As a volunteer, I work with a lot of high school age kids. Whenever the topic comes up, I'm quick to ask young people if they ever considered military service. Here's a breakdown of the reactions I get:
50% are completely uninterested and have other career plans. Fair enough.
25% recoil in horror or laugh at the thought of serving. Many say they're "above" doing that sort of work.
20% have a medical, religious, or moral reason why they can't serve.
5% have some interest, ask questions and give it some thought.
Here are some anecdotal examples of some kids I spoke with about military service:
Norm: He ended up joining the Navy. He was kind of a loser at home: fat, out of shape, unmotivated, terrible parents. I wouldn't have wanted him in the Army, but the Navy snapped him up. I'm actually writing him letters encouraging his service and doing my best to talk up the Navy, give a lot of "old man" advice, and telling him how proud we are of him. If the Navy is anything like the Army, they have him in a "fat boy" platoon, slimming him down and getting him in shape. I sure hope Navy NCOs are as good as Army. The kid is a train wreck, but has potential. I'd hate to see him get kicked out.
Brian: He laughed in my face when I suggested he'd be a good fit for the Army. For years, it was sort of a joke. This Summer I ran into him working at a Family Dollar store and still living at home.
Brett: He was a VERY intelligent kid. Like Brian, he laughed when I suggested military service. I ran into him this Summer at a high school football game and asked him how he's doing since graduating. His answer: "I'm flipping burgers during the day and smoking weed at night."
50% are completely uninterested and have other career plans. Fair enough.
25% recoil in horror or laugh at the thought of serving. Many say they're "above" doing that sort of work.
20% have a medical, religious, or moral reason why they can't serve.
5% have some interest, ask questions and give it some thought.
Here are some anecdotal examples of some kids I spoke with about military service:
Norm: He ended up joining the Navy. He was kind of a loser at home: fat, out of shape, unmotivated, terrible parents. I wouldn't have wanted him in the Army, but the Navy snapped him up. I'm actually writing him letters encouraging his service and doing my best to talk up the Navy, give a lot of "old man" advice, and telling him how proud we are of him. If the Navy is anything like the Army, they have him in a "fat boy" platoon, slimming him down and getting him in shape. I sure hope Navy NCOs are as good as Army. The kid is a train wreck, but has potential. I'd hate to see him get kicked out.
Brian: He laughed in my face when I suggested he'd be a good fit for the Army. For years, it was sort of a joke. This Summer I ran into him working at a Family Dollar store and still living at home.
Brett: He was a VERY intelligent kid. Like Brian, he laughed when I suggested military service. I ran into him this Summer at a high school football game and asked him how he's doing since graduating. His answer: "I'm flipping burgers during the day and smoking weed at night."
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