Going to the recruiter with my son?

[MissUAlready]

I scheduled the 1st meeting with the recruiter on behalf of my 17 yo son. I thought because he is a minor I would have to be there; and because I am his mom I WANT to be there. He can be somewhat niave and I don't want him to get persuaded.

I was speaking with someone about the appointment and they asked if I should go with him or if that would make him look like a baby. My first reaction what...wut? This person can be VERY opinionated and backwards with this stuff...but I thought I would throw it out there because I have been accused of "babying" my son too much.

Did you go with your child to the recruiter meeting?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.
Stacey

[missiejohns mom09]

hi, iam missie i did go with my son. he wanted me to. he was nervous and so was i . we are still working things out.there arent any official plans yet because we have hit a few bumps in the road. but i hope things will move smother soon.i dont think you were babying your son, at 17 they are still our responsibility. and i know i want the best for my son i also think we need to be involved as much as possible in a big descission like this

[Viki]

Don;t worry, the Navy will make a man of your son.
But don't embarrass him...

[MissUAlready]

Me...embarrass him?
I...would....Ne'-vah ;-) t'hee

[Cynthia (#410)]

Isn't that my (Mom's) job? lol

[Dinamic]

I went with my son to the recruiter's office. I interviewed THEM. My son was a young 19 at the time and even though he was legally capable of signing a contract, he still “reported” to me. We had a great interview and they answered all questions, both mine and his.

I also did not want him to be persuaded; I wanted him to make an educated decision. I think, today, we are both glad of the choice he made and I wouldn’t have been comfortable any other way. He’ll be graduating from the NUKE program in October and I couldn’t be more PROUD!!

[Cynthia (#410)]

Yea - what she said! :)

[Cynthia (#410)]

GO! GO! GO! - and ask lots of questions - we went to most of our son's recruiter meetings before he actually signed up as a DEP. We wanted to make sure he (and we) knew exactly what he was getting into. After he's signed up, the Navy likes for them to be their own man and the parents to cheer them on from the sidelines. But before that, you're still his mom and have only his best interests at heart so GO! GO! GO! You can double check the recruiters info and "promises" here to find out if you have a good one. Between the recruiter and this site (mostly this site) you can get all the info you need to send your baby "out of the nest". Hope it all works out for y'all! NAVY ROCKS!
Hugs & prayers,
Cindy

[Nancy S]

Yes I went w/ my son. My son was 20, in college in another state and decided he didn't want to go back to school next semester. He said he wanted to gain a real skill and earn some money. Well, with the economy the way it is that answer didn't fly with my husband or me. We had long discussions over the phone and he was interested in the Navy. Since he was serious about it, I told him to wait till the following week and I would fly out and go with him and not to do anything other than read the Navy site and get some ideas until I get there. This was the best decision in our situation. Am I controlling...NO. Cautious and Concerned...YES. I let him ask all his questions first at the recruiting center, then I asked the questions I felt were important and needed to be addressed. We went back to his apartment and discussed it all. My son spoke with his Dad on the phone and jointly decided this was the right thing for my son to do. All families are different, but we are close and my son values our opinions, although he may not admit it at first.

This is a career decision for your child regardless of their age. At the very least, a trusted family member or friend should accompany them when they go to sign up. This way you are assured that what you expect is what you get. As with any other contract, read the fine print. Good Luck!

[Karyn (Michael's mom)]

My son has been in a year, he signed a couple weeks after his 18th bday. His father and I (we are divorced but best friends) went with him to the recruiter, I don't think it is babying him at all, nor did we come off that way. My ex, is even ex-Navy himself and wanted to be there... Alot of parents go with...being informed is the best way for you and your son to be at ease. A very important thing during the time of transition with boot camp and all. Plus, let's face it, sometimes our kids just don't know all the questions we as parents would like the answers to, and sometimes they don't even know their own questions. I say, by all means, go. You'll be happier in the end. Just know that is totally his decision, just be sure he understands all the ramifications of his choices. My son loves being in! Good luck...

[GailNChad]

My son first met with the recruiter at High School, he was 17 at the time. I had him invite the reruiter to our home so that
my husband and I could meet him, my husband was a corpman in the NAVY in the early 70's. The recruiter came and we ask a lot of questions as this was my youngest son and my baby. What I found out was that this recruiter was new and my son was his first recrute. After a few months of talk my son convinced me this was what he wanted and so he entered into the DEP program. I went with him to these meetings sometimes I stayed sometimes I went shopping but the recruiter alway welcome me to stay if I wanted to. This you see was for me not my son or the recruiter as this was the life my son wanted I wanted to learn all I could about this life he choose. I spent that last year of school and DEP
with my son we became even closer as mother and son but most of all best friends. I listened to his music played his Xbox games with him and at last I really got to know my son inside and out. That was 3 years ago he is now Petty Officer 3rd class he is a Corpman w/speciality in pharmacy and is stationed in Naples Italy.
If I had to do it all over again I would not change a thing.

[Tisha, Dakota's Mom]

Hi Stacey,
My son visited with a recruiter through school on 2 different ocassions, then went to talk to the recruiter at the office, I thought there was no harm in it since he couldn't make that decision on his own at 17. I discussed with him the same thing check out the airforce, etc. He was set on the NAVY. My other concern was if he signed up early, that would close any other doors for him if opportunites arose during this next year. Back to the question, I was eager to sit down with the recruiter once I realized how sure my son was about joining in the DEP program. I definitely had some questions of my own before I would agree to it. I think you have to, recruiters can be persuasive and all teens are naive in regards of what to ask, the good and the challenging parts of being in the service. If the Navy wants to target our 17 year old minors then it's a package deal, they get mom and dad too. I also met up with my son at MEPS and helped him go over the jobs he was approved to choose from. I do not consider him a momma's boy but that is a contractual decision, not a job that he can quit or switch if he doesn't like it. I would recommend going to MEPS to any mom. It was a good experience and I think my son appreciated the support. Plus I got to witness the first swearing in, I would've hated to miss it. I am fully supportive and proud of my son. He will go to GL next summer, if he doesn't receive a scholarship through the NAVY to go to college first. And that is the good thing about the Delayed Entry Program, we have a year to prepare and can start working on the NROTC application, and Dakota can focus on getting physically fit for basic training. ~Tisha~

[davetdu]

Do your son a favor and take him to the Air Force recruiter. I wish I would have done that for myself.