Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s with all of the parents saying “no” to the military? I understand that it’s not appealing to some- it’s probably not something that appeals to me, but isn’t this your child’s decision? We can guide, make suggestions and help, but I would never think it’s my decision to make.

They think they are too good for the military, but have no problem living in a free country and relying on less fortunate people to serve in it.

How many years did you serve? I'd prefer my child not. We are a retiree family. If they do, I'll support them but its a hard life and you basically need a second career and its very hard to start over at 40 and have to work your way up again.

Anonymous wrote:I am a military child and have talked to my kids who are still young teen agers that I think it's a great oppotunity if they go in as officers NOT enlisted. I've worked in the Defense industry for over 25 years and the difference between officers and enlisted -- no matter the degrees conferred -- is easily identifiable... enlisted are do-er's ; officers are big picture managers. I want my kids to be the big picture managers, not the in the field executioners.

Actually this isn't true at all and really bias. And, the skill matters in the defense industry once you are out. Not if you are enlisted or officer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you react as a parent today when your kid says they are thinking of joining either the Marines or the military.

Absolutely not.

Do not make me shoot you in the foot.

Members of the military are honorable people who are horrifically exploited by our government.

I mean, sure but my husband makes more than a GS15 and has a much better pension at 43 and healthcare for life. There is a LOT of sacrifice for it, but we're good with the trade off.

The health care is complicated as once you hit medicareyou go on tricare for life and have to pay for that and it's a few hundred a month. Tricare is not exactly good either if you have complex needs. And, your pension may be good as an officer but it's not very good as enlisted. I'd support my child choosing military after they got a college degree we paid for and as an officer. Most military are enlisted, not officers and everything is not so peachy.

We have children and I, as the spouse, have complex needs. We've never had issues accessing excellent care

I definitely need think the care varies depending on the duty station. Luckily, Walter Reed is phenomenal and can meet just about any medical need- as long as you can find a parking spot there. If you were stationed at Ft.Polk, Louisiana, yea you would have more limits and complications with advanced care. But the military has a program you can enter if you or a dependent has complex medical needs; where you are only stationed at places that can meet your medical needs (major medical centers)

Don't give bad advice. Walter Reed is a ghost town lately. It takes weeks to get a primary care appointment and months for specialty appointments and often you are referred off base. Few people take tricare so the ones that do are bad.

If you get good care, you are lucky. I haven't been. I have been getting a huge run around and it's been a nightmare.

Parking is easy as long as you go to the top of the lots and know the patient parking for arrowhead is closed and park at the one across from the america building.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you react as a parent today when your kid says they are thinking of joining either the Marines or the military.

Absolutely not.

Do not make me shoot you in the foot.

Members of the military are honorable people who are horrifically exploited by our government.

I mean, sure but my husband makes more than a GS15 and has a much better pension at 43 and healthcare for life. There is a LOT of sacrifice for it, but we're good with the trade off.

The health care is complicated as once you hit medicareyou go on tricare for life and have to pay for that and it's a few hundred a month. Tricare is not exactly good either if you have complex needs. And, your pension may be good as an officer but it's not very good as enlisted. I'd support my child choosing military after they got a college degree we paid for and as an officer. Most military are enlisted, not officers and everything is not so peachy.

We have children and I, as the spouse, have complex needs. We've never had issues accessing excellent care

I definitely need think the care varies depending on the duty station. Luckily, Walter Reed is phenomenal and can meet just about any medical need- as long as you can find a parking spot there. If you were stationed at Ft.Polk, Louisiana, yea you would have more limits and complications with advanced care. But the military has a program you can enter if you or a dependent has complex medical needs; where you are only stationed at places that can meet your medical needs (major medical centers)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you react as a parent today when your kid says they are thinking of joining either the Marines or the military.

Absolutely not.

Do not make me shoot you in the foot.

Members of the military are honorable people who are horrifically exploited by our government.

I mean, sure but my husband makes more than a GS15 and has a much better pension at 43 and healthcare for life. There is a LOT of sacrifice for it, but we're good with the trade off.

The health care is complicated as once you hit medicareyou go on tricare for life and have to pay for that and it's a few hundred a month. Tricare is not exactly good either if you have complex needs. And, your pension may be good as an officer but it's not very good as enlisted. I'd support my child choosing military after they got a college degree we paid for and as an officer. Most military are enlisted, not officers and everything is not so peachy.

We have children and I, as the spouse, have complex needs. We've never had issues accessing excellent care

Anonymous wrote:I am a military child and have talked to my kids who are still young teen agers that I think it's a great oppotunity if they go in as officers NOT enlisted. I've worked in the Defense industry for over 25 years and the difference between officers and enlisted -- no matter the degrees conferred -- is easily identifiable... enlisted are do-er's ; officers are big picture managers. I want my kids to be the big picture managers, not the in the field executioners.

That’s great, what do your kids want?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s with all of the parents saying “no” to the military? I understand that it’s not appealing to some- it’s probably not something that appeals to me, but isn’t this your child’s decision? We can guide, make suggestions and help, but I would never think it’s my decision to make.

They think they are too good for the military, but have no problem living in a free country and relying on less fortunate people to serve in it.

I’m the earlier poster whose son is currently in boot camp. The military wasn’t something I was keen on for our son, but he’s talked about it for years. Why would I squash his dreams and “demand” that he enroll in college? College will always be there. This is his road and this is the one he has chosen.

I am a military child and have talked to my kids who are still young teen agers that I think it's a great oppotunity if they go in as officers NOT enlisted. I've worked in the Defense industry for over 25 years and the difference between officers and enlisted -- no matter the degrees conferred -- is easily identifiable... enlisted are do-er's ; officers are big picture managers. I want my kids to be the big picture managers, not the in the field executioners.

Anonymous wrote:What’s with all of the parents saying “no” to the military? I understand that it’s not appealing to some- it’s probably not something that appeals to me, but isn’t this your child’s decision? We can guide, make suggestions and help, but I would never think it’s my decision to make.

They think they are too good for the military, but have no problem living in a free country and relying on less fortunate people to serve in it.

College first no way going on before college

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you react as a parent today when your kid says they are thinking of joining either the Marines or the military.

Absolutely not.

Do not make me shoot you in the foot.

Members of the military are honorable people who are horrifically exploited by our government.

I mean, sure but my husband makes more than a GS15 and has a much better pension at 43 and healthcare for life. There is a LOT of sacrifice for it, but we're good with the trade off.

The health care is complicated as once you hit medicareyou go on tricare for life and have to pay for that and it's a few hundred a month. Tricare is not exactly good either if you have complex needs. And, your pension may be good as an officer but it's not very good as enlisted. I'd support my child choosing military after they got a college degree we paid for and as an officer. Most military are enlisted, not officers and everything is not so peachy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you react as a parent today when your kid says they are thinking of joining either the Marines or the military.

Absolutely not.

Do not make me shoot you in the foot.

Members of the military are honorable people who are horrifically exploited by our government.

I mean, sure but my husband makes more than a GS15 and has a much better pension at 43 and healthcare for life. There is a LOT of sacrifice for it, but we're good with the trade off.

What’s with all of the parents saying “no” to the military? I understand that it’s not appealing to some- it’s probably not something that appeals to me, but isn’t this your child’s decision? We can guide, make suggestions and help, but I would never think it’s my decision to make.

I would say no. Not happening. I have a daughter and the military has a track record of sexual assaults and not caring about them. If she insisted I would have her go to college and join ROTC. Better to be an officer than an enlisted man. But I'd do everything in my power to talk her out of it.

I would wait for Trump to be running things again. It’s too disorganized and foolish right now. Too much of a chance to perish for no good reason. They are having a horrible time recruiting now that the conservative warrior types are totally checked out.