Delta Fares

Should I encourage an 18 y.o. son to seek ROTC scholars for the express purpose of ending up sp ops forces?

Son is very smart (2150 SAT w/one sitting), a multi sport athlete in high school---though not the team captain type---and a freshman at a good university. He reads about Delta Force and plays some video games, plays war with air guns and gillie suits etc. and I fear he can't possibly have any idea what he is getting into and I sure don't. His knowledgee of things military seems very boyish, but I wonder if that's how all 18 yr. olds are. How do I know if I should encourage or discourage my boy from entering a man's world that could be so far removed from his understanding and perhaps ability?My father was a v12 career navel officer but what my son is thinking of is very different. I have no idea how to advise him.

Public Comments

1. ROTC isn't gonna help anyone get into spec ops. Actually newly commissioned officers cannot be in any army spec ops units. If he can get into ROTC, that means he will be in college. Thats always a good thing.
2. Encourage him either to get his BA or BS. If he does choose to join, he may join as an officer. If he is a top competitor, he may choose to try and train for special ops. This is highly competitive and if it is what he really wants to do then that is that. If the training does not change his mind, then that is what he wants to do. I had a friend who was into training all the time, bike riding and all that. He was in college and very smart, just seemed bored with college. After missing too many classes he was dropped out of his senior year. He joined the marines and has not regretted it since. Happier than he has ever been. And is now married and has a great start on life.
3. He's being a typical 18 year old. Many kids ask questions here, such as, "Should I be a Navy SEAL or go into Force Recon?" I have to just laugh, because we've raised such an entitled generation of kids who think the choice is theirs... rather than something they have to earn and/or prove... so at least some real-life skill is needed! As a parent, though, you should encourage him to follow his dream. Support whatever decision he makes about enlisting or going with ROTC and looking toward Officer Candidate School and a future as an officer. Help him follow the path he chooses... and to make good decisions as he starts walking down that path.. but remember.. he's 18.. so he's probably going to want to make the decisions himself. Let him do that, unless you see him really stepping in it. Here's how it would work... Once he completes college... IF he is accepted to OCS, and IF he completes it successfully, and IF he is offered a commission, he would still have the option of turning the commission down. That way, if he's not right for the military, or if the military isn't right for him, they'll both have plenty of opportunities to walk away from the deal. The most difficult thing I've had to learn with my 23 year old Marine was to let go.. and let him make decisions on his own. He has, a couple of times, gotten himself into situations where he couldn't figure out the right thing to do. My continued support of him, and his ability to make decisions for himself (even when I wasn't sure he was capable of making a good decision!), assured that he called me for advice in those times. If you push too hard, if you keep making those decisions for him, you run the risk of him shutting you out (in order to shut you up!)... and that's a bad thing! Let him choose the path... your job is to support him and bite your tongue until asked for advice!
4. If he's really serious about joining talk to a recruiter and ask around and try to find others who are in the service, they may be able to give him more informed advice. If he wants to be a Spec Ops officer, see if you, or he can talk with a Spec. Ops. officer. If you do go to a recruiter, try and find an honest one, they do exist bu they're hard to find.