On The Fence

[SADelaney]

My son is 17 and goint ot be a high school senior this year. He had expressed some interest in joining the Navy after a former student came in and talked to the class about her experience this past year in the Navy. I got excited to hear that he was considering this and I hope that its the route he chooses. He still seems interested but unsure if its really what he wants to do or go to college. He struggles with staying motivated in school and isnt very good at turning in his homework, etc. When he does do the work, he gets excellent grades, hes just usually lazy about turning stuff in.  He also still struggles with getting himself up in the morning and still depends on me to get him up and get him out of the house to get to school.  He also struggles with time management and would rather be on the video game than anything else. He has a job and does very well at work, he even got employee of the month at 16 yrs old.

Im a single mom and trying the best I can to raise all three of my boys to be great people, but I feel this would be a great opportunity for him to learn how to be a great man. He needs to be pushed and motivated and Im afraid at college, he wouldnt get himself up for class or turn in his assignments, etc... I think in the military, someone is usually on you about that stuff and holds you accountable....true?  He says his biggest fear is going to war and not coming back, which is my biggest fear also.  And I know he has to want to serve and protect his country before he should join the military.  Any comments, suggestions or info that would help would be greatly appreciated.  I scheduled a meeting with the Navy recruiter on June 9th so hopefully that will help also.  Thanks.

[ChrisAmo]

You've taken the first step, which is to talk to a recruiter. Your son sounds like a bazillion other teenagers, drifting, unmotivated, unsure of what lies ahead..........there are many, many moms on this site that can tell the same story and will also tell you what an enormous difference they saw in their kids after boot camp. The motto is "You send the Navy a boy and they send you back a man." It's true that a college degree would open more doors for him (mine had a 4-year degree and came out of boot camp with an E-3 rank which meant a bigger paycheck plus an enlistment bonus) but if you think that going to college wouldn't solve his problem then probably the Navy would be a good choice. And let's face it, in this economy where else are you going to get a steady paycheck, health care, and travel. As for the war thing......the Navy is probably one of the safer services but they all are in danger at some point. My son is a rescue swimmer which means he jumps out of helicopters into the ocean to save downed pilots etc. A dangerous job.

Go ahead and talk to the recruiter, get all the info you can, ask as many questions as you can think of. Iff your son decides he wants to do this he can actually take the tests and go into the DEP (Delayed Entry Program) for his senior year. Then after he graduates if he still wants to do this he can. If he changes his mind then it's no problem as there's no obligation until he signs his final contract the day he goes to boot camp.

[jdmom]

KK this is good to hear, my son wants to be a Rescue Swimmer but is still waiting to sign his initial contract. He has gone to MEPS passed everything just waiting for a job to open so he can test for Rescue Swimmer. My son did two years of college and decided he wasn't happy, dragged his feet looking at other options for a couple months, went and spoke with his Navy Recruiter and within 48 hours was at MEPS. I see a change in him already that he has a goal again. It will be great to watch your son's progress and hopefully my son will only be a few steps behind.
Good Luck.

[Pat]

Both of the previous comments are great and the only comment I have in addition is:
Has he taken the ASVAB? That is the military test (ACT, SAT like they have to take for college). His scores on this will tell the Navy what rate (job) he qualifies for. The better the score, the more choices he will have as far as his rate. He may take the pre-ASVAB whan you go talk to the recruiter...if he does well great, if not, get him the study guide so that he can improve his score.

[jdmom65(ship13 div 245)]

Your son sounds pretty much like mine, he left a little over a week ago. All his choice, he is generally lazy, and yes doesn't like to get up on time, but as I've said to my family --he's leaving a 19 year old boy and he'll be coming home a 20yr old sailor MAN! LOL, I haven't received a letter yet, but I'll let you know how he is doing. I've spoken to some of the guys I work with, who have retired from the navy and they told me it made them focused, and more productive citizens. They also say, they were like my son, but now they are nurses, respiratory therapist and supervisors. Imaging that! THAT MEANS THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR OURS! LOL
JDMOM65

[ChrisAmo]

I see a couple of you have sons who want to be Rescue Swimmers. My son is one so I think I can be helpful in letting you know what your boys are likely to face. Aviation Rescue Swimmer (AIRR) is a very tough job and because the wash-out rate is high, there seem to be quite a few openings available. There are only 300 AIRRs in the entire Navy so it's a very elite group (one step below SEAL).

If you go to the group "Moms of Aviation Rescue Swimmers" and click on "The road to a US Navy Rescue Swimmer" you'll find all the info you need. Each step they take, how long it all takes (at least 18 months of training), what is expected of them etc. It's very physically demanding so they have to be in the best shape of their lives.....and then get even better. My son was a extremely good swimmer and even a swim coach and he said it was the hardest thing he's ever done, but he was so thrilled when he finally got through it and got his wings (AIRRs are Aviation so they get wings.) He's assigned to an aircraft carrier and will be deployed this summer.

[jdmom]

Good Luck I hope your son does well!

[jdmom]

Well step one done, he signed his initial contract today. His rate is OS but hoping to change to AIRR. He has all the information about the PST and wil start working with his recruiter right away.
I was surprised by my reaction when he called from MEPS today to say it was done, I was so, so proud. He sounded so pumped. He was very happy with his rate as of now just not his boot camp date which is March 21, 2011 but we know that can change. He did let them know he was willing to move that up. Tonight a celebration dinner with the family!

[jdmom]

Thanks for the info, both my son & I will read the post.

[Mary(MMnukesmom)]

Sounds like my son His buddy called him from recruiter office and told him to look at the navy web site.. he was sold...that was last june (going into senior year) talked to recruiters during the first week of summer break with no sleep lets say the recruites where surprised at his practice score..Dereck made us sign papers that day (friday) I made him take his ACT on sat (navy told to to score high for officer school) he didn't score high on purpose cuz i forced him when all he wanted was navy. needless to say High school was done its been a year he didn't do alot of senior stuff cuz he can't get into trouble He was so done missed alot of school so in oct his counselor and i got him early grad (had to take econ and do 6 weeks of back work) he did it All I can say is bewarned you might see him go from i don't wanna go to school I WANT to start my next adventure wish i was warned we would of signed up for an earlier ship date Oh and here is a kid that didn't want to go to school going into the nuke program...alot of school.which he is fine with that go figure.