Advice to Parents
Mary McHugh: The advice I would give another parent who might have apprehensions… Well, I could say this for certain: I’ve been there, done that. I don’t think there was anyone more apprehensive about a child joining the Military than me, but I have to say that you still have to let them make it their choice, and if it’s going to be the choice that they make you need to be 100 percent behind it.
Barbara Heinz: I would tell them that I do think it’s a wonderful thing to serve your country, the dedication, the discipline, the loyalty to your country. I think all that’s important, but the service isn’t for everybody, and there are some people that just can’t. They can’t do it.
Dale Conjurski: It’s a great opportunity. It’s a great experience. I would caution any parent whose child is going to join anything is that they’re going to be away from home. Can they handle that time away?
Beth Radiseck: I would say for them to find people actually serving because I think they’re the biggest wealth of knowledge.
Marc Danziger: People who are retired or current Military are stunningly generous with their time to talk to people who are thinking about this as a career, and they’re stunningly honest.
Patti Kolk: They really need to go and speak to a recruiter. Go to different recruiters. Go to different recruiting offices. You know, just don’t accept your experience with one person.
Hugo De Leon: Make sure they’re there in the recruiter’s office, and to ask the questions the kids aren’t going to ask, you know. As parents, even though the kids don’t like to admit it, we’re a little wiser. You know, there’s questions we’re going to have on our minds that the kids aren’t going to think about, and being there and really being able to look at the recruiter in the eye and know that you’re getting the straight answers, it means a lot. Beyond that, it would really be study up, math especially, because when they take their test, you know, whatever score they get on that — it’s based a lot on math — that’s going to open the doors to whatever trades they can take.
David Smith: I would tell them right away, it’s a great idea, particularly for anyone who is not ready for college or has no idea what they want to do with their lives. They can go into the Military, and they can pick from a menu of things to train in, and they’re going to learn what it is they like and what they don’t like. And I would absolutely recommend in a heartbeat that they encourage their child to go into the Military.
Share your comments.
closeSubmission Guidelines