Now that you have served, are you likely to recommend your children serve? Same branch?

My preference is the Navy for my little man...

No. I come from a family of Marines...several generations, from what I was told before my dad died. I went Navy because I wanted to be a doc for the Corps that my dad & geandfathers loved so dearly...and my niece just graduated Hospital Corps School & is at her 1st duty station (Pearl Harbor; honor graduate & got to pick) because I was a Corpsman...while my nephews have served in the Army & my son will or will not serve by his own choice. I answer questions & help with certain things to think about, but that's a decision that a young man or woman needs to make for himself/herself. There's just too much riding on what branch& MOS a young recruit chooses for them to be pressured one way or another. I just believe that whatever decision a young person makes; to serve or not, and if so what branch...they should be given 100% support & help achieving their dreams.

My Great Grand Father, Grand Father and Father were all Navy. None of my generation followed suit. There were 3 soldiers, 2 airmen and an Marine.

If my children want to serve I will support them, whichever branch they'd serve in. I was afforded the opportunity and they will be given the same on as I was. I couldn't speak about the other branches, but I would let them know my experiences in the Navy. They'd then have to choose which route they want to make. Personally I think they should become officers though.

If I had kids, I'd tell them to go either Army or Marines. I'd even push them to become 11B or 0311's. I'd want that so they know how it feels to suck, and when their time is up, I'd coach them into reclassing into a technical MOS to either finish out their time or retire from. I'm biased towards my groundpounder branches of course. But if they went to the Navy or AF, I'd have some serious issues, but if they joined the Coast Guard, they're getting disowned (JK!!!)

I don't have kids but if I do have them, I would let them make their own decision on whether they wanted to join the military and which branch. I'd also talk with them and make sure they understood why they wanted to join and accompany them to the recruiting office if they wanted to go.

Both my parents were Navy and while that may have influenced me going navy as well, my parents never pressured me but were happy when I joined the Navy.

Will not pressure kids to serve but will show the ups and downs and let them make their own choices.

I would absolutely suggest it to my children, whenever I have some. As to the branch, if they joined the same as me I would be thrilled. Butni would be just as thrilled with any branch because they are willing to sign and protect this country and the true Americans.

I would be proud to have a child serve in any branch of service they chose.

I would suggest they look into it, but I wouldn't recommend that they serve. The call to serve and the reason behind that call is different for every one, and I want to ensure that if they do, I will support them, and if they choose not to, I will still support them. I don't want them to serve because I did, or because they think it's what I expected, as that, to me, is not a valid reason to serve. I will admit that it used to bug me when I would ask a young troop why they chose to serve, and the answer would be a proud "family history" of serving, but there were quite a few where that was the only answer they had. I'm not saying it's got to be an all American patriotic answer, but that answer should begin with "Because I..." not "Because my..." I do feel a little sad that my direct military family line ends with me, but with a brother and sister who served Army, and a brother who served Navy, we still have a shot or two! LOL!