My son is about to join the army

Did you miss the part where this guy is having mommy go with him to the recruiters' office?

NCOs (aka people who have actually put time in to earn their rank vs. hang out in college drinking beer for 4 years) will eat this guy for lunch.

I'm his dad and I'm going to meet with the recruiter as well. It's funny that's the part that seems so controversial.

I do appreciate your thoughts. I even recognize your MOS code. So how has your career been since you left the infantry?

I was enlisted so I've done my fair share of cracking on college rank. I listed after having earned a degree so I was a few years older than the average enlistee. When the drills talked about being dumber than a private, I could feel their pain as the average enlistee was dumber than a box of rocks. But, instead of joining the crackfest, I took them under my wing and helped one such person get his PT scores up (mine were always max btw) and he recently retired after 20 years with the 82nd.

My point is this: had more of them had supportive parents, they might not have made some of the foolish decisions they made. There is not one thing wrong with having adult support. Even a kid fresh out of college is still a kid and doesn't really know all that much. Stereotyping kids who chose to go to college first is a dangerous game. Many NCO's with an ax to grind against "college rank" actually end up alienate people who could end up being great leaders with some support. The great NCO's with whom I served weren't busy throwing their hard earned field cred around, they were busy teaching and building their baby LTs into men. The hard asses rarely helped advance any mission and were too busy being glory hounds to benefit the unit missions. At the end of the day, the unit has to work together to succeed. And yes, I get it, there will always be the spoiled kids who never had to work for anything who just won't listen to a good NCO either-I've seen enough of those fools to write a book. They were 8 up before they walked in the door. And yes, I do have big respect for 11Bangers. They ARE the Billy Badasses who get the job done.

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.

I would suggest the Navy.

Talk to the recruiter about going to see an OCS recruiter. Then talk to OCS recruiter.

The ASVAB is a walk in the park for anyone with college. He'll easily score high enough to be eligible for any MOS in the Army.

Don't go infantry unless you go officer and plan to stay 20 years.

Enlisted MOS's to think about:

Chemical (I'm chemical): Hazmat Certs at least give you an option when you get out.

Signal/Intel: You'll eventually have the opportunity to get a TS/SCI clearance.

Cyber: Do your enlistment, get out and get a $100k year job.

Also keep in mind, most of the better MOS's won't be available. When I enlisted maybe 20 had open slots in the next 6mo.

Alan

Also, day to day life is a lot of jumping through hoops, reacting to last minute things, and mostly unrelated to your actually job.....unless you are: HR, Cook, Mechanic, Finance, etc.

Alan

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.

Unless your son has something in particular that he really wants to do that he CAN'T get into as an officer - and that doesn't appear to be the case - I strongly recommend going officer. In fact, absent the condition above, I can't imagine why someone with a college degree would want to be paid significantly less, have less responsibility, and generally do shittier jobs and put up with s*** from a much bigger fraction of the service/military. Seems a bit masochistic.

It can be a great experience IF he takes advantage. A friend of mine joined, went to OCS, spent his time flying helicopters, then went to medical school for free. Another friend of mine worked on fiber optic telecommunications, he's been doing that since he left the service 20 years ago. I know a guy that flew helicopters and now flies for petroleum companies.

Pick a field where it transfers to the private sector OR be sure to get the military to pay for college where you do have a marketable degree. He can retire at age 38, that's a long time for a second career.

Army Experience? wrote:

I'm his dad and I'm going to meet with the recruiter as well. It's funny that's the part that seems so controversial.

It just screams helicopter parent. I think its great you want to support your son and help him make a wise choice. I think you can probably do that without meeting with the recruiter. That doesn't seem any more approiate than meeting with his college professor or sitting in on his job interviews.

Best of luck to him and I'm sure you are doing what you thinkvis brst.

quickndirty wrote:

It can be a great experience IF he takes advantage. A friend of mine joined, went to OCS, spent his time flying helicopters, then went to medical school for free. Another friend of mine worked on fiber optic telecommunications, he's been doing that since he left the service 20 years ago. I know a guy that flew helicopters and now flies for petroleum companies.

Pick a field where it transfers to the private sector OR be sure to get the military to pay for college where you do have a marketable degree. He can retire at age 38, that's a long time for a second career.

OPs son is a recent college grad PLUS you do not join the army to get a college education, you join to be a soldier ( you know the whole kill and/or be killed thing).

Oh and I would feel a lot differently if he was 17 or 18 and coming out of high school. At 22 with a college degree it seems you should be encouraging him towards more self-advocacy.

runrincerepeat wrote:

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

I concur...

I joined the Army at 17 and my Dad only met the recruiter to cosign cause I wasnt 18... he let me make my own choices.

You should help your son as much as possible. I don't mean to insult you or your son but your son is not thinking things through carefully. There is absolutely no debate - none - about whether your son should become an officer or enlist if he has a choice. But I don't think he does. From everything you said it seems clear to me that your son is talking to an enlisted recruiter who wants your son to enlist. There is nothing wrong with enlisting for some people. But if you think your son has a chance at officership - will be through OCS - that is the only route to take. Don't listen to any BS about enlisting first and then going to OCS. Assume it will never happen because statistically it's very unlikely.

I'll say it again. Think very carefully about specialty. As I and others have said, some specialties translate better than others into the civilian workforce. What do you think is going to translate better into the workforce, shooting a rifle or working on computers? I think your son is drinking some of the coolaid the Army marketing materials are selling him. Sure, infantry grunt sounds cool and exciting and it is honorable but enlisted infantry is the dregs of the military. Sorry but true. The initial excitement wanes and it can get lonely very quickly. Talk to your son. Help him come up with a plan. Military can be great for members who do their homework and take advantage of the travel, healthcare, and great educational benefits offered. Help him think about what he'll do and what job he'll get if he gets out in 4 years, 10 years, grad school etc. Just enlisting because you can't figure out what else to do is dumb for someone who already has a degree. Your son will cripple himself if he doesn't start thinking of a plan now.

Think more about services. I and others have already suggested Air Force and Navy. Why? They tend to be more technologically advanced with better educated service members and better bases. Space warfare and unmanned weapons systems are the future of the military. The high tech stuff. Air Force and Navy have the more advanced tech and weapons systems. Army doesn't. There will be a separate space command if not already. This is the future. Different services also treat their service members differently and some have better facilities than others. Air Force has the best reputation here. Army probably the worst. Air Force gets made fun of but enlisted quarters in the Air Force are often better than officers' in the Army. Talk to current service members in each branch to get a better idea of likes/dislikes.

Army Experience? wrote:

I'm his dad and I'm going to meet with the recruiter as well. It's funny that's the part that seems so controversial.

I do appreciate your thoughts. I even recognize your MOS code. So how has your career been since you left the infantry?

Sorry I am coming off as so harsh. Mom, dad, whatever, I think it is great that you are assisting your son but seriously think about this. He is now an adult, a college grad, and contemplating a decision that can get him killed. I have yet to hear about his burning desire to serve his country... underemployed and/or bored with his post college prospects, fine, but that is a recipe for a miserable tour of duty as an infantryman.

My post-military life has been reasonably good and I definitely gained from my experience, 2 main things really - 1) discipline and 2) clarity (motivation?) that I did not want to spend the rest of my life as a grunt. But the infantry gave me few practical skills or knowledge.

But litsen to me. I was young, wild, dumb, and most importantly, DIRT POOR. Which is what 90%+ of the infantry is - poor kids with no other options. This is not college grad territory. It is poor kids with few options in life. It is not a "find yourself" sabbatical from real life, and it is not a profession for advancing your career, unless your career is killing people and blowing things up.

The military offers myriad options for smart people with college degrees to further their skills and knowledge to prepare for a nice career, civilian or military. Your son should be looking into those options, if he wants to serve his county. Healthcare, aviation, logistics, computers. Lots of options.

I had a degree and went enlisted. Couldn't wait for OCS in my situation at the time. Currently going to go warrant (tech not flight). Warrant is best of both worlds.

Alan

This is good advice also

22 year Army retiree. 3 years, 4 months, 27 days as an Army Recruiter. Yes, they are salesmen. They want your son to sign up as soon as possible, you want to get the best job, best bonus, wait until the last monday of the month to go down to MEPs to pick a job. I'm serious, they will jump thru hoops to get a kid to enlist. (it has to do with the last monday of the month is the last day that counts towards "mission" (quota).

As a recruiter I never a any issue with kids coming in with their parents. Even the "high grad" kids (those with college.

Runningart2004 wrote:

Equalness wrote:

Unless your son has something in particular that he really wants to do that he CAN'T get into as an officer - and that doesn't appear to be the case - I strongly recommend going officer. In fact, absent the condition above, I can't imagine why someone with a college degree would want to be paid significantly less, have less responsibility, and generally do shittier jobs and put up with s*** from a much bigger fraction of the service/military. Seems a bit masochistic.

I had a degree and went enlisted. Couldn't wait for OCS in my situation at the time. Currently going to go warrant (tech not flight). Warrant is best of both worlds.

Alan

Yeah.....but your insignia's weird looking !!

My advice, try and convince him to join the Coast Guard instead. I was USMC infantry and if I could go back in time that's what I would do. Army life sucks, infantry sucks harder, Marines weren't much better tbh. Better quality of life in the Navy or the Air Force but really the Coast guard is the way to go, they're the only service that doesn't have a retention problem (they practically have to kick people out) and there's a reason for that.