When my nephew was 17 he went to the recruiter with his friends to join the Marines and was filling out the forms when my sis called and asked him where he was. Before he knew it she drove up there, pulled him out and said "no way". The 6ft4 recruiter started yelling at my 5ft nothing sister saying that the Marines were going to get him when he turned 18, and he needed to spill blood for the country. We come from a military family: Mom/Dad USAF, Granddads Army, Navy, Marines Uncles Army, Marines... My sister didnt want that for her child.

When the kid turned 21, they made a deal and he joined the Coast Guard. Now one of his 18yr old cousins with an Army vet mom says no, she doesn't want her son even joining the Coast Guard.

My nephew is proud of what he feels is service that he does. He was in Haiti after the quake and pulled children and babies to safety, he has helicoptered elderly out of flooded houses during tropical storms, and rescued stranded boat passengers during hurricaines. In his opinion, he can't understand why anyone would not want to experience that or prevent their child from saving people.

would you support your child's decision to enter the military? Is there a branch you would more readily support than others?

wants2laugh wrote:

When my nephew was 17 he went to the recruiter with his friends to join the Marines and was filling out the forms when my sis called and asked him where he was. Before he knew it she drove up there, pulled him out and said "no way". The 6ft4 recruiter started yelling at my 5ft nothing sister saying that the Marines were going to get him when he turned 18, and he needed to spill blood for the country. We come from a military family: Mom/Dad USAF, Granddads Army, Navy, Marines Uncles Army, Marines... My sister didnt want that for her child.

When the kid turned 21, they made a deal and he joined the Coast Guard. Now one of his 18yr old cousins with an Army vet mom says no, she doesn't want her son even joining the Coast Guard.

My nephew is proud of what he feels is service that he does. He was in Haiti after the quake and pulled children and babies to safety, he has helicoptered elderly out of flooded houses during tropical storms, and rescued stranded boat passengers during hurricaines. In his opinion, he can't understand why anyone would not want to experience that or prevent their child from saving people.

would you support your child's decision to enter the military? Is there a branch you would more readily support than others?

That to me would be a red flag because there's no draft, it has to be a choice, but that sounds like there's a gun to somebody's head somewhere.

My niece is in the corp in college to get a cheaper tuition because her idiotic father was too cheap to pop for a better choice, and it is hell and I can't see why anybody would WANT to join. I know why it's important they do, but I just can't see why anybody would willingly sign up for that kind of life.

I wouldn't be crazy about the idea but if she's old enough to enlist without my permission what am I going to do? Disown her? It's not like I'd be ashamed of her, just scared to death for her safety. Whichever branch and specialty would be most likely to keep her out of harms way.

I would support my son, but be very afraid for him.

I'd be very worried for them if they were to sign up, but it's not like I could stop them. My cousin's daughter decided she wants to join the Army.I would have to support them. Wasn't too keen on it, but she's wanted to do it for a while.

I'd strongly encourage them to go to college, but if they were hellbent on it, I'd tell them to join the Navy.

Honestly, I wouldn't be thrilled about it. I'd prefer my kids go all the way through to school.