As a parent and service member, would you encourage your kids to serve in the military as well? Please explain why or why not?

Would you have been okay if he served during this military era of deployments?

CPT (Join to see) would have been a little worried about him, but I couldn't tell him no, he decided to go into engineering for his vocation.

Mine too.

CPL William Spence good choice brother.

I served in the AF during Vietnam as an ER medic because I did not want anybody shooting me, and I was not certain I could kill anyone. Based on my clinical research, the vast majority of combatants show a natural aversion to killing another human despite intensive training to do so.

On a lighter note here is my summary of the military hierarchy
based on many conversations w/ vets from all branches:
If you have never served in the military, you ain't shit,
If you have never served as a Marine, you ain't shit,
And if you have never served in combat, you ain't shit!
Rich

The Navy treats its senior people so much better, from E7 up and if it was feasible, I would switch now. I don't think my wife and kids would approve of me on an aircraft carrier.

I was ok with everything you said, right up to the last sentence. I have 28 years in the Air Force, active and reserve. The last few years I was in an Air Transportation unit. That is ammo, equipment, food, vehicles, and convoy truck drivers, along with anything else you could think of and thousands of troops both coming in and going out of the AOR. Not one of those troops going home were upset that the "junior varsity" was taking them home. I also loaded wounded troops on the Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 (they were in charge of the medical evac out of Iraq). They did not complain. Also many flag covered coffins going home, They did not complain either. Have you ever talked with or been helped by a "junior varsity" A-10 coming in for a little ground support. That 30mm makes distinctive sound, yea we brought that to you. You ever heard of the Air Force Pararescue? Yea they went out to help you guys too! Forward Air Control they went out too. Maybe I never went out of the wire but my time was just a real as yours. Were you an 11B or another MOS that went out? If so I salute you and if you stayed inside the wire with me, then I still think you are one of my brothers. Of course you probably think the Coast Guard is not a real military service! If you want to go to the bar and have a few beers we can set and poke fun at the squids and jarheads and the Army and Air Force. I'll buy the first round!

Lifeguards

Did you emphasize a particular branch?

CPT (Join to see) - No,my oldest joined the Marine Corps(11 years) and the youngest the Army(15 years). Both did well and continue to be responsible for family and community.IMO it served them well.The oldest did not continue his career after he developed a problem from histoplasmosis and was no longer able to deploy,he made the decision to get out . The youngest had knee surgery and decided to end his enlistment to raise his growing family,he had been deployed 5 times (4 Iraq-1 Afghanistan).
Deploying seemed to play a large part in both their decisions,but in two completely different directions.

SSgt Terry P. I completely understand the deployments. I thank them for their service. I can respect a man who does what's best for his family.