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MarathonKnitter
HAPPY
Member since 2/07 17374 total posts
Name:
EMBRACING CHANGE
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my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
... what's a mother to say???!!!
although he is nowhere near being able to do so... but what am i to say?
it takes a very strong, commendable, honorable person who would be willing to put his/her life on the line for this country. but as a mom, i would never want my "baby" to make that sacrifice.
then again, as an american, i would be so honored to have my son feel so strongly about his country.
again, he is nowhere near making this decision for real... but it's got me thinking. i have a son. he's going to have to register for the draft. he's not going to be a boy for ever.
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Posted 7/28/08 11:26 PM  |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
 Congratulations on having such a terrific son!
I had that same gasp when my son told me the same thing last year. It's a mix of pride & OMG something could happen to you. I told my son he can't join the army until he doesn't miss the toilet when he pees. If he can't aim his "gun", he can't be a soldier.
Frankly, if women were running this war, we would be a lot better off...unless it was a war for the Vera Wang sample sale, that is.
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| Posted 7/29/08 7:11 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
It's not much different for parents of girls, either. Possibly harder. Even though (currently), females don't register for the draft, DD could still sign up and head off to war in 16 years....  This is honestly not something I've thought about yet. I'm still worrying about kindergarten, school sports, etc. I have no idea how to address that topic if it comes up....
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| Posted 7/29/08 7:54 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
do men have to register for the draft?
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| Posted 7/29/08 8:34 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by Blu-ize
do men have to register for the draft?
There is no draft at the moment. So no.
You are supposed to register for the Selected Service, but it is not enforced.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:20 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by Blu-ize
do men have to register for the draft?
Yup. On your 18th b-day (or close to it).... I'm registered....
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/defenseandsecurity/a/draftreg.htm
The Selective Service System wants you to know that the requirement to register for the military draft did not go away with the end of the Vietnam War. Under the law, virtually all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are ages 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service.
Since there is no draft currently in effect, and men are not being classified for service, disabled men, clergymen, and men who believe themselves to be conscientiously opposed to war must also register.
Penalties for Failure to Register for the Draft
Men who do not register could be prosecuted and, if convicted, fined up to $250,000 and/or serve up to five years in prison. In addition, men who fail to register with Selective Service before turning age 26, even if not prosecuted, will become ineligible for:
* Student Financial Aid - including Pell Grants, College Work Study, Guaranteed Student/Plus Loans, and National Direct Student Loans.
* U.S. Citizenship - if the man first arrived in the U.S. before his 26th birthday.
* Federal Job Training - The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) offers programs that can train young men for jobs in auto mechanics and other skills. This program is only open to those men who register with Selective Service.
* Federal Jobs - men born after December 31, 1959 must be registered to be eligible for jobs in the Executive Branch of the Federal government and the U.S. Postal Service.
In addition, several states have added additional penalties for those who fail to register.
http://www.sss.gov/ Selective Service web site
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:21 AM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
As a child of parents who came no where near supporting any of my dreams, even if they were a long time away, I say support him. when he is old enough to enroll and he feels strongly about it, he will only resent you for not supporting him.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:23 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by neener1211
Posted by Blu-ize
do men have to register for the draft?
There is no draft at the moment. So no.
You are supposed to register for the Selected Service, but it is not enforced.
ah..right.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:25 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by Blu-ize
Posted by neener1211
Posted by Blu-ize
do men have to register for the draft?
There is no draft at the moment. So no.
You are supposed to register for the Selected Service, but it is not enforced.
ah..right.
That's not true. It is very much enforced, and very much active. It is active and enforced so that if there IS a draft, everyone is already registered.
See my above post about the rules and punishments for not registering, including massive fines and jail time.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:27 AM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Blu-ize
Posted by neener1211
Posted by Blu-ize
do men have to register for the draft?
There is no draft at the moment. So no.
You are supposed to register for the Selected Service, but it is not enforced.
ah..right.
That's not true. It is very much enforced, and very much active. It is active and enforced so that if there IS a draft, everyone is already registered.
See my above post about the rules and punishments for not registering, including massive fines and jail time.
Any male that went to college is registered, unless he didn't need the financial aid.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:35 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Blu-ize
Posted by neener1211
Posted by Blu-ize
do men have to register for the draft?
There is no draft at the moment. So no.
You are supposed to register for the Selected Service, but it is not enforced.
ah..right.
That's not true. It is very much enforced, and very much active. It is active and enforced so that if there IS a draft, everyone is already registered.
See my above post about the rules and punishments for not registering, including massive fines and jail time.
Yes, I know that it is illegal not to register.
How did you know to register for it? I'm only asking because I don't know how guys find out about it. Does information come with a driver's liscense/voting registration or something?
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:37 AM |
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MarathonKnitter
HAPPY
Member since 2/07 17374 total posts
Name:
EMBRACING CHANGE
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by neener1211
Yes, I know that it is illegal not to register.
How did you know to register for it? I'm only asking because I don't know how guys find out about it. Does information come with a driver's liscense/voting registration or something?
if i remember correctly, it's part of the financial aid application. built right in. it's one of the million questions on the form.
wouldn't be surprised if it's on dmv paperwork, too.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:39 AM |
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IluvBo
NICKY & EVIE
Member since 6/05 3321 total posts
Name:
Rose
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
my son told me the same thing and as much as i wanted to say, "no" i supported him and told him that I would be there for him no matter what he decided to do but ultimately he's now decided that the army isn't the place for him, but that the police academy is and he wants to work with special victims (especially children) and make the world a better place.
basically what i'm saying is that, kids change their minds a zillion times, they are trying to find themselves. they just want to be reassured that we support them is all. don't worry, next week he'll want to be the next mario andredi
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:46 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by neener1211
Yes, I know that it is illegal not to register.
How did you know to register for it? I'm only asking because I don't know how guys find out about it. Does information come with a driver's liscense/voting registration or something?
High schools have the information, you get postcards in the mail, it's part of some college apps. They make sure you don't forget about it... 
More than half the high schools in the Nation have a staff member or teacher appointed as a Selective Service Registrar. These individuals help register male high school students.
http://www.sss.gov/QA.HTM
Why did I receive a registration reminder card at my home? How did Selective Service get my name?
Selective Service got your name from one of the many lists used to identify people who may be eligible to register. It may have been a driver's license list from a state Department of Motor Vehicles, a list from a Federal or state agency such as the Department of Education, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Department of Labor's JTPA or Job Corps Program, the Department of Defense's recruiting list, or from a high school list.
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:46 AM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
My biggest fear! but I would agree with the PP that they change their minds so many times. at 13 I really wanted to be an astronaut (seriously) and knew that I had to go into the military to do it. By 14/15 that was long forgotten.
if they say it at 16/17, that's when I will start to worry!
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| Posted 7/29/08 9:54 AM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10314 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by nrthshgrl
I told my son he can't join the army until he doesn't miss the toilet when he pees. If he can't aim his "gun", he can't be a soldier.
Sorry, but I love this statement
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| Posted 7/29/08 10:00 AM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
I'm kind of anti-war, so I think if I had a child say that to me, I would also offer alternatives for jobs in the government and political office where we make decisions regarding the policies of our nation using our heads and not our guns, and work to try to avoid sending any Americans to war to risk their lives.
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| Posted 7/29/08 11:21 AM |
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JenBenMen
party of five
Member since 9/06 11343 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
My brother signed himself in at 17!!! My parents were freaking out but there was nothing we could do.
He served overseas in Bosnia and now the Army is paying for his graduate school.
I know that the skills you learn in the military will help you in any job and IMO puts you steps way ahead than others in terms of respect....but I am still scared that he will be called in at any time
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| Posted 7/29/08 12:44 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Thank you for answering my question about how the information gets to you...
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| Posted 7/29/08 1:25 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: my son (13yo) asked to join the army...
Posted by neener1211
Thank you for answering my question about how the information gets to you...
I remember getting the info in the mail, and going down to the post office to register. That was a llllooooonnnnngggggg time ago. Now you can just go on-line and do it from home.
I was diabetic from age 13, so my mom and I both figured that there would be almost no chance of me being drafted, even if there was a draft. Diabetics don't fare well in combat situations..... I'm sure she worried about my brother when he had to register, though.
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| Posted 7/29/08 1:30 PM |
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