Your teen says they are leaning toward the military…

[Anonymous]

As long as he got a college degree FIRST, sure. I wouldn’t support enlisting at 18-19 and not going to college. I’m an older Millennial and I had friends in college who were enlisted. They started college but pretty much as soon as they got their first deployment they dropped out. The money and bonuses are too tempting for a 19-20 year old and they end up not finishing their educations, or going back much later in life after they already have kids and a day job and it’s much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d support it wholeheartedly. We are a service-oriented family full of nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers, and military officers. The expectation for our children is that you pick a college degree and career path that serves the greater good.

Elitist and tacky.

I think denigrating service professions like the military or those listed above is elitist and tacky. This thread (heck, this website) is full of that mindset.

My parents were both enlisted and so was my DH. They struggled financially until they got out and went into the private sector. If you want the Armed Forces as a career, the officer route is the way to go. If you want to enlist for four years as an experience, before college is fine. This is the advice for my kids. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

After I got over the shock, I’d support them. There are far worse options and I think the military would instill them with discipline and an appreciation for what they have. Unfortunately, my kids live in a bubble and have no true appreciation of how most people live. While this would scare me, I think it would be a good experience for them.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. We aren’t poor. They have other options.

I wasn't poor either but 132K in loans from college took 20 years to pay off. My husband had zero loans for undergrad and grad school.

+1. My DH’s family had enough money saved for college but he got a ROTC scholarship and has no debts at all for education including a Masters. And saved his parents money.

[Anonymous]

My cousin is Marine. He went to Boston College first, tried out investment banking and hated it. Then he went through training, I don’t know if it was just officer training or something else. Whatever it was, it was one of those trainings that is rigorous and a lot of people flunk out. I think he did 6 months in the Middle East throughout his 10 year career? I don’t think he saw combat though. Anyway, no mental issues and LOVES being a Marine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Support them.

Yes, this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally unacceptable. I'd tell them to lean in another direction, and quick. (People here disagree, I don't care, we've already had this argument and we won't change each others' minds.)

+1. If he/she is 18, I can’t stop them, but we will pay for absolutely nothing related to this, including coming off our insurance (otherwise can stay on until 26 if needed).

They will have TriCare in the military, so don't need yours.

Oh yeah, we all know how great military health insurance is.

It literally covers everything for active duty members.

[Anonymous]

No student debt, great pension...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. We aren’t poor. They have other options.

Showing your ignorance. For a lot of students with many options, this is their first option. Many billionaires spent time in the military and used the skills they were taught once they left the military to make it big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. We aren’t poor. They have other options.

Showing your ignorance. For a lot of students with many options, this is their first option. Many billionaires spent time in the military and used the skills they were taught once they left the military to make it big.

They aren’t wrong. You are correct for previous generations. But the military is no longer a popular choice for teens with good grades and enough money for other opportunities. There are exceptions, but they are the minority

[Anonymous]

Nope. My H has PTSD so we’ve given enough. Someone else’s turn.

Both our fathers served as well.

[Anonymous]

Curious whether those on this thread who say the military “goes against their beliefs” or look down their noses at service members as being only those too poor to do something “better” would be fine if we just didn’t have a means of defense against threats? It’s a pretty stuck up and ignorant attitude.

My brilliant and successful husband is a Marine (enlisted), and we both come from military families. So I’d support my child if he wanted to join. My husband agrees that going to college first would be better, since life is easier as an officer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. We aren’t poor. They have other options.

Showing your ignorance. For a lot of students with many options, this is their first option. Many billionaires spent time in the military and used the skills they were taught once they left the military to make it big.

They aren’t wrong. You are correct for previous generations. But the military is no longer a popular choice for teens with good grades and enough money for other opportunities. There are exceptions, but they are the minority

It depends on what you live, I suspect. I work in a high school where our top performing students often aim for service academies. (Wealthy area, too.)

[Anonymous]

“They’re so good at making soldiers/but they’re not as good at making men.”

— Gun Shy, 10,000 Maniacs…