If you're son (or daughter) was a high school senior and, instead of attending college, was hellbent on joining the military after graduation, would you support him (or her) on that decision?

NO! Especially now that we are engaged in a couple of wars with dubious outcome and very real danger. And, knowing that for all the TALK of backing our military, wounded vets are routinely being denied the care that they require (cost saving you know)

One of my grandsons had considered joining the military in this tanked economy and I was right there with the women in his life telling him not to. I may have joined the Air Force even if there wasn't a draft at the time, but unless there is some real benefit to joining the military today I would not.

It would depend on their personality. If he was a good student, I'd want him to go to college. If his grades were never anything special or if he was a screwup, then maybe the military can add some structure that college TOTALLY wouldn't.

No.

Chris wrote:

If you're son (or daughter) was a high school senior and, instead of attending college, was hellbent on joining the military after graduation, would you support him (or her) on that decision?

If I were a mother, I'd support my child in whatever she/he decided to do. It would be difficult to see him go off into such dangerous situation and into dangerous lands, but I would also be very proud of him/her for being so brave, for doing something I would never have the courage to do.

Oh by the way Robbie and NY, there is such a thing as college after the military. Duh.

It would depend on their personality I guess.

MandyPerfumeGirl wrote:

Oh by the way Robbie and NY, there is such a thing as college after the military. Duh.

Save the "Duh". Chris asked how would people feel about their kids joining the military after graduation INSTEAD of going to college.

I'd stress college. Much as I respect service men and women, I wouldn't be too keen on my child going into the military to be quite honest.

CatEyes10736 wrote:

I'd stress college. Much as I respect service men and women, I wouldn't be too keen on my child going into the military to be quite honest.

I know what you mean, it's like, you're grateful for what the people in the army do, you're grateful that they put their necks on the line to protect the rest of us, but you still wouldn't wish that kind of life on anybody, which I don't know if it's kind of hypocritical, but that's the way it is, especially during wartime you wouldn't wish recruitment and enlistment on anybody.

If they're 18, they can do whatever they want but I would implore them to reconsider....I don't think either of my kids are military material. Go to school....at least you can come home when you feel like it. Join the military and they pretty much own your ass. I see it as akin to prison.

MandyPerfumeGirl wrote:

If I were a mother, I'd support my child in whatever she/he decided to do. It would be difficult to see him go off into such dangerous situation and into dangerous lands, but I would also be very proud of him/her for being so brave, for doing something I would never have the courage to do.

Oh by the way Robbie and NY, there is such a thing as college after the military. Duh.

. Why do you have this penchant for blowing shit out of proportion? I'm well aware that there is college after the military, since I know a lot of people to went into the military and went to college. The question that was asked is how would I feel about my child going to the military instead of going to college. No, I would prefer my child to go to college.

Chris wrote:

If you're son (or daughter) was a high school senior and, instead of attending college, was hellbent on joining the military after graduation, would you support him (or her) on that decision?

I'd support them on whatever choice they made, but I would push for college over military.

It would depend on my child's personality. I have a friend whose son is in the navy and wanting to go to Afghanistan. From the time he was a small child, he wanted to be in that kind of profession - first as a fire fighter and later the army/navy. His Dad was in the army before retiring and that's what he wanted to do.

It would be very hard, though, but I'd encourage my child to do both, if possible - get an education while being in the military and then making a decision at the end. I had a roommie who did it that way - was in the navy and getting her degree. I can't remember how it worked out, though - if she was considered full military, reservists, or in training. I'd really encourage my child to go that route, though.