the client.

You are speaking of your own limited experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would literally do anything to dissuade my child from going into the military. This would not be OK with me.

I don’t understand this mentality, you realize without our military we would be unable to live our cushy lives, right? So you are fine with letting other families carry that burden but not yours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

'

No, because they are inherently unstable, subject to government funding/contract re-competitions, and quality of life can be bad depending on the client.

You are speaking of your own limited experience.

Don't take my word for it, research it and you will see - that's contractor life.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people don’t realize you can serve in the military without fighting. Doctors, nurses, chaplains, engineers, scientists, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

'

No, because they are inherently unstable, subject to government funding/contract re-competitions, and quality of life can be bad depending on the client.

You are speaking of your own limited experience.

Don't take my word for it, research it and you will see - that's contractor life.

Ummm. I know exactly what the possibilities are. I don’t need to research anything. Intelligence officers have many options after retiring from active duty. Not all involve federal or contractor positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would literally do anything to dissuade my child from going into the military. This would not be OK with me.

I don’t understand this mentality, you realize without our military we would be unable to live our cushy lives, right? So you are fine with letting other families carry that burden but not yours?

DP. I take your point, but you have to realize that many people don't believe in the connection between serving in the military and actually protecting the country. The Iraq and Afghanistan debacles, at the end of the day, weakened our country. So how do you convince people to sign up when they understandably don't want to get lied to and used?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

'

No, because they are inherently unstable, subject to government funding/contract re-competitions, and quality of life can be bad depending on the client.

You are speaking of your own limited experience.

Don't take my word for it, research it and you will see - that's contractor life.

Ummm. I know exactly what the possibilities are. I don’t need to research anything. Intelligence officers have many options after retiring from active duty. Not all involve federal or contractor positions.

Ummm...OK, sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband is retired military Intel officer. He has had excellent opportunities.

What were they?

Not sure what you are asking. I’m not going to disclose details.

You can't say generally what the opportunities were? "Excellent" is a subjective term. On DCUM, getting a job at a federal contractor as an intel analyst would not be "excellent", for example.

Why wouldn't that be "excellent"? Because on DCUM only $10M/year is "excellent"?

'

No, because they are inherently unstable, subject to government funding/contract re-competitions, and quality of life can be bad depending on the client.

You are speaking of your own limited experience.

Don't take my word for it, research it and you will see - that's contractor life.

My spouse has been a contractor and never had an issue. You have to monitor the contract and know when it’s time to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You never responded about how many children you have. Only child? It’s a flat out no for me. Maybe Air Force WITH PILOT TRAINING ONLY. Have to come out as a pilot able to drive for Amazon or UPS or major airline.

NP. Our kid talks about enlisting and he wants to do this. We keep explaining that he needs to get some sort of education first to in as an officer. No one can just enlist and demand they want to learn how to fly. There’s no guarantee you will ever be near a plane.

The other thing we tell him is that he has a hard time taking orders from authority and admits he doesn’t like it so the military is not the best choice.

Maybe he can take private lessons first and get a pilot license? The women on the bachelor franchise will fight over a pilot.

Enlisted don’t fly. Only officers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You never responded about how many children you have. Only child? It’s a flat out no for me. Maybe Air Force WITH PILOT TRAINING ONLY. Have to come out as a pilot able to drive for Amazon or UPS or major airline.

NP. Our kid talks about enlisting and he wants to do this. We keep explaining that he needs to get some sort of education first to in as an officer. No one can just enlist and demand they want to learn how to fly. There’s no guarantee you will ever be near a plane.

The other thing we tell him is that he has a hard time taking orders from authority and admits he doesn’t like it so the military is not the best choice.

Maybe he can take private lessons first and get a pilot license? The women on the bachelor franchise will fight over a pilot.

Enlisted don’t fly. Only officers.

That's not entirely true. Mostly because there is a path from enlisted to becoming an officer and a pilot. I know people that have done that.