Question about the Army Reserve

[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

[pr_capone]

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

I had a 17 year old kid in my unit who was in the Delayed Entry Program.

Basically, he continued going to school like normal but was already enlisted. He was still required to do the one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year.

The pretest he took was for the ASFAB. It was just to give the recruiter an idea of what score he would get on the actual test. The results can be used by the recruiter to begin MOS placement (basically what jobs he qualifies for) and lets the recruiter know if your son needs to study more for the test or if he is good to go as is.

Keep in mind... this is what was happening back in 03 so I don't know if this is the way it still is.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by pr_capone

I had a 17 year old kid in my unit who was in the Delayed Entry Program.

Basically, he continued going to school like normal but was already enlisted. He was still required to do the one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year.

The pretest he took was for the ASFAB. It was just to give the recruiter an idea of what score he would get on the actual test. The results can be used by the recruiter to begin MOS placement (basically what jobs he qualifies for) and lets the recruiter know if your son needs to study more for the test or if he is good to go as is.

Keep in mind... this is what was happening back in 03 so I don't know if this is the way it still is.

Yeah, we are supposed to all meet with the recruiter next Monday. I just thought I would learn a few things first. Thanks!

[joesomebody]

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

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.

[joesomebody]

Also, just so you know here is some contact information regarding the "College First Enlistment Program" that my VA rep sent me a few days ago.

"Carol" is our VA rep, and SSG Burl is apparently in charge of Tuition Assistance for the state of Missouri. Since your son has never served, he should be eligible for this program.

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Carol,

I just had a call from a soldier currently on Active Duty at Fort Leonard
Wood. He said you had spoken to him about the opportunity to join the guard
and not be deployable for 2 years. That is an enlistment program "College
First Enlistment Option" that is available to non-prior service applicants
only.

So, in this case, it will not work for the soldier coming off active duty and
joining the National Guard.

v/r
Mike

SSG Michael Buhr
MONG Federal TA Manager
Comm. - 573-638-9500 ext. 7644
PBX - 7644
Fax - 573-638-9620
Email - michael.buhr@us.army.mil
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by joesomebody

Also, just so you know here is some contact information regarding the "College First Enlistment Program" that my VA rep sent me a few days ago.

"Carol" is our VA rep, and SSG Burl is apparently in charge of Tuition Assistance for the state of Missouri. Since your son has never served, he should be eligible for this program.

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Carol,

I just had a call from a soldier currently on Active Duty at Fort Leonard
Wood. He said you had spoken to him about the opportunity to join the guard
and not be deployable for 2 years. That is an enlistment program "College
First Enlistment Option" that is available to non-prior service applicants
only.

So, in this case, it will not work for the soldier coming off active duty and
joining the National Guard.

v/r
Mike

SSG Michael Buhr
MONG Federal TA Manager
Comm. - 573-638-9500 ext. 7644
PBX - 7644
Fax - 573-638-9620
Email - michael.buhr@us.army.mil
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Interesting. I am in Texas but I expect that should make little to no difference, I am sure the same rules apply here as there.

Thanks for the input!

[MIAdragon]

dont let him do it, he might get raped.

[Frosty]

I joined the National Guard right after I turned 17, which was on February 1st. I went to a few drills (some of them were like mini-basic training and some were with my regular unit) and then went to basic training in June after school was out. I was done and home by August. I continued to go to weekend drills during my senior year. I then went back to Georgia for my AIT (the actual job training) after I graduated.

There were some nice advantages to doing it that way. I was a higher pay grade than normal in both basic and in AIT because I had been in longer. Also, by the time I was done training, I only had four years left of my six year commitment.

One downside was that I wasn't in the same kind of shape going into AIT as I was coming out of basic. There is no way to maintain that kind of fitness regime outside of basic. I was way behind the folks that just got out of basic.

Also, I had to get my hair shaved off twice.

[Saccopoo]

I remember some ding dong eating a whole bottle of aspirin in basic. Another jerknut ate a couple fistfuls of Tide. I loved basic. But this was way back when the Drills where still kicking the shit out of recruits in order to weed out the slackers and wussies. Now I hear that they give you massages and aromatherapy sessions. My personal favorite was the gas chamber in basic. Goddamn that was funny! Guys literally screaming to God and the mothers thinking that they were dying. Snot and blood and tears and spit flowing out their eyes, mouths and noses. Guys puking all over the place. They kept me in the chamber for about two minutes just to make sure I wasn't holding my breath. I remember the Drill asking "Why ain't you puking boy?!" "Because I'm not a pussy Drill Sergeant!"

Man, I wish everyday in the Army was like Basic. I hated that motor pool.

Even if he's set on Army Reserve you still need to shop the other services. Recruiters are basically used car salesmen in uniform so, well, you know.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Saccogoo

My personal favorite was the gas chamber in basic. Goddamn that was funny!

Yeah, that was great, except my mask leaked, so I got it from the moment I stepped into the bunker.

[pr_capone]

Make sure to ask about the stripes for buddies program... if they are even still doing it.

Most times, in order just to get someone in the door, they will bump up the starting rank to E-3 (PFC). Even if they don't actually know other people going in at the same time a recruiter will sign off on the paperwork stating that your boy went in with a few buddies just to get someone to sign.

Better pay off the bat and less wait time to NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer).

[CHIEF4EVER]

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

The program you described is called the Split Train Option. Not a bad program but he is really going to have to push himself in his Senior year to maintain an acceptable fitness level before going back for AIT. The best thing I can recommend is for you to ask a lot of questions and make sure any promises are in writing. If it isn't in writing....its a rumor.

[ClearmontChief]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Even if he's set on Army Reserve you still need to shop the other services. Recruiters are basically used car salesmen in uniform so, well, you know.

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner! No doubt, every branch of the service is frothing at the mouth to get ahold have 17, 18, 19 year olds. Be selective.

What many MANY people don't really understand is who do you think fights our wars? Called up Guard and Reserve units of the Army, after the Marines have come in. Plus, they have to wait until 65 for retirement benefits, and are basically married to the Guard/Reserve for life. My son-in-law is in the Iowa Army Reserve, and is deploying to Iraq in May. It's his 2nd trip. This time he's leaving 1 month after the birth of his first baby.

I'm US Air Force retired. I spent 20 years on Active Duty, and started receiving full retirement benefits at 39. Now, I'm working as a contractor at the same job at over 3 times the pay! In the Active Duty Air Force, I was never put in harms way. During the Desert Storm & Desert Shield, and many other small conflicts...my skills and duties was still required at my current base. Active Duty troops keep their normal jobs/duties, and the Guard/Reserve units are called up and sent to fight in the wars.

Even the Navy is safer, they fight from a boat in the mediterrian. Not going to hit a mine or have a car bomb out there.

Marines sleep under the stars, Army sleeps in tents, and the Air Force sleeps in town at the hotel. Might sound funny to you...but, it's true.

[Cheater5]

Originally Posted by ClearmontChief

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner! No doubt, every branch of the service is frothing at the mouth to get ahold have 17, 18, 19 year olds. Be selective.

What many MANY people don't really understand is who do you think fights our wars? Called up Guard and Reserve units of the Army, after the Marines have come in. Plus, they have to wait until 65 for retirement benefits, and are basically married to the Guard/Reserve for life. My son-in-law is in the Iowa Army Reserve, and is deploying to Iraq in May. It's his 2nd trip. This time he's leaving 1 month after the birth of his first baby.

I'm US Air Force retired. I spent 20 years on Active Duty, and started receiving full retirement benefits at 39. Now, I'm working as a contractor at the same job at over 3 times the pay! In the Active Duty Air Force, I was never put in harms way. During the Desert Storm & Desert Shield, and many other small conflicts...my skills and duties was still required at my current base. Active Duty troops keep their normal jobs/duties, and the Guard/Reserve units are called up and sent to fight in the wars.

Even the Navy is safer, they fight from a boat in the mediterrian. Not going to hit a mine or have a car bomb out there.

Marines sleep under the stars, Army sleeps in tents, and the Air Force sleeps in town at the hotel. Might sound funny to you...but, it's true.

Uh...no. Popular propaganda, but no.

Marines are 'first in' when the action is within 50 miles of a beach head. They weren't first in Desert Storm (BDE from 82d first on the ground in Kuwait, and an Army Brigade from VII Corps led the ground attack), they weren't first in Afghanistan (Army and USAF SOF, followed by Rangers, then 10th MTN and 101st) and when OIF kicked off in March '03- V Corps spearheaded the attack.

Regardless of the service, it all depends on your MOS regarding sleeping under the stars/tents/hotels.

In the Active Duty Air Force, I was never put in harms way.

No offense, but maybe that is why you have an incorrect perception.