If my son goes into the military, being he's my first born son and only child, will he put in the line of fire

Question

And even if he is not put in the line of fire...is it worth him going?
I have been on military.com but can't find the answers I'm looking for. Thanks

Being that I'm a single parent and it's always just been me and him...I would die without him, as I know many families who lost their children died inside too. I told him if he decided to go, I guess I'd have to go too! lol....
Thank you all for good answers, it will be hard to choose the "best answer".

Answer 1

United States Air Force Master Sergeant retired with 22 years active duty. OK that's my pedigree. And here's the answer to your question.

Your son will be subject to being put in harms way. That is the military. We are there to stand between the American People and danger. It is a noble profession and most men and women who wear the uniform will agree. Very few civilian professions are equal to the experiences of a typical military man. I was responsible for millions of dollars worth of aircraft and the safety of their crews before I was 20 years old. Try to realize that at IBM or Ford Motor Co. It simply won't happen. So, yes it is worth it, but if and only if he does it for the right reason.

If your son is joining because he is an American, a patriot proud of his land and liberties and with a burning desire to do something to preserve that land then he is on the right track. However, if he is enlisting to get money for college, thinks he wants to kill people, can't find a job, is sick and tired of being at home, wants to purge an arrest from his record or any of a dozen other reasons, it will be the hardest job he can imagine and he will hate every minute of it.

The purpose of the US military is to enforce our foreign policy. Since the President is the only person authorized to make foreign policy your son will not be asked, he will be told what must be done. That means whether on not he agrees with it. He will not be allowed to pick and choose the orders he will obey. I served under Lyndon Johnson, the worst micromanager this world has seen for centuries. I served under Jimmy Carter, a fine moral man who was totally incompetent. He was simply in over his head. But it made no difference, while I didn't like either of them, I respected and obeyed both of them.

My wife and I have four children. When my youngest daughter considered the military she came to me. I was blunt with her as I am with you. I told her that I would support any decision she made. I told her I didn't want to hear her complain because she didn't get the job she wanted or that it was hard for a woman or she didn't want to go over seas. The only absolute is the President. When the Boss calls for help the military helps. So if the President of the United States picks up the phone and dials 911 I expected her to answer, and you should expect the same of your son.

I guess I was too blunt because she opted not to enlist. A wise move for her, she wasn't acting for the right reason.

I can be contacted through my profile. Drop a line if I can be of any further use. And Good Luck to your son.

Answer 2

being ex-military, anyone who was the only child couldn't go into the service as it is the last person to carry on the family line. in my time, some lied about being a only child to get in. if they found out about it, they discharged under the hardship military law. the best way to get a answer is contact a military base near you and ask for the jag office. they can tell you what the new laws are and what to do.

Answer 3

It is possible. However, your son can file for "last surviving son" status, as I recall, which could serve as a way to prevent a potential deployment from occurring. Ask a recruiter for more details, as I'm not a recruiter myself.

That said, I've been US Army for nearly 9 years total, and never been shot at once (Except for the whole paintball thing I did).

Statistically speaking, you are more likely to die driving to work than you are in combat. Most of our death are caused by young (and not so young) soldiers home on leave, on pass, or whatever, and die in traffic. More than 50% of US Military fatalities come from vehicle accidents in a civilian vehicle, as I recall.

Answer 4

The Only Son Exemption is a myth. the only way around it is he can request staying behind IF a parent or sibling was killed in the line of duty.

Only HE can say whethre or not military service is 'worth it'. As a parent, you must accept the fact that he is an adult and therefore capable of making his own decisions, and support him in whatever he chooses.

Answer 5

It's actually up to him. He can request not to be and that request will be honored.

Much like with siblings. The military will not send siblings into a war zone at the same time. The exception being only if they volunteered to go.

These were the regs when I served in Viet Nam. Of course, they could have changed by now.

Answer 6

It depends on what hes going into the military for. If its Infantry then yes he will be placed in the line of fire. Mechanic? Probably not, if you are worried about it tell him to stay away from the Combat Arms part of the military.

Answer 7

Yes, he will. My late husband was an only child and he was sent to war just like everyone else. I am aware there is something in the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) about this. The movie "Saving Private Ryan" was about this. Most of the time, unless the question is raised, nothing is done about it.

Answer 8

Do not put that restriction on your son. Let him go in and do what he and the Army want. If this is your desire and you force him to ask special consideration, or you request it, any future in the Army will be severly limited.

It is your responsibility to allow and give your son permission to become a man. By wanting special consideration for him denies him that permission. He will go in the Army, but will not become the man he can be out of guilt. He will not feel he is there for the men in his unit. He will feel he's there cause that's where his Mama wanted him.

I am a Vietnam Veteran and the last thing I wanted was for my son to have to go to war. It was more scary than my experience in Nam. I wanted, desperately, to ask him to go for a nice safe job in a rear area, but I didn't. He chose the Infantry. Today my son is back home and doing well. He is my hero and a role model. He has become a man I respect highly.

Is it worth him going? That can only be answered by your son after the going is done (after he has been in the Army). I can assure you this. It will not be worth it, if he had to do it his Mama's way.

I understand your love and fear for your son. It's one of the hardest things we have to do when we let them go on their own and make their own decisions. You will be very happy with the end result when you do.

There are support groups of mothers and wives of military personell. Check with churches in your local area for one of these groups and start attending. They will do alot to help with you fears.

During Vietnam only 2/10 of 1% or 0.020 of all the men who served were killed or died in Vietnam. 3 Million served in Nam and 58,000 died.

1.5 million men and women have served in Iraq since 2003. Only 0.0016% have been killed. Your son has a higher risk to being killed by lightening than in combat in Iraq, and even greater chance of being killed in an auto accident.

I will pray for the best for you and your son.

Answer 9

Yes and No.
Yes he can be put on the front lines but in an auxillary positions, not actually facing combat but still in a supporting position, such a logistical director.
also No in more than likely unless they are extremely short on people he'll be well behind the front lines.

Worth going- it's up to him, if you want to go then you have to go.

Answer 10

Based on what I know from my Dad who was in the Military he said your son would not be put on the front line.