What the f#ck can I do?!?!?!

[zabet]

My 18 year old grandson just came by an told us he enlisted
in the Army today. He did this without any consultation with his Mom and
Dad, or with his Grandpa and me, or with his other Grandparents.
To say the least, we are all terrified.
:cry: :scared:

[lse7581011]

1. Pray! n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Why?

Did he say what prompted this?

[zabet]

18. Economy, cannot find a decent job.

[applegrove]

3. I am so sorry.

[eleny]

4. I'm so sorry about this

:hug: Meantime, we'll fight for an end to the occupation.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

5. Oh my gosh!

:hug:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. Force him to smoke a joint, read Catch 22, and drive him up to Nova Scotia.

Or, I don't really know... may this debacle come to an end soon.

[Jack Bone]

12. I thought about hash brownies just before he ships off to Boot..

because he will get a urinalysis first thing upon arriving to Boot camp

[zabet]

19. Good idea...

I have the ingredients on hand!

[Jack Bone]

7. when I enlisted back in '86...it wasn't finalized until just before ..

I went to bootcamp...check into that...he can possibly still change his mind prior to taking the oath and getting his physical...

[Swamp Rat]

9. I hope that works

:kick:

[Jack Bone]

15. These good Vets probably know more about this than I..

It's been 20 yrs since I joined...check them out...

http://www.iava.org/

@ the bottom of the page, there's a "Contact Us" link....ask them if there's still time for him to change his mind...w/ you and his parents and other grandparents...maybe you can sway him..

They're the people to ask tho....

GOOD LUCK...you & your family are in my prayers...God Bless!!

[zabet]

20. Thanks so much! n/t

[Swamp Rat]

8. .

:hug: :cry:

I wish I could give you a reasonable suggestion. :(

[Richard Steele]

10. I'm very sorry to hear this. I don't have any advice, only sympathy. nm

[orleans]

11. oh my god--i'm so sorry jane. i don't know what you can do

check the papers and see if there is a way out (like a week and you can still change your mind--something like that. although i doubt it.)

maybe break his leg and that will keep him at home for awhile.

[That Is Quite Enough]

13. Stay strong, and hope for the best.

Sadly there isn't a whole lot you can do now. I feel so sorry for you!:-(

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

14. Is He A Kool-Aid Drinker?

The future of our country.

WHY in the world we he choose to enlist at this point in time, unless he was a supporter of King george?

[Jack Bone]

17. I abhor the fact that you insinuate that all of the American's..

that are choosing to defend YOUR rights by serving in the US Military, are in some way Bu$hbots!!

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

23. Sorry

At this particular point in time, I find it highly likely he would end up in Iraq.

And NO, I don't consider people fighting in Iraq, Defending MY rights. I don't wish them harm, and would much rather they were here, actually Defending AMERICA.

But I forgot....Iraq is the center of the WAR ON TERROR, and the entire future of OUR democracy is supposedly at stake.

[Sanctified]

16. He is not yet property of the US Government.

He is not required to go even though he enlisted, I would sit down with him and go over all his options and listen to his reasoning for enlisting. If after going over everything with him he still wants to enlist and it's for a legitimate reason give him your blessing and keep him in your prayers. You can't force him not to go but you can persuade him.

[mudesi]

21. Convince him to reconsider

It is extremely easy to get out of the army. All he has to do is pretend to be gay.

[BanzaiBonnie]

22. It's not a done deal

Contact one of the veterans against the war groups. We had to talk my SIL out of enlisting and we did learn that you are not "stuck" until you get to boot camp.

[shaniqua6392]

24. My nephew did the same thing last year.

Little did we know that the recruiters were in his high school working on him for two years. They had him so snow-balled that we could not talk sense into him. He had college all paid for by family and only went for one semester before he enlisted. Luckily, he only qualified to be a prison guard and not an MP. Therefore, he has spent the last year at Guantanamo and just went to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He had a friend who enlisted at the same time who became an MP and he was immediately sent to Iraq and is now in Afghanistan. I just pray for him. We yelled, screamed, cried and begged him not to do it. I think he just could not handle life and he saw this as an out. Sometimes there is nothing you can do. But, if you can talk him out of it that would be great. Tell him to go to school. I am so sorry. Keep us posted.

[Raine]

25. Very sorry

that's about the worse thing that a parent or grandparent can hear from a loved one. :hug:

[shenmue]

26. Sorry to hear it

:cry:

My thoughts are with you.

[zabet]

27. Thanks to all!

DU support is a bright spot on a dark, dark day.
Thank you, will keep updated and have called to have
him bring his papers by first thing in the morning.
We will go over them but, if he is adamant about
joining, all we can do is pray.