My son is thinking of joining the Navy - w/o hs diploma?

[Chip126]

I posted this on the United We Stand board, but I thought I might get more responses on this board!

My son is almost 17 and has had a struggle with school (every aspect) for years. He is considering "dropping out", taking his GED, and pursuing a career in the Navy.

He would really like to be a firefighter/paramedic. He has been a cadet firefighter for 2 1/2 years and is an observer on our volunteer ambulance. He is one of those kids that needs some "hands-on" training and he gives it 110%.

I know that the his best option would be to stay in school and graduate, but I don't see this happening. We are meeting with a recruiter on Thursday. He wants to encourage him to stay in school, but said if this doesn't happen he will guide him to where he needs to be.

Does anyone have family or friends who have gone into the Navy without a high school diploma?? I know there is a lot of red tape trying to get in.

I guess I am just looking for any information and input you might have on the Navy and if there is anyone else that has gone through this before.

This is a very stressful time for me and a HUGE decision!

Thank you!
Kim

 

[HayGan]

I wish I had some advice to offer but I don't really have any experience with this. I hope someone here can help!

I'm sure it is a very difficult time for you and your DS. This is a big decision that will affect the rest of his life! I hope whatever decision that you all make that it works out for the best!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

He is not even 17 yet?
I guess it is your decision, but personally there is no way I'd sign a paper enlisting my kid in the Navy. If he wants to join, he can wait until he is 18 and make it one of his first adult decisions.

What are the qualifications to join the Navy?

The following are the basic requirements for joining, and you must:

* To enlist, you must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien.
* Be between the ages of 17-34. Seventeen-year olds need parental consent.
* With very rare exceptions, you must have a high school diploma.
* Take and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
* Pass a Military Entrance Processing Station medical exam.
* Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of serving in the Navy Seals or on submarines.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Navy's a great way to go. I served in the Navy during the 1st Pursian Gulf war, and I highly recommend it for anyone. Now, I'm not 100% sure, but I'm think you can get in with only a GED, but life would be easier for him if he stayed in school and got his diploma. The military would prefer that someone has a diploma when entering the military. He is aware that he has to take an exam in order to get in the Navy right? It's the ASVAB test, and it's used for all of the Military branches.

 

[SC Minnie]

My neighbors son wanted to join the Navy (he turned 18 in Dec) but they wouldn't take him because he was kicked out of school so he doesn't have his diploma. Now, this is what THEY said but these are the neighbors DH calls 'the Adams Family'.

 

[sharbear]

Someone asked this question before and this is what I found about joining the military with a GED

This is what I found about enlisting and the GED. http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/genj...svabminimum.htm
Education - You're more likely to be struck by lightening than enlist in the Air Force without a high school diploma. Even with a GED, the chances are not good. Only about 1/2 of a percent of all Air Force enlistments each year are GED-Holders. To even be considered for one of these very few slots, a GED-holder must score a minimum of 65 on the AFQT. The Air Force allows a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college credit.

From the same website info about enlisting in the Army.
Education - Those without a high school education need not apply. The Army allows no more than 10 to 15 percent per year of their enlistees to have a GED. To even be considered, a high school dropout (GED) must score at least a 50 on the AFQT. Like the Air Force, the Army also offers a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college. Unlike the Air Force, where the maximum initial enlistment rank for college credits is E-3, the Army offers the rank of E-4 for those with a bachelors degree.

Hope that this information helps.

 

[Chip126]

Thanks for the quick responses! My head is spinning with trying to make the right decisions! I appreciate the support!

I have done some research on this and I am aware that he has to take the ASVAB tests - I just don't know much about them.

Unfortunately, the GED kind of encourages kids to "quit" sooner than later. You have to wait six months after quitting before you can take the GED exam. Therefore, kids see it as why wait another six months to "quit" - do it now!

At this point, I think the Navy is the best option for my son. College just doesn't seem to be an option for him. The Navy seems to have a lot to offer him in terms of his firefighter/paramedic career.

I am, however, concerned about how difficult it may be for him to get in. I know that they accept a small percentage of non-diploma applicants, but I was told it is harder. He will not be able to enlist until October because he has to prove one full year of employment and have four character references. (also, he wont be able to take his GED exam until September).

Thanks again for your input!

 

[Allie322]

My nephew sounds a lot like your son. He finished his senior year of high school but did not have enough credits to graduate. He completed a summer school program, and the same day he "graduated" from that with his GED, he left for Navy Basic Training. He had grand designs on what he thought he'd like to do while in the Navy as well as after his Navy career was over, but the reality of it was that his grades in the Navy classes were not much better than they were in high school and this SIGNIFICANTLY limited his options. He is currently serving in Italy on a submarine tender ship, and is very near the bottom rung of the ship hierarchy.
Having said all that, I (and his parents AND my nephew) still think that this was the best route for him to take. The friends that he left behind that are working are in menial jobs with no advancement opportunities and are partying their paychecks away every weekend. My nephew is at least saving some money, learning to accept authority and is seeing parts of the world that he never even knew existed. He talks about re-enlisting but hasn't made up his mind yet.
I wish you luck with your son. These are the days when parenting isn't so fun! Good luck.

 

[Planogirl]

Wow, what a difficult situation! Is there really no way for him to hang in there and get his diploma? I realize that their minds can be pretty much made up at this age but what if he realized how hard it will be without the diploma, would that make a difference?

Good luck with this.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Have you spoken to his guidance counselor? There are alot of programs for struggling high school students to help him get thru. Our school has a program that allows you to come in at 2:00 and go to school til 6. You usually work in the morning. It is a very low pressure program with alot of hands on help. The students don't necessarily have an ld they just stuggle in the traditional school setting. We also have a half day program where you go to school til 11:00 and then go to a job, which the school can help you find. There is also vo-tech. All of these things are geared for helping the struggling student get thru and graduate.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Hey Chip! Please tell him to stick it out and get that diploma. It means so much more for the military. If it helps, you can tell him this for me. I hated school, and still do. I looked into quiting, getting my GED and going into the Navy. Well, the recruiter nixed that one for me. So I stuck it out and started to take the ASVAB test (this test, by the way, also helps to determine what kind of job he's eligible for.) Now I don't like taking tests, in fact, I hate it. It took me so many times to pass this test that I stopped counting...BUT I STUCK IT OUT AND PASSED IT. So, if I can do it, so can he. No matter what happens, high school is only a stepping stone to a great career in the Navy. And, while he's in the Navy, he can take college classes while active duty and the Navy will pay for most of it...providing he passes those classes with a certain grade.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Quick run to a book store or library and get the books to look over with your son. Perhaps that will help his decision.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/103-9416358-6235828?url=index%3Dstripbooks%3Arelevance-above&field-keywords=ASVAB+tests+&Go.x=11&Go.y=10

Or I guess take a look at this...
http://www.military.com/Recruiting/Home/0,13387,,00.htm

 

[EthansMom]

It sounds like you son is a lot like my brother was in high school. He was a B & C student (mostly Cs) who spent most of his time with the local State Troopers as an Explorer. He didn't feel like he fit in at school -- never went to the formal dances and didn't socialize much with other students that weren't Explorers. He wasn't interested in "book learning", but ask him about the states statutes and he could quote them chapter and verse.

For my brother, the military wasn't an option for health reasons (severe asthmatic, recurring pnuemonia) -- he knew he could never get a placement in the MPs with his health. He graduated from high school, tried college for a couple years, but his heart wasn't in it. He was a volunteer firefighter, got his EMTs license, worked as a security guard, worked as a dispatcher -- anything to get experience related to law enforcement. After 2-3 years of trying, my brother finally got on as a Sheriff's Deputy. He loves his work, but he has found that his chances for advancement are limited because he doesn't have a college degree.

If I was in your place with my son (or daughter), I would tell him that I though his aspirations were wonderful and his desire to serve in the military sounded like an excellent path as well as a noble service. However, I would warn my son that the lack of a high school diploma would not only hinder his chances of getting into the Navy, but would also hinder his chances of getting a placement in the military that he wanted (he would be more likely to get a "grunt" placement -- washing the firetrucks, instead of driving one), and, ultimately, the lack of a high school diploma could hinder his chances for promotion far in the future.

I would also ask my son if he thought he could quit the Navy if it was "hard". Once he gets in the military, my son would most likely have quite a bit of school in the military. (My dad served on a sub in the military and had to go to several months of school to learn the systems of the submarine.) And quitting wouldn't be an option as it is with high school.

I would tell my son that getting a diploma wouldn't be the easiest path, but I would be willing to help him. Together, we could choose classes that would meet the graduation requirements and be most interesting to him. I would help him with his homework. I would encourage him to go to his classes, pay attention and finish his coursework. I wouldn't expect my son to take advanced classes or to be on the honor roll. I would expect him to work his hardest. Afterall, getting that diploma is one rung on the ladder to the career he REALLY wants.

And when he had worked hard and gotten his diploma, I would be proud to be there when my son signed his enlistment papers.

 

[Chip126]

WOW........thanks again for taking the time to respond! Your words of encouragement and support are so helpful.

As I am reading these responses, I am also reading them to my son. Wow....16 is really a tough age! They just don't seem to get the long term concept. 1 and 1/2 years until the diploma just seems like an eternity! I have talked to him about this diploma until I'm blue in the face, but it appears that it just isn't going to happen.

I am hoping that all goes well with this recruiter on Thursday. If the diploma isn't a possibility, I sure hope that the recruiter's guidance will be helpful.

Again, thanks for all your encouragement and support! This whole thing is just a roller coaster of emotion.

 

[JCJRSmith]

I am ex-Navy - I served as an Electronics Warfare Technician for 12 years.

EVERY sailor is a firefighter. They have to be - if you are 500 miles out to sea and the ship catches on fire, every sailor needs to know how to put it out. It is a LONG swim home. Every sailor also learns LOTS of First Aid. Assuming your son is allowed to join, he will recieve fire-fighting training in boot camp, and have damage control refresher training throughout his career.

As for the paramedic part - Navy paramedics are calle Hospital Corpsmen and it is one of the HARDEST job qualifications because of all the schooling. That is not to say your son couldn't do it - that is up to him. Without the diploma, however, he may not qualify.

I loved my time in the Navy. I saw places I would never have seen before, learned things I couldn't have learned anywhere else, and made some life-long friends (the wife of one of those friends recruited me for the company I have worked for for the past 7 years). The Navy taught me a level of discipline I did not know I could attain, and the personnel management skills and PERSONAL management skills I learned have served me very well in my civilian life. That is the good

Now for the bad: LOTS of time away from family and loved ones. I missed most of my son's third year because I was at sea all the time. My first marraige was a casulty of Naval service - she could not stand me being away so much and she found solace elsewhere. My present wife (17 years) is made of sterner stuff and when you hear that Navy Wife is the Toughest Job in the Navy, that is no BS. The pay sucked - plain and simple. Raising a family on Navy pay is HARD.

Here is a link to a web site that discusses the education requirements for today's Navy:

http://www.navy.com/about/before/enlistmentstandards/#highschoolgraduate

I hope it all works out for your son. It can be a very tough life. And it can be VERY rewarding at the same time.

 

[C.Ann]

My brother did this years ago.. He was 1/4 of the way into his senior year and he wanted to quit school to join the Navy just shortly after the Viet Nam war began.. My parents were terrified, but he was adamant and the Navy was willing to take him with no diploma - on the condition that he get his GED while he was serving (which he did)..

He has never regretted his decision to do so and went on to become very successful in all areas of his life.. He has expanded his knowledge in many different areas and has held a wide variety of positions in many different fields.. It didn't harm him one bit - and thank God he came home alive after a long stint..

Of course being a "mom" my main concern would be your sons safety.. Education is not - and never will be - a "one shot deal".. But if school is that much of a struggle, the Navy is willing to take him, and you can find it in your heart and mind to let him go, I don't think it will turn out to be a move that will ruin his entire life.. In the long run, it may actually enhance it..

Good luck with your decision!

 

[jbdreamer]

If he can't handel High School, what makes him think that the Navy is going to be any better? I think that would be a much harder task.

We all have hardships and strugles in our life. He is going to have to learn to deal with them. I think he should finish school - don't let him run away to the military because he doesn't like school.

 

[C.Ann]

If he can't handel High School, what makes him think that the Navy is going to be any better? I think that would be a much harder task.

We all have hardships and strugles in our life. He is going to have to learn to deal with them. I think he should finish school - don't let him run away to the military because he doesn't like school.

--------------------------

Ever hear the saying, "The military will make you or break you"? Often times the military can turn a young man around completely.. I've seen it happen numerous times.. "Bad boys'' turning into great men.. I don't see this particular situation as running "away" from something - it appears more like he is running "towards" something - and it's something that could be very beneficial to him in the end.. If it were a case of quitting school to hang out on the street corner - or pump gas - I might see it differently, but I think this young man has truly given this situation some serious thought..

 

[Chip126]

Sorry.....double post!

 

[Chip126]

If he can't handel High School, what makes him think that the Navy is going to be any better? I think that would be a much harder task.

We all have hardships and strugles in our life. He is going to have to learn to deal with them. I think he should finish school - don't let him run away to the military because he doesn't like school.

Actually, I assumed this question might come up and I do appreciate your input.

However, we have given this quite a bit of thought over the past few weeks and this was not something that I encouraged my son to jump right into. In fact, I have NOT signed the papers for him to drop out of school and I have advised him to meet with the recruiter prior to my doing so.

I believe that the military provides very strong and consistent discipline and a very structured environment which helps "young men" to succeed. At least I am very hopeful.

Trust me, I have gone back and forth with all of this and if I didn't think that he was trying to find a way towards success, then this would not even be an option. When my son has an interest in something (including his volunteer firefighting and ambulance observer), he gives it 110%. High School, unfortunately, is not something he is interested in (some kids are just not cut out for all book work and require more hands on training) and he is just trying to find a better, not so much easier way.