My son is about to join the army

This video may be helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfrfeE19sVQ

See if he can be stationed at Fort Dix......it is next to Fort Nuts.

Going in as enlisted or into an officer training program?

Go officer corps.

Next best: Green to Gold.

If enlisting, take the DLPT language test and get to Monterey CA (good running there)

Army Experience? wrote:

My son is a recent college graduate and hasn't found a job that interests him for the last seven months. He is now considering joining the army and his mom and I are meeting with the recruiter tomorrow. (My son already went and met with him last week).

I've done a fair amount of research but I'm curious if anyone has any insight into this decision. My son is leaning toward the Infantry but he has not taken the skills assessment test to determine which jobs he'd be eligible to pursue.

Any questions to make sure we ask the recruiter? Any experience with any of the Army jobs? How is the Infantry perceived inside the Army?

Thanks.

He is an adult. Why would you and his mother meet with the recruiter?

Why don't you give your support and feedback to your son and let him consider your input while making his own decisions?

Mr. Obvious wrote:

He is an adult. Why would you and his mother meet with the recruiter?

That was my first impression too...if parents of a recruit came to me...I would not recommend officer's school but rather point the kid to the ranks.

My son has not decided between going the officer route or the enlisted route (and will obviously be impacted by what is offered). We are just gathering information at this point and helping my son make an informed decision.

Thanks for the replies.

If you're meeting with a "recruiter", that recruiter is enlisted and a skills test is involved he will be enlisting, period. If the recruiter promises or hints that a commission (becoming an officer) will/might be possible down the road don't believe him or her. It's salesmanship. If they gave me a dollar for every kid who was told he could become an officer but didn't I'd be rich.

Spent 4.5 years in the Army , 15 months of those in Iraq. Like anything else in life you get out what you put into it. I loved it when I was in (cept for the deployment which was hell) but its one of those things I am glad I already did.

If you go in stay single and dont get jammed up w marriage or a serious woman.. causes nothing but problems most the time. If you want a family go into the Air Force

I'm currently serving, I'm not infantry, but I've worked with a lot of infantry and scouts and, engineers and noncombat jobs as well. I'll give you non BS answers. Recruiters are salesmen. All they want is you to sign up.

What do you want to know? Day to day? In the field? Job differences? Officer vs Enlisted?

Alan

Regarding infantry, traditionally it has been very prestigious for officers. Many of the more famous Army officers and high ranking officers started in the infantry. Not so much for enlisted infantry.

If your son enlists, encourage him to find a specialty that will help him get a job when leaves the Army (for planning purposes assume he will leave after a few years). The problem with the Army is that it is the least tech oriented service branch. What does an infantry grunt do when he gets out? Your kid already has a degree so that helps but by the time he gets out that degree might be stale and his direct Army skills more relevant. So find a specialty that provides useful skills in today's economy.

And honestly, encourage your kid to consider other services too. Air Force and the new space command are the way to go. Definitely the most technologically advanced and better educated.

To defend the interests of bankers and corporations.

god bless him

Healthcare is a good area of the military to go into.. If i could go back That is what I would have chosen

I'm in the Army right now. If he wants to go infantry, I'd also highly recommend he take the officer route. I work with a lot of infantry guys, and it's one of the most unfulfilling jobs in the military, especially if you have any sort of education under your belt. For a minimum of 2 years he'd be a walking robot, basically doing what he's told and nothing more. Once he gets to the NCO ranks, he has a little more leeway to think and make decisions. But why wait that long when he could go officer and jump right into that position?

Also, view the recruiter as a car salesman. He or she will try to selling the shittiest car when you want the 2017 on display at the front of the lot. Research any and all jobs, make sure he decides on what he wants, and hold to it. He has a little leverage as a college grad and (I assume) single male. Use it. If he's not happy, check out other branches' opportunities before deciding.

The Army reddit page has a wealth of info on different jobs and what being in the military is really like. Use the search bar and question thread. Here's the link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/army/

Again. Thanks. I know very little about the military so I appreciate the insight.

My biggest questions surround the Officer vs. Enlisted route. I'm under the assumption that after my son takes this assessment test, if he scores well, an officer path could be made available to him given his college degree. Is that accurate?

My son is leaning toward enlisting. In his research he believes that becoming an NCO is what he wants and, quite frankly, I don't know the difference. I would prefer he go the Officer route to better his opportunity. Obviously it's his decision but I'd like him to have as much information as possible.

I'm prior service Army so take what I write from that perspective.

My advice in no particular order is

1. Get it in writing-every promise, get it in writing with multiple copies.

2. Encourage him to choose an MOS (job) that helps him acquire civilian world skills. While blowing shit up is great fun, there is little call for that in civilian life. If there is an MOS that aligns with his degree then that *might* be a good thing. As other people have already indicated, recruiters are paid to fill slots and are NOT to be considered your military career advisor as it's not your best interests which are their priority. Many will say any and everything to get you to sign. They will over promise and under delivers. Again, I can't stress this enough, get the promises in writing in contractual form and find out what they will do if the OCS slots are "not currently open" or some BS like that.

3. Absolutely go to OCS. Getting paid much more for way less BS is a good thing. NCO's and other enlisted will act like they are all that because they are enlisted. Appreciate them, treat them right ,and build a good rapport, but don't take any crap off them.

4. If your son is interested in a tech field, then absolutely consider Navy or Air Force. Air Force treats their personnel better, but all branches will move you around quite a bit (usually every 2 years) and that can be tough on a family, but the experiences are amazing.

5. If you have any other questions, please ask. I wish I had done more homework despite being proud of my service to my country.

I have a bunch of military in my family. My first question would be why not other branches? If he went to a decent school and got decent grades, there are much more interesting things to do in the military than be a foot soldier. One family member was in Naval intelligence and went straight into finance after. Another worked up to commander and had a nice career in the Pentagon heading Naval logistics. He retired with great benefits and has worked restoring classic cars since. Both were college grads with private sector options after graduation. But they wanted to serve and found good opportunities thanks to their college degrees.

And while some think that a 21-22 year old is an adult and should be left to fend for himself, I will tell you that your son is still more kid than adult. If you really want him to make an informed decision, get him to meet with some vets, especially vets who have been injured in combat. The private sector is not very interesting to a 22 year old guy compared to the military. But that may be because many 22 year old guys do not fully appreciate the sacrifices that may come with military service.

This is the saddest thread I have read on the internet in quite a while.

Sorry, Mommy but if your baby boy college grad can't make this decision on his own, then what makes you think the military even needs someone like him?

Sorry if that sounds harsh but cripes the US miltary has enough problems, what with being the latest progressive pet social experiment and the utterly tragic nation-building world policemen missions they have to go on. They don't need bored unemployed college grads trying to "find themselves" as well.

Can't even decide between officer corps and enlisted ranks? WTH. Jesus, you people need to run, RUN away as fast as you can from the recruiter before your son comes home in a flag-draped coffin, and you sit around wondering why, why did this happen to my son!?!?! For god's sake, the military is for fighting wars, and in case you haven't noticed, we are in a never ending one right now.

Tell him, "Son, you're fucking high"