Did your parents support your decision to join the Military? If so, did they support your branch choice?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 00:50:43 -0400

Joining the Military is not an easy choice. Some of us had no other options, but did you parents support your decision? Did they support your branch choice?

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 18 at 2015 12:53 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 00:53:04 -0400

Yes, they were proud.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 1:00 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 01:00:12 -0400

Nope. . . Nope.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 2:28 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 02:28:45 -0400

It was 1969, just months after the Tet Offensive, when I enlisted in the Navy. My Mother was almost paralyzed with fear and typical maternal emotion, though my preacher Dad was basically okay with whole idea. I think he understood that his eldest child needed the change in environment "to spread his wings, see the world, and grow up a bit in the process."

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 18 at 2015 9:11 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 09:11:36 -0400

"Is this what you want to do?"

That was the only question they asked. They were both Air Force vets. My Grandparents were Army Vets. I have uncles from Army & Navy.

I received 100% support in all regards.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 11:43 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 11:43:29 -0400

My parents were strong supporters of mine and my brother's decision to join. My brother joined the Navy a year before I joined the Army. I joined as an MP with plan of one term and done. Well, that didn't go as originally planned. I loved what I was doing, still do and I plan to continue for many years to come.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 18 at 2015 11:51 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 11:51:19 -0400

Not only did they encourage it and signed the enlistment papers (I was 17) they said they would kick me out of the house when I turned 18 if I didn't join the Navy or find a job!
My dad was in the Navy too, so it's the only branch he wanted me to join.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 5:24 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 17:24:10 -0400

My mom? No no no no no no no. Absolutely not. But my brothers and dad did. They wish they could join me even but medical problems got the best of them sadly.

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Jul 18 at 2015 7:35 PM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 19:35:20 -0400

Absolutely not! Lol. Just joining was an uphill battle in itself with them. They didn't want to hear it, or try to understand. Not supportive during either. I still sometimes hear about it. How they suffered while I was deployed. Pretty crazy if you ask me.

But at least out of it all I learned to be supportive of my kids when they say that they want to sign the dotted line.

Response by SGT William Howell made Aug 11 at 2015 12:55 PM

SGT William Howell — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 12:55:35 -0400

My father and I swap war stories all the time. Did my dad support me? Well sort of. It was an unwritten rule in the Howell household that you do your time in the military. I am only a 4th generation American and every male since since we left Wales has been in the military at some point in their lives.

Response by SPC Clayton Ellzey made Aug 9 at 2016 8:55 PM

SPC Clayton Ellzey — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:55:06 -0400

Yes and no my mother supported it but she wanted me to be a cook, pops was against it he wanted me to go to college . It was ok for me to go reserves but not active and he would not sign for me ( I was 17) I said hell I will be 18 in six months either way I'm going. He signed right away. Army 12 B