Just curious if anyone had kids that have gone the military route. My stepson is a junior in high school and not a very strong student. We gave been getting him signed up for the ACT and stuff and asked if he wanted to go look at some schools on spring break. He dropped the bomb that he had started considering the Navy as an option. Chance to see the world, put some money in his pocket and go to school when he gets out. I know there is a lot to consider but it didn’t sound like the worst option for him in my opinion. Still a lot of time to figure it out but was just curious if anyone else had kids that went through this and if they went the military route how it worked out for them. I know we also have a few vets on here that aren’t too long out as well.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Yes, we have a Marine who is almost finished with his 4 yr term.

It's been a great experience for him, but I doubt he would recommend it. Each Military branch is different. I think one of the things that is most surprising is how much clothing and uniform they are required to buy.....kind of disgusting. I think for the most part the positives did outweigh the negatives, but as he told me. "This life is only for young and single people. It's a terrible career if you're going to have a family".

The Pros:
Chance to see / travel the world.
Saved a little money.
GI Bill for college
"Met some really dope people".
Got away from being in a rut at home.

The Cons:
LOTS of standing around doing nothing "Hurry Up and Wait"
Shitty living conditions
Lots of wasted money on uniforms, clothing, gear.
Difficult to get time off
Miss family

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I think the Navy is a great idea. Let the brain mature for a few years, develop some life skills, and highly unlikely to get killed. I told my son he could work in the mess hall and make pancakes and hamburgers all day.

Going to college when you don't really want to go to college sounds like a bad idea. run up a bunch of debt, drop out, and now you're in a huge hole.

Now the Marines - that's different. Takes a special sort of crazy to do that.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Join the Air Force- get treated better/live in better conditions, lot less chance to be physically involved in battle, get an opportunity to gain experience in computers/communications/technological fields.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

It's tougher to get in to but have him try Air Force before any other branch of service. They get paid more, have better bases, have easier work, and have more opportunities. They're pussies tho

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I have nephews and cousins in. I was in myself. As was mentioned it can be great for many and awful for others. It really depends on the individual and take a very long time and think it all through.

I will give this one piece of advice I gave all the kids I knew, am related to, coached etc. If you are going to go make sure you are going for a MOS (job) that you will enjoy and learn something you can do on the outside. What goes with that is being sure you test on the ASVAB as qualifying for said jobs. Lastly get it in writing. All of it.

Example I told my son before he ultimately went to college. MP, Corps of Engineers, Aircraft mechanic/technicians, Logistics, Air Traffic Controller, medical trade.

Me. I ended up being an expert at weapons and killing people in jungles. Don't use it everyday but all jobs get the discipline and other fringe benefits.

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Elections have consequences.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

I didn't know you were an Air Force guy. Thought you were Army for some reason

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Nope, Air Force. Security Forces for my first tour, then cross-trained to working on A-10s when I re-enlisted.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Hatchet, you're not far off here...college is great if you have a good idea of what you want to do for a living and you truly understand how to be a student. My son-in-law who is also a marine went through some unsuccessful college runs and wound up in the Marine Corp. As awful as the Marine Corp can be, it's matured him a ton.

My 19 yr old can't seem to get the how to be a student thing down. I actually think the military for 4 years wold be great for him, but he's not hearing it.

Something else that gets really overlooked is the rut by being at home with HS friends. Junior College has a ton of value and makes a lot of sense, but I've seen so many of my kids friends just waste away. Getting away and out of your comfort zone is a pretty important part of growing up.

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FF was Army (I think).
If it makes you feel better, Marines think all the other branches are pussies

Yes, I do agree on Air Force being the best option.

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I have a cousin who was more or less on the fast track to prison. Was in a real bad crowd and started with some heavy drugs real early. He joined the Air Force, ended up becoming an officer and spent about four years in Seoul, and bought a ranch in New Mexico when he was discharged. Definitely worked out well for him.

It has to be so much easier with technology today to stay in touch with family. I doubt you get much access during boot camp, and I know its different face timing than sitting at Thanksgiving dinner, but its better than writing and waiting for letters.

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I was Army. I think Frank knows I’m kidding. One team one fight.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I don’t know that I agree with the last part. Writing and receiving letters was an awesome part of basic training.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I hadn’t thought about the fact that I could eat ice cream in front of him on FaceTime

Seriously though guys this is all good stuff, thanks

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

If you really want to fuck with him, send him a package of cookies and brownies when he's in Basic Training

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I’m assuming they will get stolen or he will get hazed by the others? Assuming he does the Navy I’d guess that Basic would be at Great Lakes so no need to mail anything

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Not sure how the Navy does it but in the Army he would just get smoked by the Drill Sgts, meaning has to do a shitload of pushups and calisthenics but they will let him eat them afterwards

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

When ours graduated boot camp....the best part was meeting the Drill Sargaents. We get introduced and 3 of them.....each one, completely hoarse voices. they could barely speak

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Yeah my dad got a kick out of meeting my drill sergeants.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Letters were a great part of basic. That first phone call to loved ones using the pay phones made a lot of dudes cry.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Shoutout to Houston Homer. Got a letter from her in Basic. Don't even remember really how I got her my address.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Funny thing with my mom and a drill sergeant. I was OSUT which is standard for infantry and that means you are at the same place/unit for both basic and AIT without a break. So 15 weeks. At the end of that my mom traveled down to Benning for graduation and I think the night before they gave us a few hours to visit and even go off base to eat.

So my mom must have been talking to a drill outside the barracks and wondered where I was because you know I must have been like 30 seconds late for her to see me after 15 weeks. So she asks him and he said hold on I will be right back. He comes into the full barracks where we are all getting reading in a wise ass voice crying for Private XXXXXXX because your mommy is looking for you.

That sure was a hit for a while with the guys.

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Elections have consequences.

I meant after boot camp/basic.

Like FF you talked about pulling double duty or something on a New Years, and had to do paperwork because of a fight. I meant then when you have your job but more time to kinda do your own thing here and there. Obviously you can't sit at a board like this for hours on end, but I would imagine that after basic you have a little more access to phones and internet which would make it easier to keep in touch with friends and family.

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Yeah no doubt.

I forgot about that Pulling Staff Duty on NYE sucked major balls

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Might also look into the US Merchant Marine. Might be too tough to qualify.

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Isn't basic training only a couple of months? That's barely enough time to miss someone.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

move to a college town, do your own basic training, get ripped, fuck as many college girls as you possibly can. then actually go to college at like age 25 and start making good money by 30.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

The service is cool if you have a specific job in mind, like pilot or nuke, that the DOD wont so eagerly contract out. Other than that you're way better off being a contractor and not being subject to the onerous commitments and retarded grunts.

I vaguely remember you posting the address. I thought about sending you a letter addressed from Bart Starr.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.