Wow! Over 4 hours at the recruiters office

[Serena]

I have a feeling my baby will be joining up.

 

[Saffron]

 

[Serena]

Well, the part she likes most is that they will pay for her college, and pay her to go to college. She's been so worried about how I'm going to pay for it, and I could see the relief she felt. It was like a weight was off her shoulders.
She's going to take the weekend to decide, but I fully expect Wednesday to be the day she signs up.

 

[Saffron]

Tell her to go to a local community college first and have her talk to one of the financial aid people there. There are ways to raise money for college. If she got a student loan for the community college, she could earn tons and tons of scholarship money for the remainder of her education simply by maintaining great grades while she's enrolled in school. Then she can have a couple of ways to think about money for her education. There are lots of ways. There are grants out there that she is entitled to. Tell her Laurie, tell her to do that first, then she can make an informed decision.

Ack, ack, ack. *sigh*

 

[Saffron]

Nevermind, enough of this. What's her number? I'm calling her!
Get off the computer. LOL!

 

[powellrj]

sending hugs and a pm your way.....

 

[Serena]

Maggie, sweety, we've done all that. We'd have more options if the lawyer wasn't taking her time getting the paperwork done on the divorce. Right now, we make too much money and until it's finalized, our options dwindle.

And you can call me anytime, I have cable.

 

[NHAnn]

Oh my

 

[Deb in IA]

I don't mean to put a damper on you and your DD's plans, but I have some serious concerns on someone who joins the military just so that she can get her college paid for.

It just seems to me that the PRIMARY reason to join the armed services should be a desire to serve your country. The benefits of having your education paid should be just that. A benefit. NOT the main goal.

Serena, your DD is going to attend Purdue, right? An excellent school, by the way (my own alma mater ). Is she interested in engineering? If so, I know that there are many co-op availabilites - many of my friends did that during school. Could she work part-time? There are undoubtably many, many part-time positions around most college campuses, either in student job positions at the university itself, or at any number of nearby businesses. Have you talked to the Financial Aid office? There are many resources for aid these days, even for students who thought they did not qualify, based on parental income.

Now, if she truly wants to join the military out of a deep patriotic sense of duty to country, then that's OK. But if it's only for getting her education paid, then I urge her to think it over carefully.

 

[Serena]

Bri has thought about this or she would have never asked me and her dad to go to this meeting with her. Her decision is already made. She just wanted and needed our support. She's smart, she will do what's best for her. If this is it, I will support her.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I wish Bri the best, Laurie, in what she wants to do, along with you and her dad. Always tough deciding what to do. My very best good wishes are with her.

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by Serena
Bri has thought about this or she would have never asked me and her dad to go to this meeting with her. Her decision is already made. She just wanted and needed our support. She's smart, she will do what's best for her. If this is it, I will support her.

For that you should be proud and, might I add, you're very brave. I'm not sure how I'd feel letting either of my kids 'go', but I may have to one day.

BIG

 

[ToriLammy]

Best wishes to your daughter. I must have missed a post, which branch of the Armed Forces is she thinking of joining? I'm kind of partial to the Air Force

 

[Pin Wizard]

That was my question also. What branch? My dad was Air Force, I have a high school friend in the Army 27 years now, and my former boss' daughter has been in since last August I believe. She's in the Air Force. She went through 4 years of college, got her degree, and then decided to go! Guess that's really it for her!

 

[mamajoan]

Best wishes! God Speed and God Bless!

now that is said... my word of advice as a former military wife and current military mom


GET EVERYTHING THE RECRUITER PROMISES IN WRITING!!! VERY, VERY IMPORTANT!

THEY WILL PROMISE THE MOON, STARS AND HEAVEN ABOVE.. IT IS THEIR JOB... BUT IF IT AIN'T IN WRITING.. IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!

BEEN THERE... DONE THAT!

AGAIN, BEST WISHES!

 

[helenabear]

Laruie, I wish Bri all the best in her chosen path! Actually one of my cousins joined ROTC for the same reason. It made for an intersting life, and a rather productive/profitable life for him and his family. I don't think he regrets it at all from what he's said. Now he is retired (and mind you he's around his mid 40s) yet he sitll works at the same university he worked at while under the Army (just as a civilian now). It can be a great life for many

 

[Serena]

Oh, I'm sorry. It's the National Guard. It's not regular military. And they seemed to be jumping hoops to get the kids in.

With her pretest last night, they told her she can do just about anything she wanted, and the things she is looking at are sort of related to being a vet. She's hoping that her AIT training, pharmacy or radiology, will give her a head start.

They will pay %100 for college, %75 of vet school, pay her more than minimum wage, to go to school, and give her an additional $2,000 if she has fun over the summer and waits until october before she goes to basic.
If she signs up for ROTC her second year of college, she won't get deployed for 5 years.
This is if she signs up for the National Guard for 6 years.

At any rate, I think I've got it all straight. I will double check with her about this. I know getting everything in writing is important. The army recruiter lied to my h when he joined in 82.

My fears that she will be shipped off to some other country have been relieved somewhat, and the realization that she could get hurt anywhere.
and, that pharmacy school lasts for almost 30 weeks, and radiology for 52 weeks, so I will really miss her. But school in texas or another state is a relief compared to where she could be going in regular military.

She's taking the weekend to decide. If she decides this is the way to go, I will look over the paperwork carefully. But so far, we don't see a whole lot of negatives to this.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

yikes Serena! What a life changing decision. I know you must be very nervous. I was in college with several Armed Forces members and they were all getting their tuition paid and seem to be doing quite well in their careers now.

She might have to lose a few of those piercings though.

 

[Serena]

LOL!!! Yeah, and she can't get into trouble for drugs or alcohol, or get pregnant or she loses her college money. That's a great incentive.

 

[JohnsPrincess]

I have a question...why are they telling her that she won't get shipped off for 5 years if she joins ROTC?? If she's in the Guard as an airman, I think she can get shipped off anytime after she finishes her tech school. I'm active Air Force though so I'm not sure about all the guard/rotc stuff. Also...do be careful about what the recruiter promises. Even if you get it in writing...they can still NOT do it. It's the military and they can make up their own rules... But, it IS a good way to get money for college (or in her case, get paid to go)...she does need to understand that there is ALWAYS the possibility of getting sent overseas. No matter what they say...once you are in the military you're in.