For some time now, Hallboy’s been talking about joining the Air Force. He’s brought it up here and there throughout the past two years, but I’ve never been sure how serious he was, and if it was the video games talking, or if it was something he was seriously considering. I’ve been telling him to set an appointment with a recuiter so we both can go in and talk to him, and that’s what he did. This afternoon we met with a recuiter.
I’ve done a lot of homework about the AF. My son-in-law is an AF recruiter, and I hear a lot of second hand information from my daughter. Both my parents were in and my brother served for awhile. My mom’s second husband was in for a long time before he passed away. I know what he’s getting himself into, or at least I have a good idea. I just wasn’t sure he did.
While we were there, he filled out his application, completed the paperwork for a Voter’s ID card, and registered for Select Service. He also took the pre ASFAB test, on which he scored pretty well.
When my son was in high school he decided that he wanted to enlist in the Marines after graduation and I, as his mother, put the big kibosh on that idea. I was thinking there’s no way I’m going to let my baby…nation at war…blah blah, I’m sure you’ve had those fears too.
Looking back I can see that I should have at least really talked to him about it rather than shutting him down. I come from generations of military men, and I’m proud of them all, but my fear wouldn’t let me listen. Since he graduated he hasn’t really had any focus or plans, he seems depressed, aimless. I hope he’ll find something that engages him soon.
I still think going into the military now is a scary and dangerous thing, but in retrospect I think he would have made a great Marine. Kudos to you for being brave enough to listen with an open mind.
“parents don’t want what’s best for you, they want you to be safe.”
OP: Exciting and terrifying? Not so much for the military choice, perhaps, as for the reality of the situation: responsibility for Hallboy’s life is shifting out of your hands. Completely.
I’ve served, and I’ve got 4 kids.
The youngest is all macho and bravado and already knows what he wants to do when he turns 18 (in like 7 more years). I have that much time to get him to realize the life of a soldier is not Call of Duty, but the potential for adventure, adrenaline, and a demise ranging from instantaneous to considerably less so is certainly real nevertheless. He wants to go infantry.
My oldest is 16, brilliant and beautiful, and desperately wants some reality and purpose before jumping from high school to college. I can’t say as I blame her. She wants to go Army as well and I daresay she’d do very well if her mother doesn’t kill her between signup and shipout. I have to wonder if she wouldn’t be happier feeding and vaccinating 3rd world children rather than waging war on them.
The middle two? Yeah, their fates are on some other road.
Inigo Montoya, you hit it: Exciting and terrifying. Not so much for the military choice, perhaps, as for the reality of the situation: responsibility for Hallboy’s life is shifting out of my hands. Completely.
It’s apparently “lit a fire under his ass” as Hallgirl said. Since the recruiter told him (this afternoon) that while not having his driver’s license wouldn’t disqualify him to serve, it may limit his options as to what he’s qualified to do, he’s filled out the paperwork to take his learner’s permit, and has called his physician’s office to schedule an appointment for the physical (required for the permit test). I told him I’d take him for the test on Saturday (his drs. appt is Friday) if he studied between now and then.
And I believe I hear the printer upstairs, printing out the permit application…
Since your son-in-law is a recruiter, I suggest you talk to him about what is and isn’t possible to be written into your son’s contract.
Most recruiters don’t want the recruitees to know about incentives, bonuses, or guarantees that can be included. For example, in the Navy I believe you can have your first duty assignment guaranteed, perhaps the USAF allows for that as well?
And remember, if it’s not in the contract, it doesn’t exist.
I would say that is the exact opposite of my experience. The vast majority of applicants that recruiters see are not qualified for various reasons. In order to get someone qualified to sign they will tell them everything that is available to them. Its not like they get a cut of the money saved if they sign him without a bonus. All they care about is getting him in.
In recent years a lot of bonuses and incentives have been cut.
In most cases, not really. No offense but talking about “going into the military” is pointless because it’s far too vague. Which service you select and what job you select/get makes a HUGE diff. Also going in enlisted or not. etc etc.
Not unless they’ve changed it in the last few years. I think even getting a guaranteed job is a lot harder than it used to be.
Bingo. Knowing a recruiter is a big plus here.
lol
What you say in jest I say is largely true, on both counts. You wanna sleep in tents and the mud, knock yourself out. I prefer a dorm room near the pool.
Your son wants to be a pilot, right? Did you ask if he can be a pilot without a college degree? Also, even if there is a route to being a pilot without a degree, how many such pilots get through such a route?
The only service you can be a pilot in without a degree is the Army. It is possible but difficult to get selected as a Warrant Officer pilot without a degree. All the other services require a degree and a commission.
Or maybe this adult is going to make his own decision and his parents can give advice and support but can’t “get him into” anything. Don’t try pushing him towards or away anything unless you want him to leave under a cloud of anger or resentment.
ETA I also saw Coasties during both of my deployments. They don’t always stay at home.
I know that. But just a couple of weeks ago the OP did another thread about the same subject, and said her son’s goal was to be a pilot. I posted the info about the AF requirements, but I don’t know if they sunk in.
When he takes the ASVAB (and this’ll sound obvious), make sure he gets plenty of sleep the night before, and a good breakfast the morning of. This test determines what MOSs he will be eligible to enter (and I think it’s ASVAB, not ASFAB). Screw the pooch here, and he’s screwed himself.
Ha ha, funny. I’m right there, too, with inter-service jokes. When we wear the uniform, we’re all part of a team. Each service has its mission, and the missions are different. Not everyone can be the quarterback or running back or wide receiver. Some of us are an offensive tackle, some are a defensive nose tackle, and some are the kicker. Even in the Marines, 1 of 10 is infantry, and the other 9 of us like cooks and clerks and pilots and drivers, our mission is to support the infantry: INFANTRY IS KING. I was artillery. Each of us has our role.
Good luck to you, HallMama, and please thank HallBoyBecomingHallMan from all of us, for serving our country, and for serving us.
I am a USAF operating room nurse, currently in Afghanistan, intimately acquainted with what explosives and ammunition do to the bodies of strong young men, and this. One million times, this. And moejoe? Please be assured you did absolutely the right thing. Far, far better to be a bit aimless, and have all of your limbs.
I first got into a uniform in 1986, and are ya sure, not for anything? Not your legs, or arms, or any combination of those plus your genitals? How about your face, or maybe the ability to shit in something other than a bag hanging off your belly? Because I see kids all day, every day that would happily trade their uniforms to get those back.
