Quote:
Originally Posted by Hydrae
My 17 year old son is a junior in High School and has every intention of going in to the military upon graduation next year. I just got off the phone with my wife who was telling me about the recruiters being at the house and giving my son a pre-test of some kind. He had 25 minutes to complete the test. He finished in 15 minutes and only got one out of 50 questions wrong. The recruiter was rather impressed.
My question has to do with what my wife said they are wanting to do going forward. There is talk of my son "working" for the Army Reserve this summer but returning for his senior year of high school. After graduation he would then go through basic (that may be what the plan is for this coming summer, not sure), then a 3 month training period followed by college. This is a 6 year commitment for him.
Is it normal for a 17 year old to be going through basic training (his birthday is eraly July)? Is it normal for this to happen when there is still a year of HS left before graduation? Basically, is this normal at all? I have no military experience myself nor does anyone in my immediate family.
Thanks for any input, I am just being a concerned parent
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If this is the deal I think it is, it's a good one in my opinion. There is a new program out that GUARANTEES that your son would not be deployed (sent overseas) for his first two years of college; however, he does have to do a 6 year commitment.
As to the 17 and just a Junior thing, its called DEP, or the Delayed Enlistment Program and yes it is common. Seeing as how he is under 18, a parent will have to approve and sign with him on the contract. The contract is non-binding though clear up until he leaves for Basic Training no matter how much the recruiter tries to tell you other wise.
Make sure to get any and ALL promises the recruiter makes in writing on his contract. Also, the test they gave him was probably the practice ASVAB, which is a very short watered down version. The pretest is actually a pretty good indication of how he will do on the real thing though. I think I got a 98 on the practice test and got a 96 on the real thing.