Should you stop someone from joining the Military

I would n't stop my son or daughter from joining the army or any forces. I would point out the pit falls and discuss them with them and ensure that they were making the correct disison for themselfs. The children have to choose there own path in life, if they mes up all can do is to be there to stand by them and support them.

Whenever I have a situation where I feel I should be stopping someone from doing something I just try to put myself in the other persons place and think of how I would have felt if someone wanted to stop me from doing something that I always wanted to do. What I believe is that we can surely discuss with them and find out how much it means to them and then decide on whether its worth to put your views in front of them. Even then you should only put your views forward and not try and influence his/her decision. After listening to your views if the other person thinks his/her logic behind doing it is not as good as your logic of why it should not be done then they may choose to not do it. I have always tried my best to do what I felt was right in my conscience. Its very rare that someone could influence me to change my decision. My husband is the only person who manages to do that on a more regular basis. Thats because he is a person who makes decisions with his mind while I let my heart make the decisions for me. And thats the reason why his logic always ends up being more practical than mine.

Hi Kaleegirl, I work at a marine camp myself and I see some of these young lads coming in and after passing out know that in a couple of weeks they may be out in Afghanistan or Iraq and it sometimes breaks my heart as they are younger than my eldest daughter and I just want to mother them rather than see them sent off to war. However saying that I wouldn't stop any of my own children from doing what they wanted to do, I have always encouraged them to be individuals and do go for what their goals and dreams in life are rather that what others would love for them to do and so far out of my three the only one that has mentioned the forces is my small son and he says he wants to work at soldieland like mummy does when he is bigger as wants to fly planes and helipcopters bless but he is only four at the moment so I will see what he would really like to do when he is older. Your daughters attitude is wrong(sorry only my opinion) as at 18 they are free to make their own choices and the more you say to a teenager they can't do something the more they want to do it anyway, but she is young at the moment when she has had children of her own she will see things from a different perspective eh! Intersting discussion question. Huggles. Ellie :D

Thanks sweetie for your concern for mr and my son. I adopted him at birth and would not trade a moment of our life for anything. He still lives in California and I'm back in Florida. Long story, maybe I'll tell you sometime. Anyway, I completely agree with you about letting people live their own lives. that is how we learn to be who we are meant to be. All the struggles in my life have made me a better person and I would do it all again to make sure that I learned everything I was suppose to learn. xoxoxo leenie

No, I would not stop one from joining the military. I beleive that freedom comes with a price. We live in a world of uncertainty. In a country as great as America ,"land of the free, Home of the brave". It would be correct to say, that every young American between 18 and 25 years of age, be obligated to serve 2 years in the military of their choice. It's manitory when you turn 18 years of age that you have to registor for the draft. So why not, make it manitory to, serve your Country in the military. Whats say you!!!

Coming from a military family I know what it is like to have a loved one away from home a lot. In addition my fiancee is serving away at the moment. But when I see the pride their their eyes in what they do it makes me feel so proud of them. I would never stop anyone from doing what they truly want to do. I would ensure that they have seriously thought it through as it is a huge commitment to themselves and everyone around them.

My husband is in the military although he didn't enlist until he was 23 but his father and his father's father before him signed up at age 18. Even know my husband was older when he signed up he still really grew in the military. It has given him so much confidence. He's planning to become an officer. Really I think that the people today at least know more what they are getting themselves into. It's not like the people who signed up before 9/11 and didn't expect to be in the middle of all this fighting for the freedom of another country. It's a great life, hard but rewarding. You were right to say what you did. If that is what he wants then he is an old enough to make his own decisions. If my son or daughter wanted to enlist I would be very proud... worried but proud. Of course a great deal of the risk is what career field they plan to go into... not all military see war even today. My husband hasn't had to deal with much more than a couple of bomb threats. Seriously it may sound like a big deal to you but we're quite use to it now.

I feel that you can do your best to stop someone from joining the military, but it never works. If someone really wants something, and they want it badly, then there is nothing that anyone can do to stop them.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this and have for many years. I'm a military brat and my father served in the Navy. He served several terms in Nam and when he came out he wasn't the best person all the time, often moody and violent. I had to sever my relationship with him a decade ago and while it is sad I don't regret it for a moment. I know my oldest child can't join because of medical problems but my next to oldest could and has expressed a desire to do so from time to time. I'm really torn about it because while I would never stop him from joining if that is what he really wanted to do I have a very negative opinion about the Iraq War and Bush's roll in the whole thing. I will not disrespect our military because they are doing what they have to do but I don't want my child involved with it as far as Iraq goes. Hopefully by time my son turns 18 (he turned 15 in May) the Iraq war will be over and our men and women will be home, or at the very least not there the way they are now.

[i]Hi kaleegirl, As much as I appreciate this type of dedication to the Country and people but when I have a kids who will be interested, maybe I am one of those who will talk to them not to continue their plan.. I will be for sure restless and worried each day of my life as they will be there![/i]

I think you should encourage him to examine his options carefully and encourage him to ask a lot of questions. In addition, make sure he understands that joining the military these days in all likelyhood means one will see combat. I hear too many who join and then are shocked when they have to go and do what they signed up to do. It's like bieng hired for a job and then being suprised when they expect you to show up for work. Also, make sure he joins for the right reasons. Not for glory or the education or the travel, but because he wants to serve his country in the most unselfish and patroitic way he can and represent his nation proudly.

I live in a country with mandatory military. All noral able-bodied people are supposed to serve. A lot manage to get exempt, and some should be, but morally most should serve in some form. I'm all for the military. I don't have kids, but I think everyone should serve their country, whatever country they live in. I would die of embarrassment if my kids didn't want to serve. If no one does, we might as well just hand over the key to our enemies. I was way to old (and disabled)for the army when I moved here. They don't want middle aged women anyway. But I joined the local civilian police guard. I helped patrol my town for about 5 years until I got to weak to carry the carbine rifle for very long. If I had moved here at 18 as I wanted to, I would have wanted to do army like every other 18 year old girl. I don't know if they would have taken me due to health issues, but I would have tried.

im not a mom yet.my mom often says that she woulndt let my younger brother join the military,while i think joining army and being a soldier is something cool.i should make it clear that im a girl and it's not popular for girls to join the military here.it's believed that life in the military is very tough.in my opinion,it's an honor to serve your country,and also tough life is good for your growth.you can learn a lot from it.so ,if my son or daughter be chosen to serve the country,i will encourage him or her to do a good job in the military.

I don't think you can tell someone they "can't" join the military. You can help make them aware of its negative aspects, but especially if it's your child, no isn't truly an option. I think telling a child no just makes him/her want whatever it is even more. In the end our children need to know they are loved and supported, even when we don't agree with their decisions.

If either of my daughters had wanted to join the armed services, I would have been there for them, giving them my support. It sounds like your daughter doesn't have a full view of the armed services. Yes, there is a chance that he would get through basics and be deployed overseas. However, he would also have living expenses covered, college paid for, there are a lot of advantages to joining the military. And I agree with you, she wouldn't have any say so, at 18 they can do what they want even if it is something that you don't like. My son-in-law is an Army Sergeant, so my daughter didn't join the Army, she married it, almost the same thing lol. He has been deployed to Iraq 3 times, and possibly going again. Luckily he has come home from each deployment, on his last deployment he re-enlisted on July 4th. So my family supports our troops. You might not support the war, but we can all support our troops.

I can imagine. I won't. Now, it is my mom's business!

Well this a good question actually. I know it's hard being a military especially if your love one is the joining the corps. But stopping someone joining the military is like stopping a man to reach his dream. It's ok to give some advice or inform the guy about what it takes to be a military man. But still it's his own decision to make.

I won't, i think.

yes i think a young should go to army to fight for his country .but that is only for that the world need peace from war

Let me share something with you. When I was young, I was totally against the military. In fact, I was so against it that were a draft instituted when I was eligible, I was already prepared to go to Canada. When I was 17, I was facing some issues and needed to make a choice for my future. After talking with several family friends, I decided to enlist in the Navy. I spent 3 years on active duty. The experience changed my life. I had gained new found respect not only for those who serve, but for my country and forefathers. In our modern, easily offended society, I think it is admirable that this young man wants to serve his country. This is one of the things that makes our country great. Not everyone shares the same beliefs. However, people should not try and force their beliefs on others. When young adults make decisions of this magnitude, it is admirable. Those of us who are older should support their decisions no matter our beliefs. We cannot live their life, and to not be supportive shows a great deal of selfishness on our part. Tom Johnson www.pixelbliss.com