My daughter is on her way to boot camp

50 Pushups Recruit!



Ah the good 'ol days. Congrats to your girl Vendz!

It's nice to know that you're always there supporting your kid's passion.

That is what I was thinking... in a matter of months she could be overseas in Iraq. I think I would knock my son/daughter in the head if they tried to sign up for the military. Glad my girl chose to go to college

1. There aren't usually psychiatrists on base
2. If there are, they aren't 24/7
3. It's a medical service which they then must report to the military (on base or off base). IOW, it can seriously screw up your security clearance.

And I have to admit I have the exact opposite experience than you - "religious people" (which I guess would include me since I'm probably as religious as the chaplain) give very good advice. In fact, our local grief counceling service is run by a church.

But we're not talking about me - we're talking about the services available to the military. As I found out later, a lot of people in the service don't realize how "safe" it is to talk to a chaplain.

There are a lot of people in the US who consider it an honor to serve their country.

Not cold here at all around the great lakes. In fact, it's been gorgeous... around 65 or so here today

Awesome!!

Not to turn this into a political thread, but as serving in the military myself, I would rather be in during a Bush presidency than someone like Kerry. I was in during the transition of Carter and Bush Sr and you see the pride increase 10 fold. Military in general is always better off during a GOP presidency. Iraq is still safer than Washington DC and they have laws that prohibit gun ownership. I don't have to worry about Iraq, she's going in the Navy, You won't find too many Sailors in ground combat! They spend more time offshore with missle guidance systems!!

People that serve are better for it. So will my daughter be.

Yes, I'm lonely, you can come over to visit anytime

Exactly.

good luck to her!

just doesn't make sense in this day and age. sure, its an honor but most people only enter into it because they have little other options. i know it wouldn't be first pick for my daughter or son. i rather them go to school, enjoy being young as it doesn't last long and work towards a career, or do whatever makes them happy. if thats joining the service, then so be it but if it weren't tradition in her family im sure vendzillas daughter would not of joined.

and i have to disagree that religious people give good advice, maybe they do to other religious people but in cases with every one else telling someone god loves them and has a plan for them isn't going to do much. i suppose they could give advice without the sermon but those of religious authority rarely do. though i do agree its 'safer'.

I dont understand how anyone can join the us army under the current administration. Cannon fodder.

Iraq safer than DC? No sir.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/31/dc-safer-iraq/

My son joined after going to college. He honestly wanted a career in the military and when offered a TDY to Quatar, was begging to get it. Granted, that's not Iraq, but still. We have SOME military history but not much. My Dad's father was a career Navy man (then retired and made a fortune working for the TVA) and my Dad spent 2 years as an officer in the USAF in order to fulfill his ROTC requirements from college - that's it. There are a LOT of jobs out there for prior military where they wouldn't even consider a civilian. If you have a high security clearance, you can almost write your own paycheck. On the flip side, the military is offering bonuses to compete with these civilian job offers. There are some that have over $100K signing bonuses. My son saw the USAF as a career opportunity he wanted to pursue. Hell, he loved basic so much I thought he was lying when he made his first phone call and someone had a gun to his head saying "Tell your mother you really like it here!!"

Yes, there are people who really wished they didn't join the military after they get in. But my sister just left her job at IBM because she didn't like it - it doesn't mean it was a bad job - just not a good fit.

As far as the Chaplain, at least on the USAF bases, they cater to most every religion imaginable. Even Wiccans have their own services they can attend. Chaplains know this and I see them more as "safe" sounding boards rather than religious advice. My son was homesick and grieving over the breakup with his girlfriend. Really ANYONE could have talked to him about it, but not EVERYONE is available 24/7 - the chaplain is.

It about the best school, if she gets the Linguistics school, she'll have a degree when she's 20, if she goes OCS, about when shes 25, she'll be able to work anywhere in the world she wants for great pay. I can afford her to go to college. She already has a year of college done. When they interveiw, they'll ask her background, she'll tell them she went to a Naval school and go to the top of the list. My daughter is the one that brought this idea to me, she wants some adventure and she wants the best schooling, this is where she's going to get it and again, the regular Navy doesn't go on the battle field!

good luck!