Posted on 12/26/2011 8:59:45 AM PST by PUGACHEV
I've been here ten years and this is my first post. I know many here have experience in the different services, but I have none. My son, who is 24, wants to enlist and make the military a career, but does not know which branch to enlist in. He has a high school diploma, no involvement with drugs, and no criminal record except, unfortunately, a DWI and several traffic related misdemeanors. He is intelligent, fit, athletic, and handsome. His interests are ice hockey, video games, and girls, in that order. He is a quiet person with a low arousal type personality who is very tough and self possesed. He is completely unflapable. He has good manners, no meanness in him, and makes friends easily. He has no particular work-related skills or aptitudes. His grandfather on his mother's side was in the British army from Dunkirk to the end of the war, so maybe there is some military talent lurking in his genes somewhere.
My son is looking to me for advice, and he will follow it. My questions are: (1) What branch would have him with the DWI on his record; (2) What branch would best suit his personality; and, if he had a choice, what speciality might be good for him. My first thought was the Navy, but I really don't know.
This is a difficult situation regarding your son’s aspirations for a military career and In the past I would have said Go For It.But with the Present administration doing what it will to destroy this country militarily and economicly,I would have to say Don’t do it.
I’m tired of seeing our troops throwing their lives away for the piece of trash in the white house.Not to forget the trash in the house and Senate.
If you could I would convince your son to hold off making a decision untill well after the Presidential election in 2012 to see what direction the country is going.
Right now the country is going down the sewer and that’s putting it nicely.
If things do get better with better support for our military I’d say GO Air Force.
My only knock against the Army is that they have crappy duty stations or at least, places I did not want to visit while I was on active duty: korea, Germany.
The military is more particular about a DUI then say 10 years ago. There are plenty of assessments that will categorize his interests. What ha he been doing since high school??
I hate to break it to you but a DWI might be a deal-breaker for the Navy these days. Only a recruiter would know for sure. The Navy is currently "overmanned" and is kicking people out left and right. In fact, with the economy in tatters, all branches of the military are enjoying the unique opportunity to only pick from the top while easily meeting enlistment quotas.
I was able to enlist in the Navy with a DWI on my record but this was 2003. A much different time and a time when the military couldn't afford to be picky.
My interests were girls, women and females. In that order.
If he’s good at video games, or has the dedication to master those skills, he should consider training to be a UAV operator. I heard an Air Force general say that UAV’s are way cheaper than manned aircraft and provide way more actionable information. Financial pressures on the military will make UAVs a high growth area.
The Army treated me right. If my girls go in....and they’ve both had some interest, I suggest the Air Force.
Your son....I think the army could benefit from his joining it.
BTW, as a manager at a telecom manufacturing company, I once hired a clutch of young Marines that were all mustering out at the same time... 4 or 5 of them. I watched 2 of them hack through the firmware password of a Sparc 5 in about 7 minutes. Dummies don't do that.
They were some of the best employees I had.
You just had to be careful about expressing your desires, or the division director would be complaining to you about hi-jacked equipment and offices. ;) But they sure could get things done.
/johnny
Having spent 24 years in the Navy 1960/1984, I hesitate to recommend the Navy as it has gone PC off the charts as have all the services. I have one grandson that is a combat medic sargent in the army and another that is a junior in the Coast Guard academy,they both seem to like what they have chosen the political correctness notwithstading.
Amen! Marines are damn sharp!
Congratulations to your son on his decision.
(1) What branch would have him with the DWI on his record; A. It depends upon the service. All services are in a draw down right now. In that case they may be more choosy when it comes to recruits. Simply Ask the recruiter.
(2) What branch would best suit his personality; and, if he had a choice, what speciality might be good for him.
A. Not sure that each service may lend itself to a particular personality type, however certain MOS/AFSC to indeed have certain mindsets i.e., Infantrymen have a different culture from the Military Intelligence troops.
I think the most important question would be what can the individual service offer me? It helps if your son has a particular interest in a career field.
I believe that the Army can and does offer more opportunity over the long run by virtue of being the biggest service. I was in the Air Force and Army.
Whichever service your son chooses he will have made a great step for himself.
Ditto, since I was old enough to know they were different, my choice has always been girls first and whatever else after that(one of my interest being ham radio).
Seriously, he really needs to think that aspect through.
I was working on some Sigint/Elint systems for the Army and the Marines.
The army guys were intelligent, but seemed very limited in problem solving or ambition.
The Marine guys were immediately like, Can we run this thing on the move at 70 mph in the dark with night vision?
And I would be like.. Lets find out!
ASVAB. There’s even study guides at the bookstore.
What? Nobody’s recommending the Coast Guard?
I sent you at length FReep mail. Check that out. Details on what they are doing to we retired foks now. It ain’t what your son is going to like hearing.
Adapt and improvise...
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