Would you encourage your child to enlist?

[lyrical di]

My oldest son (to be sophomore) has been pursuing going to West Point. My husband was an enlisted man for 10 yrs before doing Troops to Teachers so we have a very realistic picture of military service and true patriotism vs. this super-patriot stuff people pretend. Lately my son's friends older siblings have been leaving for Iraq and now he is questioning whether he would want to serve in a Republican-run army. What would you say to him?

Here is a chance to be serious, DU'ers, rather than just flippant. Democrats need to take back our patriotism, not allow some Repo to yank it away.

[Kurt Remarque]

1. not now, no way

[lyrical di]

2. watching those young kids in F 9/11

made me so sick for all of them and their families. They need a far more responsible leader than B*sh. Yet, if we don't send our kids, are we any better than the sickening rich who play debutante or run off from their duty?

[LynzM]

3. Encourage, no. Support, yes.

I would not encourage a child of mine to join the military. But I would certainly be willing to discuss, at length, the reasons why they wanted to, and pros and cons, and how the reasons weighed into the overall picture. Given those discussions, I would support whatever decision they made, heart-torn as I would be over letting my child go, particularly at such a dangerous time. But that situation is, for me, quite a long time from now. For you, I would imagine it to be much scarier, given the state of the world. At the moment, I would encourage my child to seek alternative means to an education, if that's the main goal, and to truly consider the state and uses of the military at the moment, before making that decision.

[donco6]

4. I agree.

There are so many other options for kids, but sometimes this one is the right one. Hard as it may be.

[1monster]

5. No. No how, no way.

If I even thought my son was thinking of going into the military, I'd lock him in his room till he turned 35... or something like that. And I'm not being flippant. The military probably can be a good life, but as long as there is a single chance that someone like Bush can get into office and use the lives of the military as if they were spending cash or pocket change, no way.

Besides which, it always has seemed incredibly ironic to me that those who serve in the military to protect our ways of life are denied many of the freedoms that they are sworn to protect.

When military personnel enjoy the same rights as civilians, I might rethink my position. But not until then.

[a kennedy]

6. HELL NO!!!

and I really can't believe that national guard and reserves are doing all the dirty work....what's up with that??? What the heck happened to the guys and gals, (and I hate saying gals), being in the 'ACTIVE' duty doing this kind of warring?? Should they keep the volunteer service??? or are they going to start drafting kids????

[lyrical di]

7. B*sh views soldiers as his own personal bag of toy soldiers

It's a family thing, not just him. They look to see what fun they can have playing with soldier's lives. His dad would send you somewhere every Christmas. Most of the reserves I know have served longer overseas than the regular army. How do they justify that?

[2Design]

8. I would not encourage service at this time. There are other ways

to serve without getting your self killed. Find ways at home to help others. There are plenty of people here who could use help.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. I avoided service in Vietnam...

If I were 21 now, I would avoid Iraq.

Like it or not...I'm a conciencous objector in the true sense.

When victory at war becomes our great nation's sole source of pride, I don't think I'll feel quite as proud.

In retrospect, had I gone to war, I wouldn't have gotten the job I invested the next 30 years to retirement. Nor would have I met my wife and raised 3 strong boys of which I'm very proud. ( And now my grandkids).

I'm very convinced that my life would have been MUCH different, and I can't think of a better scenario than the way it worked out.

I'm serious

[Mr. Blonde]

10. When I was considering West Point

and talked to their wrestling coach something to remember is he will not see combat from that route until he is graduated. Those students are the leaders on the field and not the ones doing the "dirty work". That is how my mom was okay with it. She conceded that it would be better to be the general in the back if I was going to be in a war. Not to mention once he is done paying back his time, generally a pretty good job awaits from the fraternity of grads that exists for that school?

West Point is a really amazing place, and apparently if he plays his cards right he could get someone famous to go to the formal they have. (I was told they have before.)

[lyrical di]

11. enlisted vs. officers

Having a husband who served as an enlisted man for 10 years before intense disillusionment, it is a balancing act to have a child consider becoming an officer.
Comes down to some distinct differences between the workers and the leaders. I can't say it's wrong to be an officer. I am a leader in my field and have accepted much responsibility. My husband is a big Che fan and is all about the worker.
Joining the service would mean commitment to more than just protecting your country when attacked.
Appreciate your advice.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

12. Nope, but I would send him to Europe or Canada.

Just in case.
Duckie

[XNASA]

13. I'd say that by the time he graduates from West Point...........

Bush and his buddies will be long gone.

If he truly desires attending West Point....he should go for it.

I have two sons, aged 16 and 13. I would be proud if either of them enlisted on their own accord and would support them in their decision 100%. Heck, I'm a veteran myself.

[goddess40]

14. My boys (22 &15) both say " no way"

Their opinion was cemented after seeing 911. My older son's friend came with us, he HAD been planning on a military career. After the movie in the parking lot I made it clear to the boys that the recruiters would lie and promise them the moon, but once they signed all promises were off. When I told them not to give the recruiters their names my son's friend said very dejectedly that they already had his name.
I also gave them permission, which I will inform the schools of this fall, to leave the classroom if one comes to talk to them.

Edit: I should add that in the past I would have thought that a career in the military was a good one. W has changed that, it is a dangerous choice now. You can't trust that the gov't will use your service in a just and honest way. To serve one's country in a time of need is admirable but to serve now and be used as an arm of a murderous, terrorist administration isn't. I understand that many of our enlisted people have been fed a huge line of bull and it would be dangerous for them to refuse to serve, after all friendly fire is so friendly, I am proudest of those who refuse to go.

[Pepperbelly]

15. Having come face to face with the issue during the last year ...

My son left for Navy bootcamp a week and a half ago.

He first came up with the notion last summer. Being a Navy vet myself, I hit the ceiling. I told him allllll of the bad parts. I told him exactly what it's like. I told him that my greatest impression of the time I spent in the Navy was being tired, of never having enough sleep, and of working like a dog. And I was in one of the easier rates ... Operations Specialist ... we were the ones who "had it made." I also told him was not all drinking and whoring and with all of my protestations, he agreed to think about it until Christmas.

At which time he promptly enlisted.

What I did was give him my best advice and used all my powers of persuasion. It turned out to not be enough :( but what else can you do?

I support him in it now 100%. I mean ... shit ... there he is and he is my son.

[HawkerHurricane]

16. My oldest daughter, now 16...

was in a California program that guarenteed her a place at SDSU if she maintains her average (B+) all through High School... plus provide a partial scholarship.

The money part the Arnie is trying to cut (if he hasn't already).

So my lovely daughter has been talking and now has a spot on the SDSU NROTC unit 'if she wants it'.

[chefgirl]

17. Absolutely NOT

My son is now 15 years old, and his father just retired after 22 years in the Navy.
I've seen the military in all its faux macho glory, and I've seen some very committed, patriotic sailors during our 14 years of marriage.
I've lived through all the ups and downs of being a military wife, learned to swallow all the shit the Navy dished out, (no small accomplishment) learned to live with the fear of losing my husband during the first Gulf War and Kosovo. I lost a very dear friend in the barracks bombing in Riyadh (sp?) and a cousin to a stupid accident with a water trailer in Germany.
Through it all, I never waivered in my belief that what they were doing was nevertheless noble, necessary and to be honored.
Since the Idiot in Chief has stolen his way into the White House, however, I am completely opposed to the idea of military service, knowing what we now know.
Im completely terrified of the idea of the draft being reinstated and pray to my God every single day that my son, my only child, will never have to face the draft.
It makes me sick at heart to think of what our soldiers are going through in Iraq, and the reasons why they have been put in that situation, and I wonder how many of them (and their families) started out feeling exactly the way I always did about the honor of military service. I also wonder how many of them have come to the same conclusion that so many of us have, only to find out that its too late.
If and when America becomes America again, I would be 100% supportive of my son joining the military. In fact I've told him that should our country ever face the possibility of imminent invasion, I would be the first one to push him out the door, but it would take a hell of a lot to convince me, in any case.

Under the control of this illegitimate regime in D.C., embroiled in a completely corrupt war of avarice and greed, I would absolutely NOT encourage my son to wait in line just so he could become the next of their acceptable losses.

-chef-