Thread: Suggestions...

Evidently your son feels the military is right for him. He still has another year to go in school. Be patient Mom. The military isn't all bad, not every one goes to the sandbox. Maybe if he went in the Reserves or something similar and then did college courses at the same time at home.

I wouldn't lean towards the reserves if he is really interested - he should go full time. My husband was a recruiter and three of his reserves went to Iraq before any of his active duty, so that doesn't give you a free ticket out of the "sand box."

Libby

There are so many trade schools out there for people who do not want to go to college. I would not want my son to go into the service.
I think the service is a wonderful career if it is possible to be an officer. But for an enlisted man, no.
There are also jobs where your son can apprentice on the job and learn the trade as he works.
You know he is going to make the decision. If his father was a Marine then maybe that is why he wants to go that way.
Good luck. It is so hard to let go.

Maybe he should just take a year and get a job and work. He may find himself and what he wants to do if he is exposed to the work enviroment. He may want to do temp work so that he can do differnet things or he may want to just go to work somewhere for the experience of working.

If he isn't really sure, he should take some time to really think about what he wants to do.

Originally Posted by wubbywa

Thanks for the heads up on that. Please no one think I am against the military.

No, no, I didn't mean to suggest that. It is just that I knew several parents who didn't want their kids to go to Iraq, so they persuaded them to go into the reserves and they were the first ones to go to Iraq. And as for the military not being a good career for enlisted men, I disagree. My hubby is enlisted with 16 years in. He makes about 50k a year with all the benefits and he can retire in 4 years when he is 44. That is still young enough to work somewhere else and retire. Wish I had gone that route :-)

Libby

maybe he can think about jobcorps. there is a ton of different vocations he can train for. i really loved it there.

has he spoken to his guidance counselor? They often can help kids get an idea of what they would be suited for. Also college and or career fairs can be helpful, but I would either have him make an appointment with guidance or call yourself and see what they can do to help, after all that is what they get paid for and as a junior he should be speaking with someone at some point in his jr year, but depending on how big the school is it can take some time. Good luck I know it is worrisome.