How have you encouraged your children to join the military?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:45:50 -0400

We all have an opinion of our time in service that one way or another, have tried to communicate to our children about what it's like to work for Uncle Sam. What have you said or done to motivate your children into joining up? Or did you encourage them not to join, or perhaps avoided the topic all together?

Response by SSG William Jones made Mar 14 at 2023 2:49 PM

SSG William Jones — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:49:43 -0400

Great question! Should produce some interesting replies.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Mar 14 at 2023 3:07 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:07:01 -0400

My Grandfathers both served and so did my Father. With the help of ancestry.com I have been able to document members of my family serving back to the Civil War and even the Revolutionary War. Military Service is most definitely in my families' DNA but I don't push the Military onto my kids just like it wasn't pushed on me. My Dad was upfront that his service was his choice and he refused to let me serve just because he did. He is a retired Marine and he forced me to research every branch and speak to each recruiter from each branch before I made my choice. My service was my choice and only my choice. My parents refused to sign before I was 18 so that it was my choice alone. My children are still young but I answer questions as truthfully as I can and I don't pull my punches when they ask questions. The military isn't everyone's path and it isn't the only path to success in this world. If they want to serve that is their choice to make. They are expected to graduate High School and attend the college of their choice. After that they are free to do what makes them happy and fills them with purpose.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Mar 14 at 2023 3:21 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:21:58 -0400

My daughter is a nurse with a BSN. I have tried and tried to get her to join but she ust doesn't want anything to do with it. Ieven tried to get her to go into the reserves but she greq up in it and loves it but just doesn't want to do it herself. But I can't complain, she is successful and doing well and has been accepted to Nurse Practioner school so she has that going for her.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Mar 14 at 2023 3:37 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:37:20 -0400

No, it is not the Army that I knew and loved. Too much social engineering.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2023 3:59 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:59:35 -0400

To further the discussion on my own question, my kids are young (4 children all under 8 years old) so I haven't had the big conversations yet. That doesn't mean I haven't already introduced the idea though.

I grew up in a poor, broken family. I don't know much of my history because I don't really know my family. My wife grew up in a poor family in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. Both of us see the great opportunities service in the Army has given us. Outside of jokes about being a Solider, I have already told my children that mommy and daddy both served in the Army so that the Army would pay for their college education. Mommy and daddy will not pay for their college. They should enlist and the Army will give them money to go to school.

I look forward to the more serious discussions with my children.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Mar 14 at 2023 4:08 PM

SSG Dennis R. — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:08:46 -0400

My son was about 15 when a Navy recruiter first talked to him in the mid 90s. They wanted him, he wanted it, his momma & I wanted him to go, his medical history disqualified him.
Oh well.
Whenever I do get a chance to chat with a kid - which is rare - I will encourage them to visit a recruiter. I don't care which branch they choose, I think it's good for them.

Response by PO3 Shayne Seibert made Mar 14 at 2023 4:41 PM

PO3 Shayne Seibert — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:41:49 -0400

I have daughters, but I have mentioned the education benefits and general life experiences that could be gained by joining the service. I've encouraged friends kids to consider the service as well.
It was a time in my life that I'll always remember, and while I didn't use the GI Bill, I have friends that have and done very well in life.

Response by SFC Dan Hochgreve made Mar 14 at 2023 6:58 PM

SFC Dan Hochgreve — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:58:45 -0400

To be frank, I did everything in my ability to prevent my son from going into the military. I even got out of the military originally in 1982 so the exposure was not there as much as possible. As with all best intentioned plans, when he graduated high school, he joined the Marines anyway without discussing it with me first. So when he left for basic I joined the army a second time just before 9/11. in 2003, both my son and I served in Iraq during the initial invasion and were even stationed at the same camp in Kuwait prior to the launch into Iraq. He with the Marines, I with the 4th infantry division. go figure.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 14 at 2023 7:25 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:25:01 -0400

Have three kids. All were raised as AF Brats. Oldest daughter is serving in Navy Reserve today. Son never had the slightest interest in Serving. Youngest daughter tried but was physically eliminated in Army Basic due to a hairline hip fracture.

I didn’t push the kids to join. I did mention serving as an option as they tried to figure out what to do with their lives. I actively supported the two who decided to serve. Setting a good example is the strongest statement.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2023 7:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:43:32 -0400

As in anything with my children, support them in their choices in life, give advice when asked, and let them live their lives, as they choose, and let them know, they're always welcome home.
My two son's in the military, when they call, I lessen to what they are trying to say, decide what they are truly asking for, no matter what, and give the support of their decisions, as needed.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2023 7:52 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:52:14 -0400

As it stands, my 19 yr old daughter is a hard no for the military. Her words. My 10 yr old daughter is also a hard no

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2023 1:39 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 01:39:43 -0400

Like I'm going to encourage my granddaughters to join so they can get sexually assaulted before they get to their first duty station. Nope! Not going to happen!

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Mar 15 at 2023 3:33 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:33:40 -0400

By example. And then I allow them to make their own decisions

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2023 12:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 12:34:42 -0400

Thankfully my daughter can never join any branch of the military as she has only one kidney due to a transplant. IF she could, I would definitely not encourage her to go. If she decided to, well I couldn't stop her once she's 18. But I would definitely tell her what it's like especially for women in the military. But I don't have to worry about it at all. If nieces or nephews asked me, I'd tell them my experience and I definitely wouldn't encourage it. But it's on them to decide their lives.

Response by 1LT Larry Bass made Mar 16 at 2023 3:42 PM

1LT Larry Bass — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 15:42:23 -0400

The military upper "leadership" is "woke" right now. Also, with jab mandates (though rescinded) still an issue, I wouldn't encourage ANYONE to join up. My only child attempted to get in a few years back, but was rejected due to an inherited hearing-loss issue.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2023 5:57 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:57:55 -0400

My 13 year old did tell me that "Maybe I'll get recruited by the Army" I asked him what made him interested in that.
He said "I dont want to do any fighting, I just want to work from home and make good money", I think I my current situation may have given him a less than representative sample of Army life.

Response by Chris McCabe made Mar 17 at 2023 10:01 AM

Chris McCabe — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 10:01:51 -0400

When I was a junior in HS, I wanted to join the Navy. My dad, a Navy veteran said absolutely not. When I asked him why, as he joined the Navy out of HS, his answer was simple. There was a war on(WWII) It's peacetime and you're going to college. I hated college and eventually dropped out.
I always wondered where my life would have gone if I joined.
When or daughter decided to join the Army, it was just after 9/11. She had to wait to join as she was only 16 and in HS. When she turned 18 we said bon voyage and she left. Now 20 years later, four posts, and multiple deployments, she will be retiring. One piece of advice that I have her was sometimes it's ok to volunteer for an assignment.
All you can do is support their choice and be available 24/7 to just listen, my advice would be limited having not served.

Response by Cpl Sean Farquharson made Mar 20 at 2023 3:01 PM

Cpl Sean Farquharson — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:01:26 -0400

two of my three are not eligible due to Autistic Spectrum Disorder. my daughter who might be eligible I have discouraged because of things like the ongoing occurrences at Fort Hood, and my own personal experiences. If she opts to enlist, I'll back her up, and she knows this. But I would not endorse an enlistment for anyone's child right now.

Response by Aaron Peters made Apr 16 at 2023 1:00 PM

Aaron Peters — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:00:47 -0400

Three of my children became Marines. Two are still active duty. The other Marine was set to be a lifer until he realized Uncle Sam was not willing to let them unleash the furry they could impart upon the enemy in defense of their brothers and sisters. Subsequently, eleven Marines were killed, a soldier and a corpsman as well as many maimed service members. It’s all about fighting to make rich men and their friends even richer. We undoubtedly need a military, but I certainly don’t encourage my other children to serve.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Apr 16 at 2023 3:49 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:49:24 -0400

1LT Private RallyPoint Member One son and two daughters. My son was die hard to follow in the old man's footsteps and join the Marines since he as about thirteen years old. He was turned down due to daily medications he needed to take. My youngest, a daughter, was set to join the Marines also until she got together with one of her boyfriends senior year of high school who talked her out of it. Today, ten years later, she is kicking herself for not following her dream to earn the EGA. I never pushed any of them to join or sway them not to. It was their decision entirely, as it should be any potential recruit.

Response by SSG Elbert Thomas made Apr 16 at 2023 4:13 PM

SSG Elbert Thomas — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 16:13:06 -0400

My daughter joined the Air Force spent 10 years, got out for a higher paying job in IT. Her Husband who she met in basic, joined at the same time and got out at ten years to work for Microsoft in security. That happen many years ago (90's), but I would never let my kid join now, with the way things are now.

Response by SGT Kenneth Partyka made Apr 16 at 2023 4:55 PM

SGT Kenneth Partyka — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 16:55:02 -0400

Under the current command. Nope. My military service made me who I am today but the current "woke" mentality of the military is not something I would recommend to my kids. I taught them to be USA Loving Patriots and work hard. Not this Yellow-card, transgender BS that is being peddled by the Pentagon. "My two moms" - Really?

Response by MSgt Laura Marbut (aka Roberts) made Apr 17 at 2023 2:55 PM

MSgt Laura Marbut (aka Roberts) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:55:15 -0400

My daughter lived the Brat life considering my father was retired Army (40 years), my brother was USMC, and my sister and I USAF. She was even born in a military hospital and saw military doctors until TriCare came along. I was a Recruiter most of my career, so lf I traveled somewhere not all that far away, I usually had her and my mother tag along to conferences to places like New Orleans, or Paris, TN. She didn't care much for the few civilian friends I had and truly enjoyed the company of all my military friends. She grew up with it all. At 17, my co-worker (Recruiter) hit her up to enlist so quickly she didn't know what hit her. Hahahaha! She did her time in the ANG with us and had a great time, and I got to bug the heck out of her.

Response by PO1 Robert Ryan made Apr 18 at 2023 12:13 PM

PO1 Robert Ryan — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:13:31 -0400

I have made sure they were educated first. Then let make their decision based on Knowledge not an enlistment sale. My daughter told me she got tired of moving every 3 years , having to find new friends, start new schools, and me having to go sea for 6 months (when in the Navy). She didn't mind shore duty since we stayed in one spot for 3 years, and I did not have to deploy then, She told me she felt she served the country as military dependent.

Response by LTC George Morgan made May 8 at 2023 8:48 AM

LTC George Morgan — Mon, 08 May 2023 08:48:57 -0400

Couldn't agree more. Course the way in which Congress is cutting benefits should be a major factor in their decision. If you talk about going to retirement that is another question altogether. I have 27+ years in reserves, punctuated with active active from IMA position where I got a LOT of use because of my skill level set.

Response by LCDR Ed Etzkorn made May 28 at 2023 1:55 PM

LCDR Ed Etzkorn — Sun, 28 May 2023 13:55:31 -0400

Their decision, not mine. Having said that I would not encourage them to join today's politically correct/woke military.

Response by CDR Robert Osburn made Jul 15 at 2023 8:53 AM

CDR Robert Osburn — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 08:53:35 -0400

I suggested to my son to serve and he wanted nothing to do with it. After a few years he changed his mind and enlisted in the Navy. He served for 5 years and did really well. He got a government job doing the same thing making alot more money. Can't say that I would encourage him to serve in the current environment.