DD #1 is considering joining the military

[neenee]

My oldest daughter (19 yo) just finished Cosmetology school in September and is working now at Supercuts. However, she told us the other night that she is considering joining the Air Force.

I have to say that I was in total shock as I never would have seen this coming from such a girly girl. But, I am not really against it either. I hate the idea of her moving away from me but like I told her, if she met the right guy and they began their lives somewhere else, he would be taking her away too. kwim?

I asked her if she would meet the weight requirement as she is only 5' tall and 90 lbs. She said that 80 lbs. is the minimum so no worries there. She will be one tiny little soldier though. :p I told her that I thought Basic Training would be hard for her but she said that is what she is most excited about.

She wants to see the world and do something career wise that challenges her intellectually. She is so young and has her whole life ahead of her and I can't say that I blame her wanting to do this. We just expressed to her the level of commitment that is involved in this choice. You can't just quit this when you get tired of it, kwim?

I also have to say that I am SUPER proud of her for wanting to serve our country. She plans to make her final decision right after Christmas.

So, I was wondering how many of you have stories, etc about your children or relatives joining the military and how you felt about it, how it affected your family, etc.?

[nikkiARNGwife]

Well, I'm married to the military lol...but I'm thankful for it every day. I think there are very very few , if any examples of times when someone joining the military was a mistake..it will open up a world for her..job security, good medical benefits and the discipline etc she will learn will only serve to make her an even better person than she already is. In this day and age when I hear of a young person making the decision to join my first reaction is always "good for him/her!" :)

[NeverendingJen]

My husband is military. I can't imagine him not being in the military, it has been a great experience for us. It's not easy, but it has given us so many amazing opportunities. We'd do it all over again.

[lovely1m]

Hey, sweetie, I am in the Air Force. I am active duty guard. I went to basic 12 years ago, but I can always answer any questions you/she has. Good choice in the Air Force though! :thumbup:

[g6scrapped]

I think it is so honorable that she wants to joins! One of me really good friends is Nation Guard (I know different) but she is teeny tiny too and she's been in for many years now :)

[Priscilla]

That is amazing (and scary) and wonderful and awesome!

[nun69]

good for her...my only advice {after serving 20 years} is to make a VERY INFORMED DECISION! Do all the research she can and don't always take what the recruiter tells her for granted...And travel the world!!!! I would not have met my husband, had 4 wonderful kids and a beautiful home if it weren't for the military...and as my mom put it "you have to put up with the BS in the civilian community just as much as you do the military so why not do it, retire young, have a check the rest of your life and do it all before you are 40 :)"...so that is what I did and here I am with 1 working day left in the Navy :) and I got a alot of good schools, had some great and not so great experiences, and made wome lifelong friends along the way...and the Navy paid for it all :) so good luck to her in whatever she decides....

[nesser1981]

I joined the Air Force when I was 18, 9 days after I graduated high school, I served 10 years active duty and it was great for me.

AF basic isn't as bad compared to other services, although they have extended it to 8 weeks, rather than 6 1/2 when I went through.

Make sure she has a guaranteed job going in, or she'll more than likely be an SP (cop) or services (the jobs no one else wants).

Tell her to do 4 years instead of 6 to start with. Don't let them convince her with a bonus. 4 years goes by a lot quicker than 6. I liked it, but once I had kids I didn't want to move anymore. In 10 years I lived in 6 different places if you count basic training. Once I finished up the year of school I had to do I only moved about every 3 years.

If she has any questions, tell her to ask. Or you for that matter. I'm glad to hear she's choosing the Air Force though. I was intell, so I worked with Army, Navy & Marines and I think she'll be happiest with the Air Force. They tend to treat their people the best as far as housing and such. I was stationed on a Navy base and Army base when I first came in and the Air Force Bases are much nicer.

[lovely1m]

Make sure she has a guaranteed job going in, or she'll more than likely be an SP (cop) or services (the jobs no one else wants).



erm, not everyone. :unsure:

I love my job, but its not for everyone.

[nesser1981]

erm, not everyone. :unsure:

I love my job, but its not for everyone.

LOL! Are you an SP or in Services?

Well, if she has something in mind. I would have hated for them to tell me what my job would be and not have any control over it.

[lovely1m]

Security. ;) I agree though, open general is not the way to go, pick your job.

[kristijoy]

My sisters college roommate joined the airforce when she graduated because she wanted to fly. She became a helicopter pilot and then an instructor. It's been a great experience for her. She has since married and now has a 2 year old daughter. It must be working for her, because my sister told me she signed on for a few more years!

[nun69]

I'm glad to hear she's choosing the Air Force though. I was intell, so I worked with Army, Navy & Marines and I think she'll be happiest with the Air Force. They tend to treat their people the best as far as housing and such. I was stationed on a Navy base and Army base when I first came in and the Air Force Bases are much nicer.

ditto from the girl that just spent 20 years in the Navy!:p this is 100% TRUE!!!!!

[nesser1981]

ditto from the girl that just spent 20 years in the Navy!:p this is 100% TRUE!!!!!

DH was in the Navy, that's how we met in Japan and he hated it. He was out in 4.

[jacinda]

I served 15 years in the Army (New Zealand not US though), and I loved it. It's a hard life, but immensely rewarding if you put the effort in.

[bre11414]

Wow! There are a lot of you who have served in the military...THANK YOU! I honestly believe it takes an quite an amazing person to what you do/have done. This has been a fun post for me to read. My brother-in-law is in the Air Force as well, so it's cool to read other's stories. I don't know a lot about it, I just get to hear my sister complain about when he's gone! ;) (he just finished a 6-month deployment) But let's face it, I'd be the same way if my hubby was gone, and I was left with a 4 years old and 18 month old twins.

But NeeNee, good for your daughter. I'd just suggest taking the advice of those others who have been through this. I don't have any advice really...I guess I'd just say be supportive of her decision. Good luck! :)

[Julie Billingsley]

that is awesome NeeNee! :) I have to say that one of my biggest disappointments in my life is that I didn't go into the military. I let people talk me out of it. I never had anyone (besides the recruiters LOL) say "you can do this!" I wish I had just believed in myself, but I really just needed someone's support to make this decision. So, yay for her that she already has that confidence! Just support her and let her know you think she will do an awesome job at whatever she chooses!

[neenee]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful encouragement and advice! I will pass on what all of you have shared.

Goofy kid thought the weight req. was 80 lbs but when she looked it up this morning it is actually 94 for her height. She weighed exactly that this morning. So, she is a bit worried that she will fall below the weight minimum. I told her to drink lots of protein shakes and eat fish and nuts. :p

I didn't realize that Basic is right here in San Antonio so I am super excited about that. I know I won't get to see her until they are done and they do a run and graduation but, at least I get to see that. And, I find comfort knowing she will still be so near me. Just in case. :p

[Milmomma]

I joined the army before I even graduated HS. I had to put on 8lbs to meet the minimum weight requirement... took some help of the recruiters but I got there. I got out and then married my husband. Then he went in and I watched him go through it all. I am still married to the military and will be for another 15 years +. I believe it takes a special kinda person to be in the military and another special kind to be married to the military. Its not easy but its worth it.

[deepounds]

I think there are very very few , if any examples of times when someone joining the military was a mistake..)

I couldn't agree more! As a former military spouse (20 years in the Army & almost that much retired), I would not trade the experiences for anything, and I know my husband wouldn't, either, eventhough his life was on the line many times.

I know it's scary to think about your child potentially being in a combat situation, but at the risk of sounding like a fuddy-duddy, I absolutely feel that your first emotion should be PRIDE. How grateful we should all be for those who are will to keep us free by serving in the military . . . even if she ultimately decides against it, tell her "thank you" from me for at least considering it! And thanks to the rest of you who have served as well. :thumbup:

P.S. I also have to agree wholeheartedly with the comments about the Air Force vs. the other branches. As I mentioned, we were Army - but as a rule, the Air Force & Navy have MUCH better housing, doctors, etc.

[g8rbeckie]

My bro was in the Navy for 8 years and received technical training on computer systems that directly led to a job in the civilian world at the end of his second enlistment that he would have NEVER otherwise had without a college degree. In the 10 years he's been out, he's continued to build on that and has had an awesome career in computer/technology fields.

For him, the military was the best thing that ever happened to him because he just wasn't willing to "settle down" and focus on school any other way.

So I say GO FOR IT!! What a wonderful, mature decision on her part!

[nun69]

I believe it takes a special kinda person to be in the military and another special kind to be married to the military. Its not easy but its worth it.

DITTO....again after 20 years of service it takes a special person to be in any branch of the service and a special sppouse and family to tag along :) I know my husband wasn't always thrilled, but it did make us better all the way around and made us learn how to deal with each other when their was nobody else to turn too...

[nonnie]

I have to say that I did it and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It not only made me a better person, I grew up and learned (and this sounds so cheesy) that I am capable of doing whatever I set my mind to! I got money for college, have amazing friends and the best expierences. If she goes in and really wants it - and understands she WILL DEPLOY to a war zone than I think it is a GREAT decision. I married military and we are lifers - I have a wonderful life and see so many great parts of the world - It is a great decision as long as she understands, it is the military - and our job is to fight wars