Do you think your teen will go to war?

TexasSky,

As a parent, I understand your concerns. However, as an Army veteran, let me tell you how I viewed those issues as a teen.

My dad was a Vietnam vet. He flew in and out of South Vietnam, carrying supplies to Marine bases for four years. He constantly got on me as a teenager that "the best thing in the world for you would be military school." That was usually said in a somewhat threatening manner.

As a high school junior, I took the PSAT. Apparently, I did really well, and I started getting brochures from just about every college known to man, and then some. One of those was from the US Military Academy (aka West Point). On my own initiative, I started looking into it. It became my first choice, and was the school I eventually attended. From a financial standpoint, it was great; school, room and board was free, and I got a small salary. I was also guaranteed a commission (as a lieutenant) and a job after college.

It's not an easy thing to think about pulling the trigger and killing someone in combat. While I think I would have been ready to do so, I was not ever called into combat. However, in combat zones (as others have told me), one's thoughts are not on killing others, they are on protecting those you are fighting next to. So everyone is fighting to keep everyone else alive. Maybe it might help to see it from that perspective.

As far as your son being drafted, I don't think it will ever happen. If your son is looking for scholarship money and would like to be in the military, may I suggest looking into the service academies and/or ROTC. These programs will allow your son to get a college education and serve as an officer.

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NO but then mine's a girl. I have nephews who are already looking into recruiters.

TexasSky said:

I have the most gentle spirited son - and I cannot imagine him being asked to take a human life, but I am living in absolute terror that he will be asked to do exactly that.

To begin with, his father is always talking about how wonderful the military is because he always wanted to be in the service and was rejected due to health issues.

Now, as college scholarship and grant money gets tighter and tighter, recruiters are already calling the house trying to talk to him about "military scholarships". (He is just 14!)

I worry so much that he'll either give into a recruiter or be drafted.

Am I the only one who lives with that fear?

I don't know what to do about it (besides prayer). I don't want to talk badly about the President, the troops, etc., but I don't want this child to experience killing someone else.

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We banned recruiters.. for both my older children. Basically though once I showed them the pay scale for military personnel it was a deal breaker, they had no interest in responding to the "promises" of the recruiters when they did encounter them at the malls or local events.

let me also add - that if he scores highenough on the asvab (armed services vocational aptitude battery) that he will be able to CHOOSE what field he goes into - so he can choose a "safer" job - not that he won't see battle or anything. but alot of times we think of just the grunts - there are other positions/jobs.

Also - while it is not something to look forward to (killing someone) when you are put into the "spot" - his training would kick in.

I do not thikn there will be a draft. so if your son goes - it would be on his choice. BUt yes - that is one of the ways to get your college paid for - BUT he must realize that war is a possibility - many have joined thinking only about the money and not the possibility of having to go to war

as far as them calling when he is 14 - hang up!

TexasSky said:

Thank you all.
I never expected to feel this way. I come from a family full of vets, and they served proudly. Some are in the war now.
Oddly, my biggest fear is not him being killed.
My biggest fear is him being required to kill.

He just doesn't have that gene in him.

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My dad served over 20 years in the marines. But he was 23 when he joined, still young but not as susceptible to recruiting techniques.

I'm not opposed to military service if that's the choice they make, but I don't want my kids making a commitment to military service at 17 and 18 years of age, and personally I don't like them being aggressively pursued by recruiters starting at 16 and younger (which was the case for us) that went for any organization that was recruiting including various colleges, tell us what you have to offer ONCE and then we'll let you know if we're interested in more information.

One of mine has an injury to his brain that would omit him from service and my daughter would be quite the soldier if she recruited. I have no worries.If she was killed during service,I'd be heartbroken but accept that.

First of all, there probably won't be a draft. I don't know any soldiers who think there will be a draft anytime soon.

Secondly, if your son does need college money or wants to join, why not encourage him to join as a linguist? He'll spend at least 1-2 years in school for training, and then 2 years actually "working" and will probably not get deployed. That's two years of language training he can use for the rest of his life. Also, Air Force doesn't deploy like other branches of the military. If he joins the Army or Marines he'll almost certainly be sent overseas, and if he joins the Navy he'll be sitting on a boat in the middle of nowhere for most of his enlistment period. There are ups and downs to the military life, but it's not all bad and there are lots of perks -- insurance, job security, life skills, that sort of thing.

I am 14 too, but I'm female. I want to be a hellicopter pilot in the army aircorps - not because I want to kill people but because of the challenge, the teamwork and also because I love hellicopters. The military do a lot of wonderful things, it's not just going to war. The British Navy did fantastic work out in Indonesia after the Tsunami and they also do things like combat pirates and rescue expeditions. It's not all bad.

If it's your son wants to be in the forces, then I think he should be supported - I face terrible opposition at home to what I plan to do, but that hasn't changed my mind, in fact it's made me even more determined to see my dream through.

wow I can't imagine living with that fear.

TexasSky said:

Thank you all.
I never expected to feel this way. I come from a family full of vets, and they served proudly. Some are in the war now.
Oddly, my biggest fear is not him being killed.
My biggest fear is him being required to kill.

He just doesn't have that gene in him.

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You might be surprised what gene he does or doesn't have when someone shoots at him. Or injures a friend. Don't sell your son short.