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Message
re: Getting an 18 year old started in life & military
Posted on 2/13/24 at 1:49 pm to BurningHeart
Posted on 2/13/24 at 1:49 pm to BurningHeart
quote:
Our 18 year old is about to graduate and talks going military for training and to help start up his life.
We agree with his choice with the fact that he signs up into a military MOS that's also relevant in civilian world.
He's a good kid, he listens well, been working since 16 and saved up a decent amount.
Only problem is he struggles with school and studying, and cant find motivation to hit the asvab studying hard enough to get into any sort of decent military job.
You basically just described my 17 year old son.
He's going to turn 18 next month and graduates in May.
He's extremely intelligent, but the motivation in school is non-existent. He makes As and Bs, but if he applied himself he could make a run at Valedictorian. He won't though.
Fortunately, he took the ASVAB last year and scored a 90 on it. He is eligible for the Navy Nuclear Engineering Program so that's what he has decided to pursue. It comes with a $50K signing bonus and the tech school material is classified so he can't take anything home to study which is good for him.
This post was edited on 2/13/24 at 1:50 pm
2
Posted on 2/13/24 at 1:55 pm to BurningHeart
Send him to trade school or an apprenticeship
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:01 pm to BurningHeart
My son went through something similar (not the ASVAB scores part). My belief is that his problem was primarily one of immaturity and laziness. He told us that he was "tired of school" when he was still in high school. While he was in high school he worked at fast food restaurants. After he graduated from high school he was still living at home and working low-end jobs. He continued on that path for another year or 2 and then decided that he wanted to go into the Air Force. He went into the Air Force and after he completed his basic training he was a very different person. I told my wife that he "grew up" (maturity and responsibility) during his basic training. He started in aircraft maintenance and also started working on a college degree. He has since had a job/career change in the Air Force and is now in computer networking. He will also be graduating with his college degree in a few months. Being in the Air Force has worked out extremely well for my son. However, we never pushed him because we knew that he would need to make those decisions for himself. We just told him that we would support him and we just served as a sounding board. Good luck!
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:16 pm to lepdagod
I just wanted to get out of class
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:24 pm to NotYourDaddy
quote:
He went into the Air Force and after he completed his basic training he was a very different person. I told my wife that he "grew up" (maturity and responsibility) during his basic training. He started in aircraft maintenance and also started working on a college degree. He has since had a job/career change in the Air Force and is now in computer networking. He will also be graduating with his college degree in a few months. Being in the Air Force has worked out extremely well for my son.
I think kids of every generation can excel given the right circumstances. Great story and glad to hear it. Your boy has a bright future ahead.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:38 pm to NotYourDaddy
Have one of those too. He's about 3 months away from being introduced to a few recruiting offices.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:40 pm to BurningHeart
Starting over today I'd learn a trade (AC, Electric) and then work for someone for 4-5 years while building my own business in said trade. Grind for 10 years then build and scale a business.
With quality work and service success is virtually guaranteed and recession proof relative to many career paths (people will dump just about everything before they go w/o AC)
With quality work and service success is virtually guaranteed and recession proof relative to many career paths (people will dump just about everything before they go w/o AC)
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:41 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Fortunately, he took the ASVAB last year and scored a 90 on it. He is eligible for the Navy Nuclear Engineering Program so that's what he has decided to pursue. It comes with a $50K signing bonus and the tech school material is classified so he can't take anything home to study which is good for him.
Now that's a good MOS. Any nuclear power plant will be recruiting him after he leaves the military.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:41 pm to TravisKelces Bandaid
Nothing wrong with military for a commitment even if only minimum time served.
Especially if your kid is not motivated academically for college just yet.
The good thing is if they do decide to go to college later it’s paid for.
Especially if your kid is not motivated academically for college just yet.
The good thing is if they do decide to go to college later it’s paid for.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:47 pm to TideSaint
quote:
comes with a $50K signing bonus
Yeah my recruiter back in 00 was telling this same lie... lie a harsh word but that "signing bonus" shite comes with a lot hoops and hurdles though
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:49 pm to BurningHeart
I think I remember the ASVAB having four different parts.
I scored 87, 88, 89 and 91 with no studying.
Went in for Aircraft Maintenance but later wished to hell I went with Law Enforcement (NOT Security Police), Firefighter, Load Master and Boom Operator (Air Refueling).
The last two you can travel the world in 24 hours and make a lot of money due to Hazardous Duty Pay, Flight Pay, Basic Allowance for Quarters, Food, etc.
Had to leave after four years to come back home to take care of my mom.
I was bummed.
I scored 87, 88, 89 and 91 with no studying.
Went in for Aircraft Maintenance but later wished to hell I went with Law Enforcement (NOT Security Police), Firefighter, Load Master and Boom Operator (Air Refueling).
The last two you can travel the world in 24 hours and make a lot of money due to Hazardous Duty Pay, Flight Pay, Basic Allowance for Quarters, Food, etc.
Had to leave after four years to come back home to take care of my mom.
I was bummed.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:55 pm to BurningHeart
quote:I would guess he has TikTok. If so, ask him to find the channels that help study for the ASVAB in between the other crap on there.
Only problem is he struggles with school and studying, and cant find motivation to hit the asvab studying hard enough to get into any sort of decent military job.
Help him understand at 18 or even 22 when he gets out if he decides to he still won’t have it all figured out. Just keep putting one foot forward and getting better each day. He sounds like a good kid so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:56 pm to BurningHeart
Went in back in the late 70’s early 80’s in the Army.
Same post went to Heavy construction equipment mechanic school.
Air Force guys went to the same school.
They had it a lot easier than us training in the same MOS.
Our school was longer as we had to play GI Joe in the woods. They went to school for the skill, graduated, and moved on.
Same post went to Heavy construction equipment mechanic school.
Air Force guys went to the same school.
They had it a lot easier than us training in the same MOS.
Our school was longer as we had to play GI Joe in the woods. They went to school for the skill, graduated, and moved on.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 2:57 pm to JasonDBlaha
quote:
ASVAB isn't hard if you've passed high school algebra and chemistry.
agreed
quote:
Going to college, getting a bachelors, and going to OCS to become a CO is a much more rewarding path.
How would you know which is more rewarding? Have you taken both paths?
Also, CO is the commonly used abbreviation for Commanding Officer, not Commissioned Officer.
This last part makes me wonder if you even know what the frick you're talking about?
Where did you attend OCS?
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:02 pm to Tiger JED
quote:
“The world needs ditch diggers too.”
Don't knock it...I know a man who started installing 1 inch PVC waterlines in and around Athens, Georgia in the 1970s and when he passed away in 2019 he had paid for 3 kids degrees to UGA, had a 30 acre patch of dirt in Clarke County Georgia worth a couple of million bucks and a house on lake Oconee which would push a million dollars. He was never wealthy but he worked on his schedule, as much as any small business owner ever has, and lived a remarkable life for a ditch digger...
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:05 pm to jmarto1
quote:
People study for the asvab?
Some people should.
Only so many cook slots.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:06 pm to GeauxtigersMs36
quote:
The electrical trade school or something like that and join the reserves. If he wants to go to college, then join the reserves and get the GI bill to pay.
Currently a 5 year program which is pretty math intensive....most apprentices need 3-6 months of math tutoring out of high school to be admitted into the IBEW NECA JATC. You can go to a Vo Tech and get done and make what a second year apprentice in the IBEW make and never have a solid grounding in theory and make about half what an IBEW electrician makes.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:08 pm to The Torch
quote:
I have one that's 17 and can barely wipe his own arse.
quote:
Guaranteed he couldn't make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich if he was starving to death.
For your sake, I hope this is a stepchild.
If not, is this your admission that you have failed as a father?
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:09 pm to Billy Blanks
quote:
Regardless of choice of MOS, military will be underpaid if you're looking long term.
In terms of immediate dollars, maybe, but it opens a lot of doors, and provides reasonable opportunity for growth assuming he can put one foot in front of the other.
I have seen a fair number of folks put in 4 years, get a free college education and a plethora of veterans benefits when they get out.
That said I have also seen people waste the opportunity as well.
Posted on 2/13/24 at 3:12 pm to BurningHeart
quote:
he signs up into a military MOS that's also relevant in civilian world.
Gay
Tell him to go blow some shite up for four years and then go to college or a trade school.
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