Joining military

[Anonymous]

For those with high schoolers!

What are your thoughts on allowing or wanting your kids joining the military? Do you suggest the idea? What would you say if they did?

[Anonymous]

My husband is military so I would support it only if they went in as officers with a college degree. Husband was enlisted and life is very hard and you are not treated very well.

[Anonymous]

Soooo go into the military with student loans?

What about going in enlisted. Telling your kid to avoid a spouse and kid. Work to a college degree while enlisted and then becoming an officer?

What makes being enlisted so bad? Most bad reviews come from subpar performances or family at home not being willing to support the things sometimes as stupid a as they are

[Anonymous]

I'd have my kids committed for intense psychological evaluations and if by some miracle they were found to be sane I'd disown them.

Obviously, not a fan of the military here, to put it lightly. My two oldest kids who are in grad school basically considered joining the military as much as they considered joining the circus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soooo go into the military with student loans?

What about going in enlisted. Telling your kid to avoid a spouse and kid. Work to a college degree while enlisted and then becoming an officer?

What makes being enlisted so bad? Most bad reviews come from subpar performances or family at home not being willing to support the things sometimes as stupid a as they are

We will pay for our child's college education. We started planning at birth. It is very hard to do your degree and become an officer as you only have a short window and that's assuming you will be approved. Its very very difficult to transfer from enlisted to officer.

What makes enlisted so bad? Low pay, getting treated very poorly by officers, getting crappy career fields and then being stuck in they as you cannot easily switch, and much more. You clearly don't know much about military.

[Anonymous]

But wait. It's good enough to allow you to pay for your kids college? And your husband has been in how long and is still in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Soooo go into the military with student loans?

What about going in enlisted. Telling your kid to avoid a spouse and kid. Work to a college degree while enlisted and then becoming an officer?

What makes being enlisted so bad? Most bad reviews come from subpar performances or family at home not being willing to support the things sometimes as stupid a as they are

We will pay for our child's college education. We started planning at birth. It is very hard to do your degree and become an officer as you only have a short window and that's assuming you will be approved. Its very very difficult to transfer from enlisted to officer.

What makes enlisted so bad? Low pay, getting treated very poorly by officers, getting crappy career fields and then being stuck in they as you cannot easily switch, and much more. You clearly don't know much about military.

I hope your husband isn't an NCO. If that's the case is hate to have to follow him.

[Anonymous]

Two of our kids enlisted right out of high school. It was the best thing that could have happened for them. One ended up going through OCS and is now an officer (1st LT). The Army is sending him to medical school. The other got out after four years and is a college junior.

Our other kids went straight from high school into college.

I'm a big believer in allowing kids to choose their own paths. I totally trusted my kids to make life decisions that were right for them. I think one of the biggest problems this country is facing is the inability of parents to allow their adult children to manage their own lives. And yes. An 18 year old is an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two of our kids enlisted right out of high school. It was the best thing that could have happened for them. One ended up going through OCS and is now an officer (1st LT). The Army is sending him to medical school. The other got out after four years and is a college junior.

Our other kids went straight from high school into college.

I'm a big believer in allowing kids to choose their own paths. I totally trusted my kids to make life decisions that were right for them. I think one of the biggest problems this country is facing is the inability of parents to allow their adult children to manage their own lives. And yes. An 18 year old is an adult.

I completely agree. I think it's sad that a parent will chose for a kid something like getting into debt with student loans instead of laying out plans for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd have my kids committed for intense psychological evaluations and if by some miracle they were found to be sane I'd disown them.

Obviously, not a fan of the military here, to put it lightly. My two oldest kids who are in grad school basically considered joining the military as much as they considered joining the circus.

You sound like a complete clown yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd have my kids committed for intense psychological evaluations and if by some miracle they were found to be sane I'd disown them.

Obviously, not a fan of the military here, to put it lightly. My two oldest kids who are in grad school basically considered joining the military as much as they considered joining the circus.

Lemme guess, you're all for your children's "right to choose" as long as it's what you want them to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But wait. It's good enough to allow you to pay for your kids college? And your husband has been in how long and is still in?

No, my husband retired. He got his degree right before he retired. His current employment pays for our current lifestyle. We only benefit from the health care right now. It is not easy doing it active duty and advancing in your career. The military is not paying for our child's college - we are. We took a chunk of my pre-child/marriage savings and put it in a prepaid and then paid it every month instead of getting a new car we needed till it was paid off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two of our kids enlisted right out of high school. It was the best thing that could have happened for them. One ended up going through OCS and is now an officer (1st LT). The Army is sending him to medical school. The other got out after four years and is a college junior.

Our other kids went straight from high school into college.

I'm a big believer in allowing kids to choose their own paths. I totally trusted my kids to make life decisions that were right for them. I think one of the biggest problems this country is facing is the inability of parents to allow their adult children to manage their own lives. And yes. An 18 year old is an adult.

My husband paid his own way via the military, joining at 18. His life was very difficult. My parents paid for my college and graduate school and set me up very well with no debt and teaching me how to manage my finances. Our lives were drastically different. We will do everything we can do to as my parents did. If they want to enlist after their education, fine, but not before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd have my kids committed for intense psychological evaluations and if by some miracle they were found to be sane I'd disown them.

Obviously, not a fan of the military here, to put it lightly. My two oldest kids who are in grad school basically considered joining the military as much as they considered joining the circus.

Lemme guess, you're all for your children's "right to choose" as long as it's what you want them to do?

They get to choose within reason. They chose their colleges, neither of which were the ones I'd have chosen for them. The military would not be a reasonable choice in our family.

[Anonymous]

I was confused as I was finishing HS, and thought about joining the military...my mom was strongly against it; the was convinced I would get married by 20, and never be able to go to college.

At 17, when I was talking to the recruiter, I was a smart kid, but really bad student...I had no work ethic...I needed an attitude adjustment. I often wonder what would have happened if I joined...Other than Lebanon, there would have been no hostilities during my time.

For some kids that are not ready for college or unsure of what they will do in life, it is good. If combat is avoided, it seems like a good way to grow up fast -- but I hate seeing kids killed in combat.