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

[Cheater5]

Originally Posted by BiStateNo

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)

Roger, first conventional unit was the ready brigade from the 82d in Kuwait. Additionally, if you are talking about Desert Storm, it was only A Company 1st Ranger Battalion (2d Ranger BN did not go to DS) that deployed. They arrived in theater 12 February 1991 to 15 April 1991.

I am sure you have some kick-ass stories to tell about those days!

Thanks and back at you!

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

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.

13B, Bamberg, Germany and Ft. Knox, Ky. Spent some field time at Bliss though.

[DeepPurple]

I went into the Army when I was 20 years old for 3 years and I had a great time. What makes one persons experience better than another is the job you choose. The most important question you should be asking is what school should you select.

I went to the Air Force, Navy and the Marine recruiters first, none of them would guarantee my school choice in writing, only that I could select a category or area of training. On top of that, they wanted a four year commitment. The Army gave me my school selection in writing for only a three year enlistment. I selected Air Traffic Controller (93H).

My recruiter knew I would need a score of 130 on my AFQT test (Armed Forces Qualification Test) for that school. Once I had taken the test and it was confirmed I had a high enough score, he sent me to McDill AFB near my home in Tampa for a Class II Flight Physical because that would be necessary later. Once that was passed, he got me the exact start date for ATC school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. He then realized I had a couple of extra months before I would need to start basic, so he asked if I wanted to go delayed entry, which I did. So I went to Jacksonville AFEES and was sworn in, which started my time towards rank, and then I went back home and waited for two months. However, I spent that time preparing for basic. I also realized a few months later that I had an exceptional recruiter.

I can say without a doubt army aviation is an excellent choice. It's a field that most other people in other branches know very little about. I served during Vietnam when the Army had over 2 million soldiers, yet only 1500 soldiers had the 93H MOS, and in fact we had just one sergeant at the Pentagon that handled all 93H orders and most of us knew him by name and could reach him by phone. Plus everywhere I was stationed I was under the Airfield Commander or a Tower Chief and not some troop command type first sergeant. I also made rank fast, I was a Spec-5 in 14 months. I also received pro-pay of $100 a month extra, also separate rations pay since we worked all shifts. The job had a lot of extra benefits and I would highly recommend taking a look at the various jobs offered in Army Aviation.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by TrebMaxx

13B, Bamberg, Germany and Ft. Knox, Ky. Spent some field time at Bliss though.

Bamberg sounds familiar, about where is it?
I was in Wurzburg for about 3 years, a year in training at Ft. Bliss before that.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Cheater5

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.

Don't give me that bullshit. I've been in the military. I've lived in military towns. (Spend 13 years in Colorado Springs and you'll know what a military town really is - at every level of the military. I have acquaintances ranging from low level enlisted to O7's, from educational roles to combat.) And you've got a military who has basically ignored or, more accurately, tried to sweep under the rug, suicide, domestic violence, crime rates for the past seven years. The Department of Veteran affairs has virtually ignored any potential post-traumatic stress syndromes associcated with servicemen and women that have served in the various military branches, particularly those serving in combat or combat support roles, since the invasions and subsequent occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2008 active duty suicides were at an all-time high, up 11% from 2007, and actually eclipsed the civilian suicide rate for the first time ever. However, most suicides by military personnel occurred more than a year after they returned home from duty. And considering that this is from a 2005 study: "At least 120 Americans who served in the U.S. military killed themselves per week in 2005, CBS News learned in a five-month investigation into veteran suicides. That's 6,256 veteran suicides in one year, in 45 states.", it's substantially worse now, where even the usually truculent Army admits to 2008 being the highest ever for suicides. As well, the Omvig Bill that was passed in 2007 which was supposed to help the VA prevent potential suicides has been made worthless in that it no longer requires the VA to screen patients for suicide risk factors or track veterans that were deemed to be "at risk" of committing suicide.

So, tell me if my "biased opinion" is contrary to the facts.

And the fact regarding re-enlistment is that we are in an exceedingly bad economy and the military represents one of the few employers happy to make good offers to newcomers as well as current employees. I personally know a guy who was National Guard, got deployed to Iraq and "re-upped" over there just for the $100,000 that the Army gave him, in cash, and tax free (because if you stay in while in Iraq, it's tax free money). Not many companies out there that are giving those types of signing bonuses, especially to non-educated employees.

And as far as an opportunity to learn about yourself, I guess if you want to learn if you have the moral fiber required to put a round through some "suspected" combatant while occupying a foreign country in order to safeguard it's geological resources for American corporate interests, I guess that's a hard lesson to learn. I would think that someone could learn a lot more about themselves and other cultures by serving in the Peace Corps or the like, but some people I guess need to learn about themselves dealing with the intricacies of international imperialism by learning how to pull a trigger when you've got the barrel of a gun pointed at another human being.

Personally, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find military personnel using forums/bulletin boards like this for recruiting tools. The Army is great! You get to learn about yourself! We pay for college! Yeah team!

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Saccogoo

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

You can kiss my ass.

[Hydrae]

Thanks guys, this is the 17 year old dumb-ass who will join. No matter the costs.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Thanks guys, this is the 17 year old dumb-ass who will join. No matter the costs.

Well....good luck and keep your head down. You'll always have my respect.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Thanks guys, this is the 17 year old dumb-ass who will join. No matter the costs.

When you come back with no legs, or a missing arm, or half your face, or you have to wear a colostomy bag for the rest of your life (chicks dig those) because you got hit with an IED, will you let us know if your opinion has changed?

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Bamberg sounds familiar, about where is it?
I was in Wurzburg for about 3 years, a year in training at Ft. Bliss before that.

Bamberg is about 20-30 Kilometers north of Nurenberg. Been to Wurzburg a few times. I think Wurzburg is around 100 Kilometers to the west of Bamberg. Good times.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Saccogoo

When you come back with no legs, or a missing arm, or half your face, or you have to wear a colostomy bag for the rest of your life (chicks dig those) because you got hit with an IED, will you let us know if your opinion has changed?

You really are a douchebag.....you know that?

[Iowanian]

Saccogoo,

As the brother of an Airborne Soldier who did a tour in Iraq, and is going to Afganistan after his recall, I'd like to tell you to go fist yourself.

You're a douchebag's douchebag.

[SNAFU]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Thanks guys, this is the 17 year old dumb-ass who will join. No matter the costs.

Good luck to you and thank you for your desire to serve.

My daughter joined the National Guard during her junior year too. Went to basic that summer and then AIT after graduation. She has been in 2-1/2 years and loves it.
She deployed to Iraq this past October. Don't listen to the poster that is bringing all the bitterness. While I am sure at one time the military ignored major problems associated with soldier life, that is not the case any more.
During the six months prior to her units deployment, we attended full day workshops that covered everything from relationship issues, suicide, money, communication, etc. They are fully aware of the stresses and sacrifices on not only soldiers but their families as well.

[Saccopoo]

Oh, so you would rather have me paint a rosy picture for the kid telling him that it's going to be like the best thing ever? Do you know how many people have been killed, let alone maimed since this little slice of heaven called Afghanistan and Iraq happened?

4,171 dead, and 30,182 injured (and that's not including the last six months of figures)

You better ****ing believe people die over there. And you better ****ing believe that even more get brutally maimed. In fact, this war, because of the advancements of medicine/surgery have much less people dying from wounds that they would have died from even 15 years ago. However, that also means you have substantially more veterans walking around without arms, legs, etc.

If you want to call me a douchebag for being honest, then so be it. But you are only being ignorant by ignoring the possibility of something like that happening to a person who is deployed in a combat zone. And since we are an occupying Army, that basically means that all of Iraq and Afghanistan can be considered combat zones.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by SNAFU

Good luck to you and thank you for your desire to serve.

My daughter joined the National Guard during her junior year too. Went to basic that summer and then AIT after graduation. She has been in 2-1/2 years and loves it.
She deployed to Iraq this past October. Don't listen to the poster that is bringing all the bitterness. While I am sure at one time the military ignored major problems associated with soldier life, that is not the case any more.

And that's why military suicides are at an all time high in 2008? Because it's not the case anymore? IT IS THE CASE! Right now!

And I'm not bitter. I'm being honest.