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

[crazycoffey]

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.

we have kids in my unit doing this all the time, this post is almost 100% true, except; while in the delayed entry program they only have to "sign in" for half the drills the regular reserve guys/gals do. I have one in High School assigned to my team. I don't think he can come to every drill even if he wanted to. Until after high school.

[Radar Chief]

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.

That’s the way it was in the ‘80’s when I joined so you’re probably not far off.

[Hydrae]

Excellent information guys, thanks!

[The Franchise]

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.

Ummm.....afraid not. It all depends on your MOS. I've had plenty of friends who have gone in and been there with the Army "in harms way" and I've had plenty of friends who have never been over during war time.

What was your MOS?

[Iowanian]

Get EVERYTHING they promise in writing. Thats all that will matter down the road, what he can show in the contract. Be very clear in which mos he goes in under. If he goes in as "X" they can assign him where they want, it does not mean he can go where he wants to go or do what job he wishes to do.

Recruiters are pretty much used car salesmen.


My brother was active duty. He was told he could try for Rangers right after airborne. During airborne, they said "you're going to a cav unit, no Rangers for you". He did his time. He's been out of Active Army for 1.5 years. Recruiters have been hounding with a "sign up for the reserves, you won't be deployed for 2yrs" line...well, there are caviates, like at the end of your 2yrs, you get stop lossed, assigned somewhere else and GO.

In his case, he's started a business, built a life and a client base and wasn't interested. He was recalled anyway, will be assigned to some west coast national Guard unit, and heading most likely for Afganistan this spring.

[trndobrd]

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.

Reserve component retirement begins at 60, not 65. It may start earlier based on months deployed. I have no clue what you mean by "married to the Guard/Reserve for life".

If personal safety is the goal, the military is probably not a good idea, period. The Navy and Air Force personnel in theater are just as much in danger of being hit with a mortar as anyone else is. This has been going on a long time and regardless of service, everyone gets at least one turn.

[bobbymitch]

Unless things have changed, the military has this picky little phrase, "At the convienence of the US Government" or something similar. Meaning that they can do with you whatever they want.

Back in the days of the draft, I had plently of notice of being drafted. I wanted the Air Force, but the ole man said no (ex-waist gunner on B-17s over Germany). Go Navy as they always had a dry bed and a hot meal. It turned out to be true, but what he left out is that most of the time, they were in constant motion; up and down and side to side.

He should go where he will learn a skill that he could use when he gets back to the real world.

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Is it normal for a 17 year old to be going through basic training (his birthday is eraly July)?

My moms man turned 18 on the plane to vietnam. Did two tours with the A/B Rangers.

My dad was already in grad. school at UMKC when he joined the Army and went to vietnam. ill never forget he always said he wasnt gung-ho at 20/21 but that the young kids were.

My dad was a super hard drinker, a legend really. he died at 51. I cant shake it that he drank that hard because of the intense combat he saw.
Same thing with my moms man now, was a hard drinker,met mom sought help but still has his own cross to bear.
God bless em both.

witha war on its something to strongly consider steering him in a diffrent direction.-JMO-

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

My moms man turned 18 on the plane to vietnam. Did two tours with the A/B Rangers.

My dad was already in grad. school at UMKC when he joined the Army and went to vietnam. ill never forget he always said he wasnt gung-ho at 20/21 but that the young kids were.

My dad was a super hard drinker, a legend really. he died at 51. I cant shake it that he drank that hard because of the intense combat he saw.
Same thing with my moms man now, was a hard drinker,met mom sought help but still has his own cross to bear.
God bless em both.

witha war on its something to strongly consider steering him in a diffrent direction.-JMO-

He is young, dumb and full of cum if you know what I mean. He is 17 and fancies himself tough and indestructible. There is no way I could stop him once he hits 18, he intends to join up. I am just doing my best to convince him to go into intel or something that may keep him a little safer.

Clearmont, what did you mean about being married to the Reserves for life? That statement concerns me a lot.

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

He is young, dumb and full of cum if you know what I mean. He is 17 and fancies himself tough and indestructible. There is no way I could stop him once he hits 18, he intends to join up. I am just doing my best to convince him to go into intel or something that may keep him a little safer.

Clearmont, what did you mean about being married to the Reserves for life? That statement concerns me a lot.

I was the same way. my dad did everything possible to send me in another direction than the military any direction ather than.
The Afgan front is gonna heat up. make damn sure your boy understands this.
good luck guy. God bless em if he joins.
Respect.

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by bobbymitch

He should go where he will learn a skill that he could use when he gets back to the real world.

I can attest to the fact that the demand for 155mm Self Propelled Artillery Gunners is nil in the civilian world.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I can attest to the fact that the demand for 155mm Self Propelled Artillery Gunners is nil in the civilian world.

Ah, you were a “cannon cocker”. 16C, Ft. Bliss?

Yea Hydrae, talk long with him about getting a job that translates into civilian life. Military service looks good on a resume but it looks better with a military education and experience in the field he’s applying for.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

I can attest to the fact that the demand for 155mm Self Propelled Artillery Gunners is nil in the civilian world.

Artillery is for pussies. Biggest bunch of slackasses I ever saw in the military, other than the entire Air Force.

Although, if you go infantry, there's always the chance that you can come out apply at a civilian contractor like Black Hawk and make some decent coin. I read somewhere that the base Black Hawk operator in Iraq was pulling down $516,000 annually, and getting paid in Iraq, where they aren't taxing that income.

However, real war changes people. I personally know two woman who had fiancees that were deployed over to Iraq for combat duty, and called off the weddings when they returned. Told me that they weren't the same people. It will screw a person up. In fact, the biggest problem the military faces right now is the PTSS problems after people are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a bad war, in a bad situation and there's not many things a person is going to pull out of the service right now that are positives. The suicide rate is astronomical for combat veterans, as well as massive increases in family violence, abuse, etc. I enjoyed my time in the military, but I can tell you that I would have a hard time accepting deployment to that mess in the Middle East right now (I am very happy about not going ROTC after my enlistment period ended or accepting the offer to attend West Point Prep while I was in) and I sure as hell wouldn't have enlisted during this time. It's a very, very ugly situation.

[Randallflagg]

Originally Posted by Cheater5

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.

Actually, while you are essentially correct, the 82d was the first CU on the ground...there were many of us there already (DIA) who did the actual groundwork for the initial invasion (recon - mapping - target desigination, as well as civilian targets - Politicos, etc) - 2nd spc opns det (DIA) - along with the 4th and the 3rd SEAL Team and the 2d Ranger BN. Followed closely by the 7th Spc Fcs and members of the 3rd Spc Fcs BN. Not to be outdone, there were additionally the jerk-offs from the CIA, as well.

A lot goes into an "invasion" - long before combat forces are dropped on the ground.

Thanks for all of your service and sacrifice!

CWO 97B (ret)

[Cheater5]

Originally Posted by Saccogoo

Artillery is for pussies. Biggest bunch of slackasses I ever saw in the military, other than the entire Air Force.

Although, if you go infantry, there's always the chance that you can come out apply at a civilian contractor like Black Hawk and make some decent coin. I read somewhere that the base Black Hawk operator in Iraq was pulling down $516,000 annually, and getting paid in Iraq, where they aren't taxing that income.

However, real war changes people. I personally know two woman who had fiancees that were deployed over to Iraq for combat duty, and called off the weddings when they returned. Told me that they weren't the same people. It will screw a person up. In fact, the biggest problem the military faces right now is the PTSS problems after people are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's a bad war, in a bad situation and there's not many things a person is going to pull out of the service right now that are positives. The suicide rate is astronomical for combat veterans, as well as massive increases in family violence, abuse, etc. I enjoyed my time in the military, but I can tell you that I would have a hard time accepting deployment to that mess in the Middle East right now (I am very happy about not going ROTC after my enlistment period ended or accepting the offer to attend West Point Prep while I was in) and I sure as hell wouldn't have enlisted during this time. It's a very, very ugly situation.

Suicide rate admittedly, is at an all time high. Now, lets peel the onion a little bit; how many of those suicides were from servicemen serving in a direct combat role? As in, how many of those killed themselves because of their experiences in direct-fire combat? Actually, the answer is counter-intuitive.

Secondly, re-enlistments are at an all time high. My battalion in Iraq was at 100% rate. The Army wide statistics show that 70,000 Soldiers reenlisted last year, 12.2% above the retention goal. More than the recruiting goal, this shows that young men and women are choosing to stay even though they are fighting "a bad war in a bad situation" as you call it.

Your biased opinion is contrary to the facts. The military, although not for all, is a tremendous opportunity for someone to learn about themselves regardless of the MOS.