OFF TOPIC....the recruiters are coming to speak with my son

Mochiah said...
I know this is something he wants to do, but why does it make me so afraid that I've raised him for 18 years only to send him off to war?

I'm not trying to be a smart aleck, but that's exactly what could happen.  Your "baby" is willingly and knowingly putting himself in harm's way, and there's not much you can do about it.  As his Mother, of course is would scare the bejesus out of you! It should scare the bejesus out of ANYBODY!

Unfortunately, we can't protect our kids forever, and they must do what it is they want to do, but that doesn't make it any easier on the parents, especially Mothers.  

((((((((((( Hugs )))))))))))))))  I'd not handle it well if my child said to me..."Mom, I'd like to join the service."  My reaction would be..."You, WHAT?!  Oh, H*ll, no!"  ...  Then, I'd have a panic attack.  

Hang in there.  Maybe, he'll talk to the recruiters and decide it's not for him, or if he does go in, maybe he WON'T be sent overseas.  You never know....

 

Hi Sue,

I so admire the men and women who serve in our armed forces. It would be hard, but I would be so proud of any of my kids if they had joined. You're right that at 18 they seem so innocent and unworldly, but this is a wonderful opportunity for him to grow and mature as a young man.

If this is his choice then maybe working with him and keeping those communication channels open is the best route to take. You sure don't want to him to shut you out.

Hugs,
Chutzie

We just finished speaking with the recruiter. My son is definitely not shutting me out, he wanted me there during the process and that makes it a bit easier. That is the catch 22, he is old enough to make the final decision, but young and inexperienced enough to want me there to help in the decision making...But at least he wants me there.

He goes on Tuesday with the recruiter to fill out other paper work and spend the day getting his physical, decide where/when he wants to do basic training and AIT. He has opted for 48 months active duty first, and he has to decide on his 3 "wish list" places to serve, then will serve his remaining 4 years 1 weekend a month/2 weeks a year. He knows he wants to go to Hawaii, and is considering Germany, but doesn't know of other places yet.

I am both the proudest I have ever been of him and yet the most scared at the same time. He is opening so many doors for himself, I just hope the war does not slam those doors shut.

Aww, good luck with that process. I do feel your pain!! Although my two are 5 and 4, I would hate to heard those words out of their mouths when they get older. It would be a bitter sweet thing. I would be proud and sooo scared at the same time!
It takes alot of courage from your sons part, BE SUPER PROUD! He wants to serve our country!
HUGS!!!

Oh boy do I remember going through all that. MEPS or rather Military Entrance Processing Station.
The Military loves Acronyms.

You take your ASVAB or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. Then if you pass or if you don't and are granted a wavier for low test scores you take your physical.
After that if you pass you are sworn in. You would be amazed at the amount of people who don't pass. Then you either go home and ship out to Basic at a later date or you ship out that day. There is of course a bit more to it than I've mentioned but you get the general idea

Post Edited (quahog) : 1/11/2008 9:20:01 PM (GMT-7)

quahog- he went through MEPS on Thursday. He had already taken his ASVAB and scored well. He had speeding tickets in the past, so that is what the hold up is right now, making sure he has done everything he was supposed to do (pay fine and community service). However, we were under tornado watches here on Thurs evening and Friday and the computer system link from the military to the police was down, so they haven't finished checking it out. They also had to speak with the bank where he has a loan to be sure he would be okay not paying for a while when he was in basic and AIT. He had another speeding ticket after turning 18, and has to go to driving school, I think that is on Feb 1, so unless the military can work their magic and get him through sooner, he will be home til then.

Rubydoo1, he is going in for military police. He wants to do forensic science when finished with the military. They actually said he will do the criminal justice part in the military and can take on-line courses for the other classes he needs, so he can go right into forensics when he is out. They said he would be "closer" than others, but not as close as infantry. Obviously, he will be the police on base but, honestly, when not on base I am not sure what "closer" is going to mean.

I wouldn't dream of holding him back from what he wants to do. When he was 17 he was all over the place with where he wanted to go, first choice was Marines....I wouldn't sign for him then until he talked to each of the branches and found out what each offered. He ultimately had settled on Army National Guard, but is going to go active duty for 4 years as opposed to one weekend a month/2 weeks a year (Like his cousin did). I watched him in this last year after he graduated work a job and do very well, but after being laid off 2-3 months ago he went downhill quick (note the speeding ticket above) and really felt he was going nowhere. Since his speaking to the recruiter his confidence has come back and he has that sparkle and excitement in his eyes again. I know this is a good thing for him, but like you said, that doesn't make it much easier as a mother. We have instilled the necessities in them to get through life and we must have done one hell of a job to have them want to serve our country....I have already decided what it is I want to say to him before he leaves...now I just need to be able to say it (let alone think it) without crying!!! I want him always to listen to his gut and follow his heart that way he will know what is right and true for him and he will be able to look back and say he has lived a life of no regrets. (see, tears in my eyes just typing that!)

I know how you feel, my son is 20 and is going back to Iraq for a second tour in Feb. It breaks my heart, I want to protect him even though he is 6'3" when I look at him I see a 7 year old. Basic was hard for me because it was the first time he was away from home, but then he went to Iraq and that was worse. But I have 3 other sons to keep me sane!

Good luck, but tell him not to believe anything unless he sees it in writing!