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The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 03:41:14 PM

Title: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 03:41:14 PM
Well, today was the day.  My son joined the Army back in April (I have a post about it here somewhere) and he left this afternoon to go to Houston.  He'll go to MEPS tonight then tomorrow will be on a plane bound for Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. 

I can't tell you how proud I am.  Sad that he's leaving and we won't see him for 6 months but very proud.  It was kind of a difficult weekend.  He was VERY involved with band at the school so he's been going with us every Friday night to the football games to see the daughter(s) play (there is another story there I may post at some point) and help with the band.  The night before last they named him honorary band member of the week and announced he was leaving today ... he got pretty good applause! 

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  I had to go 'clean the garage' for a bit while the wife, daughter and girlfriend stayed in the house.  I think it has all blown over now.

I can't wait to hear his stories!

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: DixieBelle on October 02, 2011, 04:06:34 PM
 :usflag: :usflag: :usflag: :usflag: :usflag:
Awesome! You have much to be proud of!!!

Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 04:09:42 PM
Thank you ma'am.  We think so.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: shadeaux on October 02, 2011, 04:11:00 PM
You should be proud.

I know how you're feeling.   :bawl:

That passes after the first 6 weeks then it gets better.  
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Chris_ on October 02, 2011, 04:25:47 PM
Congratulations. 

How long is the regular length of service now?  Four years or do they still offer two year enlistments?

I wish it was something I could have done, but I'm not eligible. 
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Eupher on October 02, 2011, 04:32:34 PM
Outstanding, Tex! He will continue to make you proud, of that I'm sure.

Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: BEG on October 02, 2011, 04:41:04 PM
You must be so proud. Congratulations! :)
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 05:10:19 PM
You should be proud.

I know how you're feeling.   :bawl:

That passes after the first 6 weeks then it gets better.  

Thank you ma'am.  I'm sure it will get easier but it sure was tough to watch him ride off.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 05:12:26 PM
Congratulations. 

How long is the regular length of service now?  Four years or do they still offer two year enlistments?

I wish it was something I could have done, but I'm not eligible. 

chris, I think all the enlistments are for 6 years.  X years active + X years inactive.  His enlisstment is 4 active and 2 inactive.  The job he's doing requires 4 active because he'll be learning a marketable skill.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 05:13:31 PM
Outstanding, Tex! He will continue to make you proud, of that I'm sure.



Yes sir.  I believe you're correct.  He's been a very good kid.  I can only see it getting better. 

You know, when I left I NEVER considered how my folks might have felt.  It's kind of tough.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Chris_ on October 02, 2011, 05:13:32 PM
Is inactive the same thing as ready reserve?
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 05:14:04 PM
You must be so proud. Congratulations! :)

We're very proud BEG.  Thanks!

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: NHSparky on October 02, 2011, 05:19:12 PM
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrllCZw8jiM&feature=related[/youtube]

Watch out for this guy.
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 05:21:33 PM
Is inactive the same thing as ready reserve?

As far as I know, yes.  He can be recalled and serve 2 more years as needed.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 02, 2011, 05:22:12 PM
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrllCZw8jiM&feature=related[/youtube]

Watch out for this guy.

Heh.  Warned him about that one!

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: IassaFTots on October 02, 2011, 07:19:43 PM
Great news and congratulations!
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: chitownchica on October 03, 2011, 01:17:49 AM
Very exciting. Congratulations!
Tell your son thanks for his service :)
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Eupher on October 03, 2011, 06:47:35 AM
Very glad you had a "sending off" celebration. That part was very different from my situation as things happened pretty quick. And no, the cops weren't after me -- it was one of those deals where I couldn't get away fast enough!  :lmao:
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 09:07:35 AM
Great news and congratulations!

Thanks Iassa!

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 09:08:39 AM
Very exciting. Congratulations!
Tell your son thanks for his service :)

Thanks Chica!  I'll let him know.  He's been texting a little bit this morning.  He'll be able to do that off and on until Tuesday when he'll have some dude with a rather large head in his face!

 :lmao:

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 09:11:16 AM
Very glad you had a "sending off" celebration. That part was very different from my situation as things happened pretty quick. And no, the cops weren't after me -- it was one of those deals where I couldn't get away fast enough!  :lmao:

Euph, we've actually had a couple of parties for him.  We had one about 3 weeks ago and had about 75 people show up.  A lot of them were his teachers.  The superintendent of the school actually came out.  He was/is very well liked at school.

He actually borrowed a sax Friday night and climbed into the bleachers to play the school fight song one last time at the end of the game ... we won 59 - 0.

Looks like we're going back to state ....  :bawl:

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: rich_t on October 03, 2011, 09:57:27 AM
Congrats and a big thank you for your son.

What MOS did he pick?
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 01:41:14 PM
Congrats and a big thank you for your son.

What MOS did he pick?

12 N.  Horizontal Contruction Engineer.

He is going to learn how to run bulldozers, dumptrucks, cranes, earth movers, minor repairs to the equipment, etc ...

Very marketable skill when he ETS's.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Eupher on October 03, 2011, 01:44:05 PM
12 N.  Horizontal Contruction Engineer.

He is going to learn how to run bulldozers, dumptrucks, cranes, earth movers, minor repairs to the equipment, etc ...

Very marketable skill when he ETS's.

KC

What happens if he does the unthinkable and makes it a career? Stranger things have happened, yunno...... :-)
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: vesta111 on October 03, 2011, 02:16:20 PM
The boy you held on to as they learned to walk is now gone, now he is a man.  Life is amazing. [22]
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 02:56:30 PM
The boy you held on to as they learned to walk is now gone, now he is a man.  Life is amazing. [22]

I hope to someday be half the man my son is becoming.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Gina on October 03, 2011, 03:20:11 PM
12 N.  Horizontal Contruction Engineer.

He is going to learn how to run bulldozers, dumptrucks, cranes, earth movers, minor repairs to the equipment, etc ...

Very marketable skill when he ETS's.

KC

I was a Seabee (Eng Aid) and that is what I do now.  Very marketable stuff he is doing there!
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 03:37:25 PM
What happens if he does the unthinkable and makes it a career? Stranger things have happened, yunno...... :-)

Heh.  Funny you should mention that.  He is 18 right now so keep that in mind whilst I pass along his plans;

He intends to do his 4 and get some college under his belt while he serves.  He wants to ETS then go to our local university and get his bachelors degree then go back in as an officer to retire.

If he does that he'll do well.  If he doesn't ... he'll still do well!  He's my kid after all.

 :-)

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 03:39:11 PM
I was a Seabee (Eng Aid) and that is what I do now.  Very marketable stuff he is doing there!

I think he's going to love it.  I was infantry and it was quite the battle to keep him from making the same mistake I did.  Don't get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with the infantry but not many folks will hire you when you get out.  You just don't have any marketable skills to the working world.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Eupher on October 03, 2011, 03:39:55 PM
Heh.  Funny you should mention that.  He is 18 right now so keep that in mind whilst I pass along his plans;

He intends to do his 4 and get some college under his belt while he serves.  He wants to ETS then go to our local university and get his bachelors degree then go back in as an officer to retire.

If he does that he'll do well.  If he doesn't ... he'll still do well!  He's my kid after all.

 :-)

KC

Looks like a plan!  (Though he needn't get out in order to finish school -- hell, I did mine while on active duty. It was tough, but it can be done.)
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 03:42:53 PM
Looks like a plan!  (Though he needn't get out in order to finish school -- hell, I did mine while on active duty. It was tough, but it can be done.)

Yeah, that's what his recruiter was telling him.  I don't know if he has the 'push' to get it all done while active.  I hope he does but we'll see.  He's his own man now.

He's a little disappointed at present.  The Army has him all messed up down there in Houston so he didn't get to fly out today.  He finished his paperwork at 12:05 and turned it in and the guy behind the counter said "Ok, we'll get you gone tomorrow" he said "I'm supposed to leave TODAY" and the guy said "The bus left at 12:00."

 :lmao:

I told him to get over it.  It's the Army way and if he lets that get him down he is in for a LONG 12 weeks of basic.

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Eupher on October 03, 2011, 03:46:09 PM
Yeah, that's what his recruiter was telling him.  I don't know if he has the 'push' to get it all done while active.  I hope he does but we'll see.  He's his own man now.

He's a little disappointed at present.  The Army has him all messed up down there in Houston so he didn't get to fly out today.  He finished his paperwork at 12:05 and turned it in and the guy behind the counter said "Ok, we'll get you gone tomorrow" he said "I'm supposed to leave TODAY" and the guy said "The bus left at 12:00."

 :lmao:

I told him to get over it.  It's the Army way and if he lets that get him down he is in for a LONG 12 weeks of basic.

KC

It's gratifying to see that "hurry up and wait" hasn't changed much in the 17 years it's been since I retired.  :rotf:
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Texacon on October 03, 2011, 03:48:58 PM
It's gratifying to see that "hurry up and wait" hasn't changed much in the 17 years it's been since I retired.  :rotf:

Yeah, when he called me to tell me his 'woes' I LOL'd.

The system was down this morning so he couldn't do his final paperwork until it got too late.  One of the guys actually made it out.

He isn't minding too much, there was this good lookin' thang he met at MEPS a few months ago that has a departure date of tomorrow.  Guess who he's seeing at the hotel tonight.

 :-)

KC
Title: Re: My son just drove off with the Army recuiter ... ask me anything!
Post by: Eupher on October 03, 2011, 03:54:28 PM
Yeah, when he called me to tell me his 'woes' I LOL'd.

The system was down this morning so he couldn't do his final paperwork until it got too late.  One of the guys actually made it out.

He isn't minding too much, there was this good lookin' thang he met at MEPS a few months ago that has a departure date of tomorrow.  Guess who he's seeing at the hotel tonight.

 :-)

KC

I suppose this is where that "special place in his wallet" has significance, right?  :lmao: