My nephew is joining the Army National Guard, then Army ROTC.

[Baculus]

My nephw, who graduated early from high school, has decided in a military career, at least for the time being. He is joining the Maryland National Guard, then plans to attend ROTC. He has been in an Air Force youth program, but has decided to take a direction with the Army. Thus, I was wondering if anyone could provide some advice for my nephew for his future career?

Incidentally, some folks here know my opinion of the current Presidential administration's decisions, so it may be surprising to some that I support him in this decision. (He also has the support of my sister and her husband - both, BTW, are not supporters at all of the Bush administration.) It is what he wants to do, and it would be a disservice to him not to support this effort. Also, he really looks up to me, and I was a large influence upon him as he matured into a young man: We are very similiar, and both enjoy sci-fi, history, and military related subjects. (His mother calls him a "mini-me.") And, as I told him, I believe that serving one's country, willing to risk live and limb in the military, is a noble and brave action - those words mean a lot to him. And I will be proud to see him marching upon graduation - he will make an excellent officer.

Hopefully he will know more peace than war, since I worry about his deployment while he is in the guard.

So, any advice I can pass on to my nephew would be highly appreciated!

[The Sir]

Damn, that sucks

[Ghost of]

Damn, that sucks

Did you read his post? What was the point of your reply?

[herrmag]

Make sure he does VAST research on which MOS he would like to pursue. Tell him to look through the options WITHOUT the recruiter. Those recruiters can be tricky, and try to talk you into what suits them best, not necessarily what is most fitting for your nephew. You have to understand, if the Army is running low on a specific MOS, the recruiters are responsible for finding people to fill those positions. But, aside from that, wish him good luck, and assure him that Basic Training is nothing as long as he gets into shape prior to going. Also, tell him to be wary of National Guard folks. Some are very shady, and are just there to get an easy pay check.

[herrmag]

Did you read his post? What was the point of your reply?

I think he wishes that nobody would join the military so that China could eat us. He's probably a stoned, hungry college kid and thinking about how convenient a China-owned USA would make it for him to get some Kung-Pao Chicken right now.

[SonnyRules]

I don't have any words of wisdom for your nephew, but please tell him "Thank You" for serving.

[28rdsknsfn28]

I am a Master Sergeant in the Army Reserves. I would say you have taken the most important step in that you support him. I would agree with herrmag in that he needs to decide what he wants to do and stick to it. Not only will the recruiters try to influence him but so will his counselor (the person who will ultimatly put his final job into the system). He needs to know what he wants and have a priority for what is important to him. Is he willing to do something other than his first choice to get a bigger bonus? Is he willing to do something other that his first choice if his Asvab score is not high enough? Also make him aware that he will not get ANYTHING THAT IS NOT IN HIS CONTRACT !!!!! Most recruiters are honest but there are some rotten ones. If something sounds to good to be true come back here and post it. There are enough military types here that we can let you know.

Lastly he needs to be aware that the odds are he could end up deployed. Anyone who says different in the world we live in today would be doing this young man a disservice.

[twa]

Basicly know what you are signing up for and what all it entails,be aware you give up rights and it is the closest thing to slavery there is in this country.

You do not have a choice in who you will work for nor where you can be sent.

You will be judged by outsiders simply the uniform you wear,many of whom will doubt your intelligence You will have your performance of duty scutinized and be subject to military justice. The ROTC program is a good choice since the :pooh: flows downhill and the lower you are the more it stinks

In short it is a noble calling and I am proud my son chose it despite my speech and the fact I felt he was throwing away opportunities he would never have again.

Best wishes and congrats to him

[jpillian]

Bac -- what's his rationale on joining the National Guard? Prior to going to college and ROTC?

[Baculus]

Hello all. Thanks for the replies and the sound advice, as well as the comments. I am stopping by my sister's place tomorrow, so I will have a chance to talk with him. It's good to hear from some military personnel as well.

JPillian, basically, because of the extra time he'll have before his grants come in for college, he decided that a year of National Guard would give him good experience. In addition to helping to give him extra college money, it just seems like something he wants to do.

[BlueTalon]

Having served in both the reserve components and active duty (Army Reserves, LA Army National Guard, Navy, Marine Corps), I think he's got a good plan. When someone tells me they're considering the military, I tell them to think about doing almost exactly what your nephew is going to do.

He can do the National Guard and ROTC concurrently, which will benefit him a lot financially, more than just the monthly paychecks. If your nephew serves in the enlisted ranks in the National Guard for at least three (or four? I forget) years before getting his commission from ROTC, he gets more pay per month as a 2nd LT than someone who didn't have that same enlisted experience. Assuming he does four years of college and is in the National Guard and ROTC the entire time, when he gets his commission, his base pay will be $3039.60 per month; whereas if he had just done ROTC for the last couple of years of college, his base pay would start at $2416.20 per month.

Plus, there's the added benefit of having the experiences as a junior enlisted, which will pay off later in perspective and credibility when he's a leader of other such junior enlisted.

Good luck to him.

[gbrittain]

My nephw, who graduated early from high school, has decided in a military career, at least for the time being. He is joining the Maryland National Guard, then plans to attend ROTC. He has been in an Air Force youth program, but has decided to take a direction with the Army. Thus, I was wondering if anyone could provide some advice for my nephew for his future career?

Incidentally, some folks here know my opinion of the current Presidential administration's decisions, so it may be surprising to some that I support him in this decision. (He also has the support of my sister and her husband - both, BTW, are not supporters at all of the Bush administration.) It is what he wants to do, and it would be a disservice to him not to support this effort. Also, he really looks up to me, and I was a large influence upon him as he matured into a young man: We are very similiar, and both enjoy sci-fi, history, and military related subjects. (His mother calls him a "mini-me.") And, as I told him, I believe that serving one's country, willing to risk live and limb in the military, is a noble and brave action - those words mean a lot to him. And I will be proud to see him marching upon graduation - he will make an excellent officer.

Hopefully he will know more peace than war, since I worry about his deployment while he is in the guard.

So, any advice I can pass on to my nephew would be highly appreciated!

First off congratulations to your nephew. I am a former Army Captain. I just got out in May 2004 off active duty.

I am a product of the ROTC system out of University of Houston. A few things.

1. At first you are a nobody in ROTC. The way to earn respect is to be a hard charger motivated person with a can do attitude. Remember, many (not all) ROTC cadets are motivated indiduals. Be confident, but not a know it all. It will take lots of motivation to survive two to four years (depending on situation) of ROTC.

2. THERE WILL BE BAD MOMENTS. Know this. Prepare for this. See #1.

3. Study. There is much to learn. First Aid, OPORDS, SITREPS, Radio Communication, Field Manuals, Army Regulations, Tactics, ROE, Convoy Procedures, Weapons, and etc. Know this stuff by heart. You will be way way way ahead of the game.

4. Find a mentor. Find a junior or senior in ROTC who is a high flyer and learn from them. If they are truly a high flyer they will welcome someone to mentor.

5. Goes without saying stay in excellent shape. Score 270+ (Preferably 290+) on the Army APFT.

6. Dont be scared to take over a formation and march them or run them. Very basic stuff, but learn to be good at it.

7. KNOW YOUR MDMP! Military Decision Making Process. You will be judged over and over on this.

8. You will only get out of the Army what you put into it.

The things above are in no particular order and by no means all inclusive, just a few things that came to mind automatically.

One thing I would tell your nephew and this is critical. Make every decsion in ROTC as if you you are going to be an Active Duty lifer. The reason I say this is because I have know many upon many who made decisions like they were going to do only a few years in the guard, reserved or active duty for that matter and then wind up doing 10-30 years in the Army.

I originally joined as an enlisted person under the assumption that I would never do more than 3 years in the Army. A decade later, I finally made the very difficult decision to get out as a Captain. I would say safely that 90% of those who retire out of the military joined under the assumption they were going to do a few years then get out.

Feel free to ask me anything Baculus. If you prefer to PM that is fine as well. This is not like deciding wether to accept a job offer from ABC company or XYZ company. This is a big step and one that should be commended.

[Raub]

I'm on year 14 of active duty Army....16 years total. I originally joined the National Guard for college money You never know what's going to happen once you get in.

If you get a chance, find out what MOS fields he is interested in and what they're offering him (and also how they're describing the MOS). I'll do my best to explain what that MOS really does and if it's a good field.

Good luck to him, it's a great choice to make for many people. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I wouldn't have taken that leap when I was 17.

[TheREALJBird]

My sister went into the army after high school. All i'm gonna say is my perception of them has changed dramatically, to the negative side

[Seabee1973]

no matter what support him in his decision. Be there for him if he needs you. The national Guards and reserves have really helped out the active force with there help in deploying over to iraq I commend your nephew for taking a a very brave and exiting challenge in his life

[SEF]

Plus, there's the added benefit of having the experiences as a junior enlisted, which will pay off later in perspective and credibility when he's a leader of other such junior enlisted.

Very good point. The best officers I ever served under were enlisted first. When I was in the NG we had a ROTC cadet in our unit. He wasn't really enlisted, though.(don't know what he was paid) He wore dots on his cap. Thought he was an officer. He used to ride ahead when we would convoy and get out of his jeep and stand by the road so he could salute the vehicles. Then we would go by and fake salutes at him.

Bac, one piece of advice for your nephew. Air Force ROTC!!!

edited for spelling (probably missed som)

[halter91]

Make sure he does VAST research on which MOS he would like to pursue. Tell him to look through the options WITHOUT the recruiter. Those recruiters can be tricky, and try to talk you into what suits them best, not necessarily what is most fitting for your nephew. You have to understand, if the Army is running low on a specific MOS, the recruiters are responsible for finding people to fill those positions. But, aside from that, wish him good luck, and assure him that Basic Training is nothing as long as he gets into shape prior to going. Also, tell him to be wary of National Guard folks. Some are very shady, and are just there to get an easy pay check.

I couldn't have said it better. Recruiters are very tricky, they get bonuses I beleive to get people to sign for different MOS's. Make sure he studies which MOS(job) he wants to do. I had 2 different choices when i joined, A heavy equipment operator or a medical records specialist. I should have took the 1st one, heavy equipment operators makes big $$. The MOS i picked had no help in getting me a descent job after I was out. I was in the Army reserves, and make sure he visits the unit before he signs anything. Some Units are very well run, other are not. I've been in both. I hope this helps.

[Baculus]

Hey guys,

Thank you to everyone for the additional replies - the advice that you have provided is invaluable, especially from gentlemen such as yourselves that has served in the Armed Forces. As mentioned in this thread, this may be his decades long career, and you guys may have helped him choose the right path for years to come. You can't buy this type of knowledge and sage words of wisdom.

I am going to print out this thread, if no one minds, and let him read it, since I believe he can surely use this information. I am also going to take up your advice and find out about his MOS to make sure he will be taking the best career direction for his service.

And I am sure he will appreciate the "good lucks" - he is quite excited about his future! And I believe he will make us proud. :-)

[Air Force Cane]

I personally have seen this happening more and more often in the last 5 years.

The 18 year old kid knows more about how the world really works than his hippie parents and relatives

good for him! if he would like to chat or has questions feel free to ask, or he can have my email address since I have been through OCS as a non-prior in the last two years..

[oriolesfan93p]

A great big GOOD LUCK and THANK YOU from all of us here at home, we are greateful for everyone that enters into such a noble profession as this.

All I can pass on is the words of my brother who is a warrant officer in the army... he says quote "Go Airforce". He has nothing against the Army as he will be serving a minimum of 16 years before he gets out and will likely be serving at least 20 before he retires. I may not know his reasoning but him and all his army buddies I have ever met have always said that if you go military that you wanna go air force, and this was even before the war.

Just something to think about, if he is determined on the Army, I see nothing wrong with that either, its a noble profession for which we are all greatful.

[Gallen5862]

I was in the North Carolina National Guard from 1981-1987. He should pick a MOS that he enjoys. Is he going to basic training or will he be going to ROTC camp for training?

[skinfan133]

assure him that Basic Training is nothing as long as he gets into shape prior to going.

yeah the ARMY's basic is nothing, then theres the hell of the corp. basic, whole nother level, not only do you have to be in shape prior to survive you need to be so in shape that your musscles have musscles:silly: