Posted on 01/09/2011 3:13:21 PM PST by ExpatCanuck
Number one son has always been interested in the military. He started the first ROTC cluib in his high school's 105 year history, and eventually wants to get into Special Forces or Army Intel work. He completed a year of university at Embry Riddle after high school, then joined the Army National Guard. He's off to basic training in Missouri tomorrow (it's lovely there in January, I hear). He originally picked Medic as his AIT but was told by the recruiter (who is himself a medic) that he would very likely get deployed within 48 hours of completing his training. He wants to finish university and has already been accepted back at Riddle as well as several other schools, so he selected Engineering instead. Any tips, suggestions, advice, that my fellow freepers can offer would be greatly appreciated and will be graciously accepted. Any advice from mom's would also be appreciated - his mom is scared to death that he will be deployed and it is a source of friction between us because she blames me for letting him do this :-).
Best thing is don’t speak unless spoken to, and, it’s” Yessir, No sir, Me sir? No Sir, Him sir” (said all at once in a sentence).
This is his last night home before training and we’re going out for dinner, so please don’t be offended if I don’t respond to any posts right away. :-)
Never volunteer for ANYTHING! :-)
I wouldn’t go, I hate Obama!
Dont bend over for the Obama soap.
Travel light to Basic. Bring only what he *needs*. It’s all going to be searched and then civilian clothing will be locked away...
Never say YOU!
Tell him to go to Embry Riddle or Florida Tech for four years and the re-evaluate his life. Much will change. He needs a quality education. (I’m a Fl Tech grad student).
If he is enrolled in an ROTC program, he will be able to defer any deployment.
If he wants to end up in either of those fields, he needs outstanding grades. Intelligence will require above-average fitness. SF requires superhuman fitness.
I served in the Air Force 150 years ago (or it seems) so can’t offer advice about Army Basic.
But can say Thank You for raising such a great kid. I wish him success and safety. We need more like him (and you).
He does too, but, he loves his adopted country (he was born in Canada and we came here when he was 4 years old), and the country, God willing, will be here long after Obama is gone.
I attended Embry-Riddle.. why didn’t he join the USAF? As far as basic training, keep your mouth shut, do as your told without questions, and don’t volunteer for anything!
Do not volunteer for anything.
Don’t ask don’t tell...oh wait, nevermind.
I’d suggest against calling an army Drill “Sir”...
He might be sleeping in a tent....
The most important this is not to believe anything a recuriter tells you. Opps.. ;-)
Tell him to be careful.
More people are hurt or killed in the military by being careless than for any other reason. Always stay keenly alert to what is happening around you.
I lost a fellow sailor to carelessness. Driving, he swerved to avoid hitting someone in the street, hit the curb, and because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt was thrown out the windshield over the hood of the car and killed when his car rolled over him. He was driving about 25 mph.
Knew a Marine who was attacked by a very large tire she was rolling too fast. It became unbalanced and she was trapped under it. One of her feet was crushed. Today she is a nurse and doing fine but her injured foot still bothers her and perhaps always will.
Tell him to stay vigilant, stay careful, follow safety regs and he’ll come home OK. I and many others have in the past.
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