What would your do, if your son or daughter tells you they want to join the Arm Forces?

Question

I have a son, that wants to join the Army. Am so happy because the Army will help him gain what he wants in life. I dont have the enough resources to help him (monetary) be a doctor, so he thought it was a great idea to join the Army and be strong to gain his purpose. Still am afraid for him. After all I have been reading regarding the Iraq war, I honestly dont want my son to be going to Iraq. Please dont get me wrong, I love my Country.

All I can do is tell my son am proud of him and am all in for him. Is not a lie, am just a mother worry.

AM NOT SAYING THAT AM NEVER GOING TO LET HIM JOIN, HE IS OLD ENOUGHT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE IS VERY SMART. AND HE HAS ALL MY FULL SUPORT. IKE I SAID AM A MOTHER WHO IS SCARED. BUT HE WILL DO WHAT HE THINKS IS RIGHT FOR HIM.

Answer 1

It is very frightening to think of my son going to war in Iraq but I would have to respect his choices and admire his courage for pursuing his dreams and wanting to serve our country at the same time.

It is also a tribute to you. You have been IMO a good mother. You have a responsible son. An ambitious son trying to decide the best way to reach his goal as Doctor. And you have a compassionate son. He wants to help others because he wants to be a Doctor.

Always picture your son safe. Visualize that for yourself. Our visions have great power.

Answer 2

Tell him to seriously research all branches of the military first before he signs up.

The army is the one most likely to send him into a war zone. Over 3,000 troops have died in Iraq, and over 15,000 have been seriously injured. I know people who have been, it is no walk in the park. It is a horrible situation out there. Once you go, even if you escape injury you come back emotionally scarred for life.

Other branches of the military such as the navy or air force offer similar opportunities, with a far lower chance of being killed, and a wider range of more interesting jobs.

I think we also need to get past some of the false patriotism here. America invaded Iraq for no good reason. Going to Iraq is not making our country safer, or serving, it is putting oneself in harms way to police a civil war that we started due to Bush's complete ineptitude. Hundreds of people are dying every week, and becoming part of that statistic doesn't help our country in any way.

And this is something your son needs to seriously consider when he signs up. All it takes is some moron President to get elected and start some stupid unnecessary war and suddenly you are forced to participate, whether you believe in the cause or not. As the Iraq war has proven, a bad President can simply invade a random country, not as an act of protection or defense, but as an act of aggression. Once you are in the army it is your sworn duty to participate in these activities and put yourself in harms way, just because a politician decides he wants to do it.

It is one thing to die for your country protecting it, but it is quite another to get your legs and arms blown off by a land mine policing a civil war that should never have been started.

Understand, I am not speaking out against the troops here. I am just saying that when politicians make bad decisions, it is the troops who suffer, along with their loved ones.

He also needs to be realistic about what the army is going to do for him. He may want to be a doctor, but the army is not about what people want, it is about what the army decides they need to do. Maybe he will get his wish, but if a screws up, fails a test, somehow doesn't make the grade, he can't just quit and do something else like you can in civilian life. He will be forced to do whatever he is told, including ending up on the front line in Iraq.

Answer 3

He could consider trying to get a ROTC scholarship for college. Basically, they will pay a portion (or all) of tution in exchange for service in the armed forces as an officer after college. It would give him the chance to become a doctor before joining the service, being a doctor in the service at a far better rate of pay then if he enlists and he will have real world experience that will apply to any ER he could ever go to when he gets out. Plus, as a doctor, he will be farther from the action and less likely to get injured. You can go to the college or army website to find out more.

Answer 4

From the time my son could talk he has been obsessed with jets and has dreamed of joining the air force. No joke he was like 1. LOL I have always thought he will grow out of it as most kids change their minds 50 times about what they want to do in life. He is now 11 and still is joining the air force when he is 18, he also wants to be a veterinarian. Even though he is only 11 I get scared when he talks about it. As a mother you want to protect our children. It is a normal reaction. Of course my son could still change his mind, but if he doesn't I will be the proudest mommy of all.

Answer 5

just like you i would be proud and scared! i have a grandson i am trying to talk into joining the navy. he needs that in his life but like you i don't want him in Iraq. you are doing the right thing, support him 100% you have raised a man to be proud of. i pray that he will either not go to the mid east or if he does he will come home safe.

Answer 6

After all some one's son will have to join the army. Why not yours.

Answer 7

I would also have some fears, but if you've thought it out and weighed the pros and cons and still think it's a good idea then support him. My husband was in Desert Storm and I am very proud of him. Good luck!

Answer 8

Be as supportive as you can. It's a good career. My husband is active duty Army and it's tough on us as a family sometimes with the deployments, but keeping in good contact with them and just being there is the best you can do for what they are doing for us. Good for you and good for your son.

Answer 9

that's the perfect answer-it's normal to worry about your son. you wouldn't be a loving mother if you didn't. the military is a good way to go for an education-i know, i was Navy. and the life experience he will get will always serve him well. wish him well and turn him loose!

Answer 10

I would tell him I didn't raise him to be killed or mentally damaged before he had lived his life. No one and I mean no one comes back the same person they went in as, and I don't mean this in a good way. If he wants to be a doctor he can do it without enlisting. This has nothing to do with loving your country, it has to do with loving your son.