What Would You Do if Your Child Said They Wanted To Join the Armed Forces?

Every soldier that goes into battle and survives should be rewarded when he comes back home for risking his life for us.

I propose, the following rewards:

1..The soldier should not have to pay any taxes for the rest of his life.
2..The soldier should be given land, to hold tax free, and a modest sum of cash to build a decent home to live in.
3..The more outstanding the soldier, more distinguished in battle, the larger the plot of land and size of cash to build.
4..Free medical care for the soldier and his immediate family for as long as the soldier and his spouse are alive.
5..Free food for himself, wife, and any kids for the rest of his life, so the soldier doesn't have to work if he doesn't want to ever again. He lives like a Lord.
6..Free electricity, internet access, water, heating and cooling, for life.
7..A modest living stipend for the rest of his life to cover basic transportation and entertainment expenses.
8..Free tickets to all Football games for the rest of his life, for two people. Box seats for the outstanding soldiers.

These simple things should be the right of every soldier that actually puts his life at risk by going into battle for the nations freedom.

Originally posted by Tardacus
i would take him/her down to the local V.A. hospital and have the VETs relate to them how they have to wait months just to get an appointment,

Not so. Just went to the local VA yesterday and had my appointment scheduled last week.

Originally posted by Tardacus
how the V.A. made them wait for years and years to get their deserved disability pensions,

Has nothing to do with the Military. It has to do with the fact that it is run by Govt Workers backed by a Govt Union.

Originally posted by Tardacus
how the V.A. employees are lazy, rude and incompetent in their dealings with VETs.

I have yet to see this over the past 10 years of visiting the VA. BS.

Originally posted by Tardacus
in short i would make sure they know that joining the military isn`t going to be like the movies where everyone comes home a hero and lives happily ever after.
at the end of the day though i`ll support them in whatever it is they want to do.

Go talk to the VETS down there. Most will say they were/are proud to serve.

I would train them and make sure they are in the best of shape, physically and mentally. I would also inform them as best I could by talking to any one with actual experience.

I would support them. My opinion would come last but would come. Nothing is absolute good or evil. I would try and orient them toward the best possible good. Try to get them to go to college first so they can be officers, or inform them as best I could about getting into officer candidacy school.

I would encourage them to be the best they can be at everything. If their profession is one of arms, I would do my best to prepare them to succeed.

For you people saying nope no matter what for a million reasons: I have news for you, you need people in the military or none of us would be here. Second, equally show him the positives and negatives to the military and other routes. I got a lot of good from it and would not change. The travel, free college, responsibility, leadership, language capability, and work after.. I would be proud either way. And your making your argument subjective if there was or wasnt a war, so if the wars are so bad, what if we were not in a war ? or what if it was justified to everyone? And the military now is hard to get into, iv seen people get turned down, due to economic issues and the war dying down. (Marine recruiters telling candidates who think they can just walk in , "what can you provide us"?) Taking the best candidates is the best way to go, they can be picky now. So this conspiracy theory of taking it out on the Govt, crap is ridiculous.

So many people posting here who are in desperate need dropping in a third world country for awhile to get a reality check. Pacifist are the vilest humans on the planet, a person who will not defend themselves or their loved one or their community, is a person with no real value or virtue.....

That said if my son were to want to join I would talk to him and make sure it was for the right reasons, try to enlighten him as to the crap you may have to deal with sometimes. I would look forward to his discharge or retirement because he is after all my son, but I would be proud, very proud. My people have served this country since 1776, and arguably before that in the colonies.....the original ideal is still worth fighting for, and the rest of the government may be corrupt, and certainly much if not most of the higher brass seem to be, but the majority of military people are still the best hope for that original ideal, and the best defense against losing our constitution.

Now what would piss me off is if he joined the occupy freaks, became a socialist, or wanted to get a job with the ACLU.... I'd drive him to a recruiter myself at that point and tell him not to come out until he had signed or was prepared to leave this world.

My son saw enough combat veterans when he had to sit in the waiting areas at Vet Centers and VA Hospitals to know the ones doing the killing will always be in pain.. He's been a tower worker for 20 years and is doing fine He had considered hiring on with Bechtel to make big bucks in Iraq but hooked up with a gal in Georgia and didn't go... The three bodies displayed hanging off of a bridge structure were friends he had worked with that had been encouraging him to go with them...I never have to look hard to tell the REMFs and pogues from those that were squeezing off rounds at other human beings and picked up pieces of others.. I was part of that 3 years before I was old enough to vote.

I would hope that, in the future, if my kid wanted to join the military, I would be strong enough to let them make their own choices. For me, when it comes down to it, everyone needs to make their own decisions, learn from their own path, make their own mistakes, earn their own triumphs, even my own children. For me to tell them that they can't do something just doesn't agree with what I believe. I would make sure that they were well aware of the reality of what they wanted to get into, but in the end, if that's what they want, that is what they want.
Everything has its place in this world, and if they're sure that they want to make that choice, then they own that decision. To say that someone has failed in their duty as a parent outright because their child wants to join the military is just a crass thing to accuse someone of.

Originally posted by TDawgRex
reply to post by thesmokingman

 

Having been there and done that I would have a sit down and talk with them. Find out why they want to enlist.

Everyone experiances life differently. The military saved me from myself, but I watched people who were not able to adapt as well and they didn't fair to well.

Anytime a young man or woman tells me that they are thinking about enlisted I ask them, Why?

Almost always the answer is that they cannot find a job or cannot afford college.

At which point I tell them that the military lifestyle is what they make of it and that they should try to get a MOS that gives them a skill after their enlistment.

If they're after adventure *shudders*, then I suggest that they get in shape and join the USAF PJ's or the Navy's or Coast Guards Para-Rescue. Plenty of excitement there and they will saving lives more often than taking them.

And after the enlistment, there is a chance that they can become a EMT/Nurse on a Life-Flight in their local area. Those folks make good money.

And they'll continue to save others lives.

edit on 31-8-2012 by TDawgRex because: One last thought

I think that's great. My brother was considering joining the military after highschool, I asked him why and I think he had a similar answer. He wanted to do an apprenticeship through the forces as a diesel fitter, which could eventually land him anywhere, including the Middle East. I was worried for him, naturally, although he didn't end up qualifying due to some academic insufficiency.

If this is the choice they want to make, I'd ask questions and guide them the best that I could, but I'm not going to tell them that they can't do something. I would probably have the same reservations if my kid said they wanted to become an accountant or lawyer. To me, I couldn't think of anything worse or more soul-sucking or boring than having that as a job for the rest of my life. But if that's what they want to do, if that's what they love, then that's their choice, not mine to make.