My nephew wants to join the military. I think only suckers agree to fight Republican wars. Advice?

[Anonymous]

All you people suggesting the OP pay for college - what makes you think the nephew is college material? I'd bet he isn't, and is looking at scrambling to find a minimum wage job, or enlisting in the service. I know which option I'm choose - and I'm as liberal as they come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. So much misinformation.

Go take a look at military benefits and pay. It’s pretty good. And the healthcare is free. And the lifestyle is great and you make life long friends. All the important members of congress have relatives in the military or were in it. Biden, Lindsey Graham, McCain, Bushes.

What the OP write is some kind of bizarre caricature.

Health care is not free. We pay a monthly fee and co-pays and deductibles if medical care is not on base. They also don't cover everything and we pay out of pocket which is really costly. The lifestyle may or may not be great. Clearly you have never done it. Military retirement pay is minimal for enlisted at 20 years. But, it did for my spouse what no one else would do for him - a job, a place to live and an education. Most of those members you are talking about only served a few years. Very different from retirees. The lifestyle can be great for 4-8 years but try it after you have kids.

Good luck in the civilian world then. I’m sure you’ll find those civilian jobs richly rewarding. Except the tax free housing allowance, college paid for, with a housing allowance to boot, surrounded by interesting people who have your back.

What service were you in? You seemed to have missed the major recreational discounts? Pretty short workdays for most of the time. Tax free shopping?

We are in the civilian world. We still spend at least $1K a month on health care and there is no GI Bill and other things given when my husband served. Tax free shopping - commissary is more expensive than Aldi's even when you use coupons and the NEX/AFFES is generally more expensive than TJ MAX or Marshalls for the same stuff. You really aren't saving that much in taxes if their prices are higher.

Recreational discounts. Ok, so you get discounted Disney tickets and cruises and a few other things but otherwise there isn't a huge savings like you think there is.

The housing allowance is so they can pay less so when you retire its based off pay not total compensation so it makes retirement a lot less than it should be. Its done to screw people over who retire, not help. Likewise, every year or so congress threatens to kick retirees off health care even though it was promised as free health care for the rest of our live and with all the costs is not really any cheaper. For us, its more stable as my spouse job jumps every few years but its not better which is why we have such high costs. I have had 4 primary care providers since January. I cannot get an appointment and have to use the ER as they claim to pay for urgent care clinics but when I go they say they don't pay or Tricare will not reimburse. Often you seen new unlicensed doctors or worse, residents or interns and even at speciality clinics the docs you are scheduled to see don't see you and pass you off on others.

Short work days - are you kidding? Duty Day starts extremely early so you may get out early but that's because you are at work before most people wake up. If you want to go away for the weekend you have to take leave for the weekend.

Civilian world is far more interesting and financially better. Military has its perks and it was very good for my spouse but you make it sound far better than it is and the perks are not really perks and many get the same perks or better in the government or civilian world. I'd rather have higher pay over a military housing allowance. I'd rather have the ability to select my doctors and have stable doctors.

There is a GI Bill. In fact the GI Bill of today is much better than the one I received.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All you people suggesting the OP pay for college - what makes you think the nephew is college material? I'd bet he isn't, and is looking at scrambling to find a minimum wage job, or enlisting in the service. I know which option I'm choose - and I'm as liberal as they come.

Virtually anyone who can pass an asvab can get in to community college at a minimum. It's a safe bet that OP's nephew is college material by the sheer fact that he's been accepted to the military. Most kids don't qualify for the military- they bomb the test, they have a criminal background, they have a medical issue, they have a pattern of discipline issues, or they are fat.

[Anonymous]

What a total ignorant jerk ! He should be on point lol. WW Two was referred to as " Roosevelt's war ". Hm don't think he was a republican.....Korea ....President Truman? Not Republican ..vietnam. President Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon... Two dems one rep (ended it...badly but ended it !).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am liberal. I hate Trump. I am terrified that we are going war with Iran. I share your world view. I think you are wrong to force it on family in different circumstances than you.

You have the luxury of thinking big picture on international politics. A kid from a red state without a lot of resources is thinking— how can I “better myself”— bootstrap his way in to a solid future for himself, when he doesn’t have the luxury of parents paying for college or maybe even supporting him after HS graduation.

It’s pretty condescending for you to prattle on about the Military Industrial complex, when this kid is thinking about supporting himself and workforce skills. Even if he agrees with you, he might not have a better option.

So rather than lecturing his family, help him find options. Look with him at ROTC programs, where at least he gets college paid for and goes in as an officer. Offer to pay for/ help him find pell grants for vocational or technical school, so he can better himself without the military.

If he is determined to enlist, help him find a specialty where his skills will be in demand when he leaves and look with him at GI Bill options.

I’m on your side politically. But keeping this kid safe is about helping him find another good option, not lecturing about how their political viewpoint is wrong”.

So you do some research, and see what you can offer financially and say—

I love you so much. And I am so proud that you have group up to have the courage and strength of character to want to serve our country and make a good future for yourself. But, worried about your enlisting at a time when we are looking at possible war with Iran/ NK. Would you mind sitting down with me and looking at some possibilities I found where you would be safer than if you enlisted into infantry, but might accomplish the same goals?

Do not mix red state blue state politics or value judgments with this discussion. If this kid enlists, you could well end up estranged from your family.

When you enlist you don't always get a choice in wha too do. It doesn't work that way. You take tests and get assigned.

You take the ASVAB and can see the scores before you enlist. The Army, ay least, let’s you choose your specialty, if not the exact job when you enlist. It would be helpful for OP to encourage her nephew to work through so ASVABs, see what the score qualifies him to do, and choose a specialty he can build on.

+1. The army lets you choose. I have a relative who had a good ASVAB score and was extremely picky, deciding to wait until a particular spot opened up. The army was heppy to endulge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All you people suggesting the OP pay for college - what makes you think the nephew is college material? I'd bet he isn't, and is looking at scrambling to find a minimum wage job, or enlisting in the service. I know which option I'm choose - and I'm as liberal as they come.

There is community college or trade school - plenty of alternative options to a 4 year college that OP can assist with if he/she is opposed to the military. Enlisting is a great idea for some, but the point is OP is opposed and so if they feel that strongly they should offer an alternative.

I'd fully support my son going into the military but only as an officer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am liberal. I hate Trump. I am terrified that we are going war with Iran. I share your world view. I think you are wrong to force it on family in different circumstances than you.

You have the luxury of thinking big picture on international politics. A kid from a red state without a lot of resources is thinking— how can I “better myself”— bootstrap his way in to a solid future for himself, when he doesn’t have the luxury of parents paying for college or maybe even supporting him after HS graduation.

It’s pretty condescending for you to prattle on about the Military Industrial complex, when this kid is thinking about supporting himself and workforce skills. Even if he agrees with you, he might not have a better option.

So rather than lecturing his family, help him find options. Look with him at ROTC programs, where at least he gets college paid for and goes in as an officer. Offer to pay for/ help him find pell grants for vocational or technical school, so he can better himself without the military.

If he is determined to enlist, help him find a specialty where his skills will be in demand when he leaves and look with him at GI Bill options.

I’m on your side politically. But keeping this kid safe is about helping him find another good option, not lecturing about how their political viewpoint is wrong”.

So you do some research, and see what you can offer financially and say—

I love you so much. And I am so proud that you have group up to have the courage and strength of character to want to serve our country and make a good future for yourself. But, worried about your enlisting at a time when we are looking at possible war with Iran/ NK. Would you mind sitting down with me and looking at some possibilities I found where you would be safer than if you enlisted into infantry, but might accomplish the same goals?

Do not mix red state blue state politics or value judgments with this discussion. If this kid enlists, you could well end up estranged from your family.

When you enlist you don't always get a choice in wha too do. It doesn't work that way. You take tests and get assigned.

You take the ASVAB and can see the scores before you enlist. The Army, ay least, let’s you choose your specialty, if not the exact job when you enlist. It would be helpful for OP to encourage her nephew to work through so ASVABs, see what the score qualifies him to do, and choose a specialty he can build on.

+1. The army lets you choose. I have a relative who had a good ASVAB score and was extremely picky, deciding to wait until a particular spot opened up. The army was heppy to endulge.

Sometimes, he was lucky. My husband didn't get a choice. Army generally takes anyone (almost anyone as there are some things that exclude people).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All you people suggesting the OP pay for college - what makes you think the nephew is college material? I'd bet he isn't, and is looking at scrambling to find a minimum wage job, or enlisting in the service. I know which option I'm choose - and I'm as liberal as they come.

Virtually anyone who can pass an asvab can get in to community college at a minimum. It's a safe bet that OP's nephew is college material by the sheer fact that he's been accepted to the military. Most kids don't qualify for the military- they bomb the test, they have a criminal background, they have a medical issue, they have a pattern of discipline issues, or they are fat.

Most qualify but with the increase in drug use, that's going to be a huge issue. Army and Marines are much more flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All you people suggesting the OP pay for college - what makes you think the nephew is college material? I'd bet he isn't, and is looking at scrambling to find a minimum wage job, or enlisting in the service. I know which option I'm choose - and I'm as liberal as they come.

Virtually anyone who can pass an asvab can get in to community college at a minimum. It's a safe bet that OP's nephew is college material by the sheer fact that he's been accepted to the military. Most kids don't qualify for the military- they bomb the test, they have a criminal background, they have a medical issue, they have a pattern of discipline issues, or they are fat.

Most qualify but with the increase in drug use, that's going to be a huge issue. Army and Marines are much more flexible.

That's just not true. I'm assuming you're the military wife who keeps posting. The days that the Army took wayward boys and turned them into men has been over for a while now. While the quality of recruits has declined over the past decade, that is largely because the quality of adolescents has also declined. You can't join the army or marines if you take ADHD medicine, for example. And the fitness hurdle is enormous for this generation- the country has swelled, kids included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am liberal. I hate Trump. I am terrified that we are going war with Iran. I share your world view. I think you are wrong to force it on family in different circumstances than you.

You have the luxury of thinking big picture on international politics. A kid from a red state without a lot of resources is thinking— how can I “better myself”— bootstrap his way in to a solid future for himself, when he doesn’t have the luxury of parents paying for college or maybe even supporting him after HS graduation.

It’s pretty condescending for you to prattle on about the Military Industrial complex, when this kid is thinking about supporting himself and workforce skills. Even if he agrees with you, he might not have a better option.

So rather than lecturing his family, help him find options. Look with him at ROTC programs, where at least he gets college paid for and goes in as an officer. Offer to pay for/ help him find pell grants for vocational or technical school, so he can better himself without the military.

If he is determined to enlist, help him find a specialty where his skills will be in demand when he leaves and look with him at GI Bill options.

I’m on your side politically. But keeping this kid safe is about helping him find another good option, not lecturing about how their political viewpoint is wrong”.

So you do some research, and see what you can offer financially and say—

I love you so much. And I am so proud that you have group up to have the courage and strength of character to want to serve our country and make a good future for yourself. But, worried about your enlisting at a time when we are looking at possible war with Iran/ NK. Would you mind sitting down with me and looking at some possibilities I found where you would be safer than if you enlisted into infantry, but might accomplish the same goals?

Do not mix red state blue state politics or value judgments with this discussion. If this kid enlists, you could well end up estranged from your family.

When you enlist you don't always get a choice in wha too do. It doesn't work that way. You take tests and get assigned.

You take the ASVAB and can see the scores before you enlist. The Army, ay least, let’s you choose your specialty, if not the exact job when you enlist. It would be helpful for OP to encourage her nephew to work through so ASVABs, see what the score qualifies him to do, and choose a specialty he can build on.

+1. The army lets you choose. I have a relative who had a good ASVAB score and was extremely picky, deciding to wait until a particular spot opened up. The army was heppy to endulge.

Sometimes, he was lucky. My husband didn't get a choice. Army generally takes anyone (almost anyone as there are some things that exclude people).

Then your husband enlisted under what is called an "open contract." Most people sign up for a certain job. I mean this kindly, but your husband is an exception and not the rule. Open contracts are not the norm, and are usually for people who don't really meet the qualifications to join, but are being let in through the backdoor so long as they agree to do whatever they are assigned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am liberal. I hate Trump. I am terrified that we are going war with Iran. I share your world view. I think you are wrong to force it on family in different circumstances than you.

You have the luxury of thinking big picture on international politics. A kid from a red state without a lot of resources is thinking— how can I “better myself”— bootstrap his way in to a solid future for himself, when he doesn’t have the luxury of parents paying for college or maybe even supporting him after HS graduation.

It’s pretty condescending for you to prattle on about the Military Industrial complex, when this kid is thinking about supporting himself and workforce skills. Even if he agrees with you, he might not have a better option.

So rather than lecturing his family, help him find options. Look with him at ROTC programs, where at least he gets college paid for and goes in as an officer. Offer to pay for/ help him find pell grants for vocational or technical school, so he can better himself without the military.

If he is determined to enlist, help him find a specialty where his skills will be in demand when he leaves and look with him at GI Bill options.

I’m on your side politically. But keeping this kid safe is about helping him find another good option, not lecturing about how their political viewpoint is wrong”.

So you do some research, and see what you can offer financially and say—

I love you so much. And I am so proud that you have group up to have the courage and strength of character to want to serve our country and make a good future for yourself. But, worried about your enlisting at a time when we are looking at possible war with Iran/ NK. Would you mind sitting down with me and looking at some possibilities I found where you would be safer than if you enlisted into infantry, but might accomplish the same goals?

Do not mix red state blue state politics or value judgments with this discussion. If this kid enlists, you could well end up estranged from your family.

When you enlist you don't always get a choice in wha too do. It doesn't work that way. You take tests and get assigned.

You take the ASVAB and can see the scores before you enlist. The Army, ay least, let’s you choose your specialty, if not the exact job when you enlist. It would be helpful for OP to encourage her nephew to work through so ASVABs, see what the score qualifies him to do, and choose a specialty he can build on.

+1. The army lets you choose. I have a relative who had a good ASVAB score and was extremely picky, deciding to wait until a particular spot opened up. The army was heppy to endulge.

Sometimes, he was lucky. My husband didn't get a choice. Army generally takes anyone (almost anyone as there are some things that exclude people).

Then your husband enlisted under what is called an "open contract." Most people sign up for a certain job. I mean this kindly, but your husband is an exception and not the rule. Open contracts are not the norm, and are usually for people who don't really meet the qualifications to join, but are being let in through the backdoor so long as they agree to do whatever they are assigned.

No he wasn't in an open contract. He took the test and was assigned a job. He met the qualifications to join. Most enlisted get crappy jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All you people suggesting the OP pay for college - what makes you think the nephew is college material? I'd bet he isn't, and is looking at scrambling to find a minimum wage job, or enlisting in the service. I know which option I'm choose - and I'm as liberal as they come.

Virtually anyone who can pass an asvab can get in to community college at a minimum. It's a safe bet that OP's nephew is college material by the sheer fact that he's been accepted to the military. Most kids don't qualify for the military- they bomb the test, they have a criminal background, they have a medical issue, they have a pattern of discipline issues, or they are fat.

Most qualify but with the increase in drug use, that's going to be a huge issue. Army and Marines are much more flexible.

That's just not true. I'm assuming you're the military wife who keeps posting. The days that the Army took wayward boys and turned them into men has been over for a while now. While the quality of recruits has declined over the past decade, that is largely because the quality of adolescents has also declined. You can't join the army or marines if you take ADHD medicine, for example. And the fitness hurdle is enormous for this generation- the country has swelled, kids included.

Its always been that way with ADHD and other mediations as well as health issues. That's why parents need to think through the choices they make for their kids for the long term, including those meds and allowing drug use. Fitness is no different than years before. It very much is an issue now but many of us have kids who regularly exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am liberal. I hate Trump. I am terrified that we are going war with Iran. I share your world view. I think you are wrong to force it on family in different circumstances than you.

You have the luxury of thinking big picture on international politics. A kid from a red state without a lot of resources is thinking— how can I “better myself”— bootstrap his way in to a solid future for himself, when he doesn’t have the luxury of parents paying for college or maybe even supporting him after HS graduation.

It’s pretty condescending for you to prattle on about the Military Industrial complex, when this kid is thinking about supporting himself and workforce skills. Even if he agrees with you, he might not have a better option.

So rather than lecturing his family, help him find options. Look with him at ROTC programs, where at least he gets college paid for and goes in as an officer. Offer to pay for/ help him find pell grants for vocational or technical school, so he can better himself without the military.

If he is determined to enlist, help him find a specialty where his skills will be in demand when he leaves and look with him at GI Bill options.

I’m on your side politically. But keeping this kid safe is about helping him find another good option, not lecturing about how their political viewpoint is wrong”.

So you do some research, and see what you can offer financially and say—

I love you so much. And I am so proud that you have group up to have the courage and strength of character to want to serve our country and make a good future for yourself. But, worried about your enlisting at a time when we are looking at possible war with Iran/ NK. Would you mind sitting down with me and looking at some possibilities I found where you would be safer than if you enlisted into infantry, but might accomplish the same goals?

Do not mix red state blue state politics or value judgments with this discussion. If this kid enlists, you could well end up estranged from your family.

When you enlist you don't always get a choice in wha too do. It doesn't work that way. You take tests and get assigned.

You take the ASVAB and can see the scores before you enlist. The Army, ay least, let’s you choose your specialty, if not the exact job when you enlist. It would be helpful for OP to encourage her nephew to work through so ASVABs, see what the score qualifies him to do, and choose a specialty he can build on.

+1. The army lets you choose. I have a relative who had a good ASVAB score and was extremely picky, deciding to wait until a particular spot opened up. The army was heppy to endulge.

Sometimes, he was lucky. My husband didn't get a choice. Army generally takes anyone (almost anyone as there are some things that exclude people).

Then your husband enlisted under what is called an "open contract." Most people sign up for a certain job. I mean this kindly, but your husband is an exception and not the rule. Open contracts are not the norm, and are usually for people who don't really meet the qualifications to join, but are being let in through the backdoor so long as they agree to do whatever they are assigned.

No he wasn't in an open contract. He took the test and was assigned a job. He met the qualifications to join. Most enlisted get crappy jobs.

I don’t know about other services, but my family members in the Navy as enlisted were cryptologic technicians and hospital corpsmen - and another was a rescue diver and his brother was a SeaBee construction guy. All loved the cool stuff they did and do.

[Anonymous]

OP - why didn't you post this on the political forum since you clearly want to argue about politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - why didn't you post this on the political forum since you clearly want to argue about politics?

+1