Army

[scruffscat]

Ok my son wants one thing in life and thats to join the army.Ive always encouraged my kids to do their own thing, and would never stand in their way .But all my close friends,who obviously have known him since birth are mortified im not tryin to discourage him or put him off.My family too espesh my mum and stepdad,who served in the second world war.Theyre makin me feel like i really should be try in to put him off.What do other mothers,ABers think, also ex army personel, if any.TIA.

[dot.hawkes]

encourage him to look at the the armed forces as exactly that, armed forces, we know that all services are currently seeing active duty, the RAF has a heavy presence in Afghanistam at the moment, i think that if he is looking to learn a trade or skill, he won't do better than any of the forces.

As a mother i would say try to talk him out of it.

[cruella]

Hi scruffscat
I was in the same position as you a few years ago.
My Son, an only child wanted to join the Navy.
I was divorced at that time.
Also like to say that there was trouble at that time too. He was and still is, the apple of my eye.
My Mother who always spoiled him was not happy about his decision but I allowed him his head to make his own choices in life.
He joined, went away on trips abroad on Minesweepers from the age of seventeen.
He went away as a boy and returned a man.
He learned to cook, look after his uniform iron etc, all the things I did for him all his life.
He has now left the Navy but always says it was the best years of his life. I constantly worried about him being out of the country but we, as Mothers have to let go at some point.
I feel I did the right thing in going along with his dream but at times it broke my heart with worry
Hope he makes the right decision.
Good luck to both of you.

[johnlambert]

Im an ex Royal Army Medical Corps S/Sgt
scruffscat , you need to let him join up if that's what he wants to do, if you try to stand in his way, he will never forgive you. If he is under 18 years old, he will not serve in an operational area such as Afghanistan/Iraq/Bosnia until he reaches that age.
Your lad will learn so much if he enlists, not only reall qualifications, but life skills and disipline, not just military discipline, but the self discipline that will get him off his backs1de and do something for himself, his family and society as a whole. you will notice a huge difference in his attitude to everything in his life. He will learn to look after himself, his family, he will travel the world, make lifelong friends who will never let him down ever.Of course he wil serve in dangerour places, but he will NOT serve there untill he has undergone intense training and is 1005 ready to.
Another option is to encourage him to join the Territorial Army, that way he gets a feel for the Army, and, when he's ready and if it's what he wants, he can transfer to the Regular Army.
If you have any more queries you, or your son can email me,[email protected] or message me

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseactio n=user.viewprofile&friendid=119861621

[mycats]

My boy is only 10 but all he has ever wanted to do is join the RAF, he has it all planned lol 4 years at school, join cadets at 12, do his highers then go to RAF 6th form college :-(
I hate the idea of my baby killing people, of course i do but I really believe that the discipline etc will be the making of him.
With any luck by the time they are old enough Iraq will have calmed down?

[Lonnie]

johnlamberts answer is a good one, I was in Aden at eighteen, Joining up is a good move, but in todays Army, if when he reaches age he still wants to join up, a few of points he should be made to understand,

1) He should only go into it if he wants to make a career out of it.

2) When he joins up, regardless of which branch he goes into, he's signing a contract that says he's willing to kill or be killed for his country.

3) He may never be in a position where he has to kill, but, in effect, a soldier is a paid killer.

Sorry to put it like that, but they are the brutal facts.

[warpig3]

My brother joined the royal Navy at 18, and as my mum say he went away a boy and came back a man, let your son live his life, for sure the RN sorted my brother out, otherwise I dread to think as he was a bit of a tearaway.

I am sure he will be fine, in fact it could be the making of him as it was for my brother.

warpig

[scruffscat]

Thankyou very much for all your helpful answers..Andrea

[warpig3]

scruffscat, meant to add, one of my girlfriends married an army guy and through them (weddings, christenings etc) I have met many of her husbands friends and they have been without exception fine people, not perfect, but then again who is, but definitely fine.

[puck]

Encourage him scruffscat. My youngest joined at 17� at the bottom, he is now a Captain.
He was heading towards being a tearaway but is now a gentleman. It was the Army that made him.

[Mammar]

My daughter wanted to join the Army since she was 12
Couldn't wait to join cadets etc.
Has just "passed out" as 2nd Lt. and on her way to her first posting
Is it the career I would have chosen for her? No
Is she following her dream? Yes
Am I worried about her? Of course
We parents have to remember we only gave them their life - they have to live it and I want her to say she "did it her way."
Grit your teeth, Scruffscat, and stand behind him x x

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.youngminds.org.uk/magazine/77/walke r.php

[candygirl6]

just try 2 impress on him how dangerous it is but dont say no

[manxbiker]

as a former member of the R A F I would say let him go dot hawkes is completely wrong he will learn a trade and will also get a good life yes the armed forces are serving in Agfanistam and iraq at the moment and i am personally against this but that is not important the main thing is that service life is one of the best lifes you can get

[grumpii]

I served in the army for 9 years and spent time in very inhospitable places. Your son will become a man with the best friends he will meet and be well discaplined in every aspect of his life. It was the making of me, all I would say is let him try there is a get out clause in basic training if he finds its not for him

[winny]

Pleased Mammar answered. We will all always worry bout my sister and her chosen carreer but it makes her happy and we can only be happy for that. Yes she could get killed and she is not stupid and knows that and so do we but we could all get killed tomorrow crossing the road. She knows we worry and she doesnt try tp pretend that the worst wont happen.
Ok it may not have been your choice but please support him and try to be happy for the fact he actually has a direction that he wants to go in. Good Luck to you both. XXXXX