Military or no Military??

No, my brother has been in the military since he was 18 years old. He is now 42 and they are holding his retirement over his head. Now they want him to go back to Iraq after only being home for one year after coming back from being over there for 2 years. Also, the money isn't worth the moving, and the seperation from family. The Military does not do their soliders right.

Would I encourage them? No, I wouldn't. I would support them if they did decide to join. I would want them to be completely educated about the military first & not from some recruiter. I was Active Duty Army for 2 years before I had my oldest & know what can go on "behind closed doors" so to say.

i would encourage my son (if i had one)^^ to join military ,it's step form a boy turn into MAN

I would definately encourage my children to join the military. I think the military is important and even though war is a scary thought, I do believe it's important sometimes, and fulfilling our mission is important. Every man and woman that has joined the military since 2001, made that decision on they're own, they were not forced to join. I just wish more people realized that. I have 4 children, one just gratuated college, and I have an 8 year old and two 18 year olds that will both graduate high school in May (one is my son, the other is my step daughter). My son has spent 3 years in the Marine Corps Jr ROTC program at his high school. He's tossed the idea around for the past 2 years about going in to the Marine corps after graduation. He's gone so far as to talk to the recruting officer and had one call me to set up a meeting, my son started to worry about getting in because of a few health issues and isn't sure right now what he's going to do. My husband and I will always support any decisions our children make (as long it's legal). I know this is a tough one, but I support the military fully and would support (and encourage)my sons decision if he decides join.

HEll no i wouldnt encourage anyone to join the military! They could get hurt or killed in a war or just in peacekeeping. I also think if no one wanted to be in the military and fight then there would be no wars. wouldnt that be nice ?

I would seeing that their daddy has been in the airforce for 9 years. Its a great way to pay for school, see the country, fight for their country, now this would be entirely up to them, and if they came to me, i would encourage them!

I would absolutely encourage my children to enlist!! My fiance is a US Marine and I'm so proud of him. It's honorable and respected. It's something to be proud of.

I have an 18 year old nephew that will be going soon and a niece that is finishing high school and will be going in August 2007. I have a 14 year old step daughter that is thinking about going in and her father and I both are encouraging her to do so. As well as her grandparents and everyone. I would never force them into it or nor would I try to change their mind if they say they don't want to go. But if they are in limbo in what they want to do with their lives then military is a good place to start. I look back and wish I would have went and not listened to everyone that said I shouldn't.

My husband is active duty, and we have raised our 3 children in this way of life, which places the chance of one of them deciding to enlist pretty high. I have one child in college already, and he has no desire to enlist, but is thinking about graduating and teaching in one of the DOD schools (for military dependent children) overseas, and feels a strong connection with the military community. My middle daughter is in ROTC at her school, and would like to enlist as an officer after she pursues colleges and her degree. My youngest, well, she is only 6 and she wants to be so many different things at this stage in her life LOL. However, I will support my children's decision to go into the military if that is what they choose. Here's my take on it, if we do not have those brave and selfless individuals who are willing to enlist in the military, I believe our country would definitely need to look into the draft, or making military service mandatory. This is something I do not agree with. I do not think forcing an individual to be in the military serves any good to the military. You will have 18 year olds with grudges against why they are there, and who do not wish to be there. I for one do not want someone to have to have my husband's back who doesn't truly want to be there--to me that's a liability, not an asset. I do not support the premises for the war in Iraq, but I do support our troops who have unfortunately been misused by their Commander in Chief. No one joins the military ever believing that their Commander in Chief will ever be allowed the right to misuse the right to use our troops.

I couldn't ever do that ! I admire people who are in the military, but I would never want it to be my kid! Then I have the chance of losing them I couldn't handle that at all!

no, but I am really protective.

This is an opinion of a military wife so you can take it if you want and throw it out the window....I think that the military is very good for people. Since my husband and i have been married it has actually changed my life for the better.

No I wouldn't encourage my kids to join the military at all. I would always be worried about them being sent off to war and dying. That's the bottom line for me.

no never