Our son just joined the army! He thinks he'll be in the band, but he'll have to carry a gun. Can he get out?

Tori

He can say "I changed my mind" at ANY TIME before military bootcamp GRADUATION....

so he can say it now!
He can say it after 1 week of boot camp!
He needs to say it before boot camp graduation!

The recruiters will lie & tell you "it's too late...he's signed the paperwork"
The military isn't for EVERYbody... so he needs to be sure

***EDIT*** Don't go to the recruiter like alot of parents do (alone - without your kid knowing!)... SO MANY parents make that mistake! The recruiter doesn't pay ANY mind at all to your opinions. He has a job & it is to get as many people signed up as he can... and your input of "secrets about his health" won't help at all...just make your son look like a weakling (Momma or Daddy's BOY!) and will cause him to get ridiculed!!!
I've heard parents LIE about illnesses (I'm not saying you're lying...just that it's been tried) to get the recruiter to "let their kid go" but it doesn't work

lucky

Do tell him before you meet his recruiters. Don't go behind his back. Maybe he needs to do this.

Chris

It is not the end of the world. If he wants to join let him join. It might be the best thing for him.

Mona Lisa

Calm down! This is NOT the end of the world!!

I am in the Army Band...and yes, you do have to go to BCT and AIT and yes, you do have to qualify on your weapon.
As for getting deployed? It is a very real possibility. But bands DO play in Iraq, believe it or not! They're main purpose is to keep the morale of the troops up. Well, thats pretty much what band members do here too...
But they might have to pull some extra duties.
And FYI, every troop in Iraq carries a rifle...no matter what their MOS.

But sorry to say, if he is 18+ and already signed those papers...then he is in!!!

Shore Patrol Det Subic 83 - 86

Yes, say my son is a wimp and never wants to be a man who stands up when he gives his word.

7 of 9

MAYBE YOU SHOULD LEARN TO LET GO OF THE APRON STRINGS, IF HE CAN;T MAKE IT, HE WILL BE RECYCLED ONCE AND THEN IF IT CAN;T MAKE IT THRU THE RECYCLED PERIOD, THEY WILL LET HIM OUT!!!

Cass

Maybe you should let him go. He has to leave the nest at some point...

MikeGolf

Has it occurred to you that your son may see this as a way to get away from you? He just may understand the implications better than you do.

I get the impression from your post that you are one of those 'helicopter moms' who cannot bear to cut the apron strings.

akbutner2

I wouldn't go to the recruiter without his consent. You could very well hurt your relationship with him. You need him to go with you and let him talk to the recruiter if he has issues like Asbergers. If they will accept him and he is wanting to go then you need to allow him to make the decision. If you tell the recruiter and then the recruiter refuses to take him then he will blam you. If he hears it for himself when HE tells the recruiter then he should be able to understand better.

LKaye

Okay just a few things. One if your son can join without you signing saying that he can, then he is a man and should be allowed to make his own chooses. Even if they turn out to be something he regrets. Second, yes the recruiters should know about his medical history. You can not join the military under certain medical conditions. Tell him that you are going to give the recruiter his medical history. Don't do anything behind his back. If he has already joined and didn't inform the army of his medical background he could get in serious trouble. Don't be so desperate. Just be honest with him, with yourself and with the army. Good luck and my God bless you and your son.

Wes

If his older girlfriend put him up to this and all he wants to do is play in the band, then the army is not for him. The army trains soldiers for combat, not to play in a band. If he is already in there is nothing you can do about it. The army has him and he can't get out until his contract is up. This girlfriend seems to control his life, maybe it isn't best they are together. When you meet the recruiters tell them that all he wants to be is in the band and since he is already in just get all the info about what he is going to do in the army and relay the information back to him. That is the best you can do for your son now.

Good Luck and I'm sorry for your troubles.

gregpasq

How can he not understand all the implications of joining the service? Last I checked, you had to go to MEPS and you had to talk to recruiters and military career counselers...so that seems a little bit on the unbelievable side. You get a pretty clear picture from that entire process. I'm sure if it's something he really, really, didn't want he'd elect to not appear for indoctrination.

sirbobby98121

Is he of an age to choose for himself ?
All military personnel are weapons trained.

Go ahead and pull him out...you're going to rule the rest of his life anyway.

Ellesar

I don't think that someone with Aspergers would be suitable, but that is my opinion, not the armies.

ripperbravo6

Get him off your tit and let him grow up.You are the worst parents ever.

andrea b

The Aspergers may keep him from joining. Isn't that a form of Autism? Also, unless he has a degree of some kind he will most likely be infantry. My brother joined and never had good grades; his career choices were infantry or motorpool. If your son is capable and intelligent, however you should not try to stop him. If my brother is there helping our country-why shouldn't everyone be willing to sacrifice forit?!!?

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