How do I make sure my son is enlisting for the right reasons?

[Ilmom70]

My son (17yr) and I went today to talk to a recruiter. I want the best for my son. I realize its his life and he has to make the decision for himself. I support him in his decision. I am prior Marine. His father is still AD reservist Marine.

He's thinking MP. He knows noone that is involved with police work. So thats got me stumped. Today he said he also thinking firefighter, so his step dad would leave him along about a job. His step father is on a volunteer fire department thats why I think that why this choice.

He also looking at getting his college paid for is one main reason.

I have told him to make sure he is doing this for himself noone else.
He wouldn't hardly talk to the recruiter. I did most of the talking.

Is there anything else that I can do or say to make sure this is what he really wants?

[dancersoldier]

I think one of the biggest things to see if he really wants it is to continue to ask other questions, but in the long run, i think that if he actually follows through. My parents are very unsupportive of me joining the National Guard. With all other areas of my life, i think they are waiting for me to actually follow through on it, before they show support.

Yeah, so just watch him and see if he actually will follow through, then you'll know he wants it.

[pvt Tesanovich]

well make sure that your son is going to make the right chose, i am 17 and my parents had to sign the papers for me too it was probibly the hardist thing they had to do knowing that this is i big step in my life and something i could not get out of. but i proved to them that this is were my head is and its want i have been wanting for a while and i under stand the severity of my actions so as long as your son truly bleves in joining then let him just make sure that he understands. O ya by the way ask your NG recruter about RSP its the weekind drill that he will be going to each month if he joins. so ask ur recruter if he can attend a weekend to see if he likes the army way of life that wut i did and some people dident like it but sure did, well i hoped that helped if you have any Q/A ask me and good luck.

[Rich G.]

My son (17yr) and I went today to talk to a recruiter. I want the best for my son. I realize its his life and he has to make the decision for himself. I support him in his decision. I am prior Marine. His father is still AD reservist Marine.

He's thinking MP. He knows noone that is involved with police work. So thats got me stumped. Today he said he also thinking firefighter, so his step dad would leave him along about a job. His step father is on a volunteer fire department thats why I think that why this choice.

He also looking at getting his college paid for is one main reason.

I have told him to make sure he is doing this for himself noone else.
He wouldn't hardly talk to the recruiter. I did most of the talking.

Is there anything else that I can do or say to make sure this is what he really wants?

Fellow Marine,

Semper Fi! Something to consider here. Your Son's "right reasons" may be different from your "right reasons." Let him explore this freely and at his own pace. Don't tell him he can't because then it becomes a test of wills and you can't stop him when he is 18. All you can really do is listen to him, give him some minimul guidence, unless he asks you for it. This very well may have to be the first "ADULT" decision that he has to make. Let him work through it.

[andrew.tischner]

Hello Parent,

Well seems like you had a decent meeting with your recruiter. Now from a recruiters stand point when we (meaning most of my expierence) have a meeting with the parents and the child one of the more dominiant parents takes over the conversation. Its not that your son does not have questions, they always have questions, thousands of them; but he might not have felt comfratable talking about them or asking in front of you in fear of retaliation ie saying thats stupid or whatever ( not saying thats the case with you).

What you probably are not seeing is the late night text message questions, and the 15 phone calls per day with questions. Now some recruites just dont have any questions they already know the answers or they just dont care. That all changes the day we sign the contract lol.

Now with his job, even though he might not know anyone that is a MP or a police officer doesnt mean he shouldnt go for it. Actualy you probably should encourage him to go for his first choice rather the fireman cause that sounds like he is picking a job to satisfy someone else.

I myself am a Helicopter Airframe Structure Repairman, long title for simply a guy that works with metal and makes new parts for it ( only purely faburcation job in the army lol). I knew no one in this job, no one in aviation, and the only pilots i knew where the ones in flight school with me. But it was the best choice i could have made, sure i want other jobs nowand im a recruiter now, but my still love my first MOS and would go back anyday.