My daughter enlisted today

November 28, 2018, 12:27 AM

Good for her, and kudos to y’all for raising a young lady that wants to be part of something bigger than herself.
It is hard to watch them make those first few “adult” decisions, I know. But it sounds like she was given the tools to make good ones.

November 28, 2018, 01:37 AM

46and2

quote:
Originally posted by 4x5:
My daughter is really excited, but my wife and I are nervous. Very nervous, actually.

I distinctly recall telling my parents, with utter (misplaced) confidence, that there was no way I'd ever get called to war, it was just easy college money and an experience to serve.

That same summer (1990), before I even finished basic and technical training, Sadaam invaded Kuwait and upended all of the silly over confidence I was burdened with.

It all turned out fine, but my folks were right to worry, and it was natural.

Best of luck to you all. And good for her.

November 28, 2018, 02:01 AM

Silent

Congratulations. The concern is understandable; however, at least in my daughters case, of the multitude of choices, it was the best thing she could have done.

Being part of something tremendously important, conquering self-doubts, the chance to meet and interact with a wide variety of people and perspectives were aspects of an incredibly important chapter in her life (completing college debt-free was an awesome bonus!).

Silent

November 28, 2018, 06:15 AM

SgtGold

quote:
Originally posted by 4x5:
My 19 year old daughter enlisted in the National Guard (ROTC) today. She goes to Ft. Jackson this summer for basic training. My daughter is really excited, but my wife and I are nervous. Very nervous, actually.

Congratulations! It sounds like she will be an SMP cadet. The simultaneous membership program means she will be a part of, and drill with her National Guard unit while attending school and participating in ROTC activities. By the time your daughter is commissioned as a 2 LT she will have four years expetience as an enlisted Soldier, and a much better perspective as to how to function as a junior officer.

November 28, 2018, 07:47 AM

4x5

quote:
Originally posted by SgtGold:
quote:
Originally posted by 4x5:
My 19 year old daughter enlisted in the National Guard (ROTC) today. She goes to Ft. Jackson this summer for basic training. My daughter is really excited, but my wife and I are nervous. Very nervous, actually.

Congratulations! It sounds like she will be an SMP cadet. The simultaneous membership program means she will be a part of, and drill with her National Guard unit while attending school and participating in ROTC activities. By the time your daughter is commissioned as a 2 LT she will have four years expetience as an enlisted Soldier, and a much better perspective as to how to function as a junior officer.

Yes, she's doing SMP. She had the option of skipping Army basic training and going to something else (I can't remember what the recruiter called it) that was only 5 weeks long instead of 10, but she really wants the 'full' experience. She likes to challenge herself.

November 28, 2018, 08:44 AM

chellim1

Congratulations, Dad! My daughter is Navy. She's still your little girl and always will be. But, she's been raised right... she will be fine.

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

November 28, 2018, 09:43 AM

lizardman_u

Congratulations, Dad!

Please thank her for her future service from a Navy veteran.

November 28, 2018, 09:52 AM

rsbolo

Congratulations and a profound thank you to your daughter.

November 28, 2018, 10:38 AM

CD228

Congratulations.

Tell her to do lots of PT in preparation and be prepared for heat and humidity. Good on her for going to basic. I did basic at Benning and then OCS. I think Basic is a good experience for future officers.

I can't say what it's like to be a parent of a service member, but I checked with my parents and they said being worried is natural, hard but natural. Find some other families in your area going through the same thing, it's good to have someone to talk to.

November 28, 2018, 10:45 AM

BuckRogers2000

There are no guarantees in life...except joining the military will provide some thrills, boredom, terror, challenges, anxiety, elation, anger, pride, frustration and experiences to last a lifetime.

From a retired USAF crew chief: Good luck and thanks for her future service!

November 28, 2018, 10:58 AM

1967Goat

quote:
Originally posted by 4x5:
Yes, she's doing SMP. She had the option of skipping Army basic training and going to something else (I can't remember what the recruiter called it) that was only 5 weeks long instead of 10, but she really wants the 'full' experience. She likes to challenge herself.

Congratulations to the 3 of you (mom too)! Seems you did a fine job in raising her.

November 28, 2018, 12:42 PM

PossibleZombie

I'm a current Army officer with a daughter in ROTC. I was also a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson from 2007 to 2009. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, my email is on my profile.

November 28, 2018, 12:59 PM

sourdough44

I’d be proud too. Try to get to a graduation along the way at some point. The last I went to was a nephew at FT Leonard Wood in MO, very enjoyable.

I did a few myself back in the day, nice to revisit when it’s a relative graduating.

November 28, 2018, 01:06 PM

molachi

Congratulations and tell your daughter thank you.

November 28, 2018, 01:11 PM

229DAK

quote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
Most USMA graduates I've met are just weirdos.

And how many, exactly, would that be?

_________________________________________________________________________
“A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.”
-- Mark Twain, 1902

November 28, 2018, 01:38 PM

braillediver

quote:
Originally posted by molachi:
Congratulations and tell your daughter thank you.

This. Also tell her if she can do that she can do anything in the civilian world. They even pay overtime out in the civilian world.

November 28, 2018, 01:41 PM

4x5

quote:
Originally posted by PossibleZombie:
I'm a current Army officer with a daughter in ROTC. I was also a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson from 2007 to 2009. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, my email is on my profile.

That's good to know! Thank you!