Showing posts with label army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label army. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Joining the Military...

Adam decided several years ago that he wanted to join the military after he graduated from high school.  Kids and their ideas change so I didn't think too much about it until the last 6 months when he decided it was time to talk to the recruiters.  Don't get me wrong, his brother is currently in Iraq with the 116th and I couldn't be prouder.  I love that my boys want to serve their country.




Adam had his heart set on becoming a Marine.  His grampa was a Marine.  His second choice is the Army because he wants to be Infantry.  Now that, I must admit, scares the hell out of me.  I'm not ready to know that he's on the front lines of a war.  But then again, what mother ever is.  However, if it's what he really wants then it's something I'll support him in.

However, we discovered that things have changed.  They've changed more than I could ever have imagined.   With so many men losing their jobs, evidently the military has "upped" their standards.  It's not easy to join, in fact, in downright difficult.  The Marines won't even consider you if you have taken any online classes for high school.  Yep.  If you haven't taken all of your classes from a regular high school, you're screwed.  Adam was so disappointed.  He never would have done online high school if he had known, but then again, it wasn't like this when he started online school.

And the Army, well they did say that if he actually graduates from Boise High, they'll take him if he scores high enough on the ASVAB.  What a shame that our military is taking people who probably don't really want to join, but have to because of the economy, and ruling out those who really want to serve their countries.



Adam spent two entire days just crushed, saying that he doesn't know what he'll do with his life if he can't join.  He's not ready for college yet but will be someday.  I thought the military would have been a wonderful start for his transition into adulthood.  I had no idea that it would turn out like this.  I guess we'll wait and see what happens next spring...