Happy Father's day to all the Fathers here. What's something your Service could change to improve your life as a Military Father?

2014-06-15T09:31:51-04:00

More specifically, what possible change to your particular service would enable you to be an even better father and/or husband?

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jun 15 at 2014 9:53 AM

2014-06-15T09:53:49-04:00

It would be great to change family time on Thursdays and be off at 1200 hrs instead of 1500 hrs. Even if this was only the first week of each month, it would allow for a few extra hours with family that day.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 15 at 2014 10:59 AM

2014-06-15T10:59:52-04:00

One of my ROTC instructors was the proud father of a true military family. Both he and his wife were children of active duty officers, they raised 4 children on AD and 3 of their children went into the Army. Hats off to you Harry & Jane Lawson!!

As for me, Pam & I decided that a NG life would be better for us because we wanted a family and didn't feel that we would be up for the rigors of an AD life. I have no regrets or misgivings about that decision because I had a fulfilling career and other than 20 months out of the loop on deployments in addition to ATs and weekends, I've been able to see my children grow up in front of me. can't ask for any more than that.

Happy Fathers Day to all!!

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2014 11:05 AM

2014-06-15T11:05:50-04:00

Nothing! The military has provided me with income, health insurance, 30 days of paid vacation, and two round trips to Iraq! I was blessed to provide my 2 sons with something from each one! Vacation to spend time with them, deployments to Iraq that enforced how much my sons meant to me and how much I missed them, insurance to pay for their many medical issues and my open heart surgery, and an awesome income so that they have everything they need (food, clothing, housing, etc). So, I wouldn't change a thing! I am deeply grateful to the military!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2014 11:34 AM

2014-06-15T11:34:28-04:00

Jack Geoghegan: What do you think about being a soldier and a father?
LTG Hal Moore: I hope that being good at the one makes me better at the other.
But, I won't push my luck.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2014 12:50 PM

2014-06-15T12:50:11-04:00

I was extremely grateful when they started giving Paternity Leave, but I wish it was longer. That first 30 days with a newborn is a balancing act! But seriously though, I'm not sure there is much more the Army could do specifically for fathers. Our commanders/first sergeants are already given the flexibility to allow for time off to attend parent-teacher conferences or to leave a little early to attend a sporting event or birthday or what-have-you (of course mission dictates, but it usually isn't a problem).

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2014 3:05 PM

2014-06-15T15:05:33-04:00

Maybe cut short the long drug out 30 day ftx's to just 2 weeks. Alot can happen in 30 days with kids lives and no reason to miss it if we are conus heck even 3-4 hrs away from home. But the army had given me peice of mind to give my kids a better life and opportunities for the future, travel , insurance. I will go to the end of the earth and back as many times as it takes for my lil princess and two lil daddy's boys.

Response by SGT Tim S. made Jul 23 at 2014 9:06 PM

2014-07-23T21:06:27-04:00

Officials to properly enforce the Soldiers' & Sailors' Civil Relief Act:
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/legalservices/helpreservists/forms/sscraguide.authcheckdam.pdf

Prevent Parental Alienation, false allegations of abuse & frivolous restraining orders, and all Officials in leadership to educate themselves on scientific & scholarly investigations regarding the above.

Likewise for Officials to actually acknowledge fathers, their critical roll in parenting, to empower and enable fathers to be fathers. A good mirror approach would be to empower fathers just as they do for female soldiers who are mothers (married or single); provide free housing, provide BAS as single parent for housing costs and separate rations, daycare, and tremendous grace from leadership to immediately care for his children without ridicule or heavily penalized as certainly fathers have always been. Perhaps we can provide a short cut to this betterment for fathers....if standards and great leniency would be conducted with genuine equality.

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