My One-and-Only Son, yesterday.... went back for his MEPS in DTLA earlier this week, got cleared, and also sworn-in (Eek!) to the US Air Force!
It's a... "Unique" feeling to be in. On the one hand, it's military service, so there's always that "chance" something bad can happen. And I had to wait a DAMN LONG TIME for him to come into being (he was born when I was 38yo). And as I like to say "I know my luck." (Bad) So that aspect... will forever have me feeling nervy while he's in there.
But, I've been trying to console myself with the thought that, he's got my genes in him, so they'll know from his ASVABS (sp?) he's not stupid, and he's on the slim, string-bean (water-polo players body type) side... so I'm pretty sure they'll see that he is of greatest use in some other kind of role besides combat.
At the very least... it'll be "fun" seeing him have that rude-awakening to the way you have to hold-in letting your discontentment about the current situation unfolding in front of you show, when it's superiors that you're interacting with.
In the times he's invoked that kind of a nerve in me... and I've had to step outside of being "Dad" for a second here and there and check him on stuff, occasionally harshly. I kept reminding him how he has NO IDEA how much he's going to have to learn to just sit there and shut-up and suck it up when he's in that enlisted situation. So it should be amusing to see how this aspect rapidly causes him to grow-up and mature more, in terms of holding his tongue on the replies.
Feel free to chime-in to this thread with little tidbits of info I should probably know about, and prepare for. Thanks.
It's a... "Unique" feeling to be in. On the one hand, it's military service, so there's always that "chance" something bad can happen. And I had to wait a DAMN LONG TIME for him to come into being (he was born when I was 38yo). And as I like to say "I know my luck." (Bad) So that aspect... will forever have me feeling nervy while he's in there.
But, I've been trying to console myself with the thought that, he's got my genes in him, so they'll know from his ASVABS (sp?) he's not stupid, and he's on the slim, string-bean (water-polo players body type) side... so I'm pretty sure they'll see that he is of greatest use in some other kind of role besides combat.
At the very least... it'll be "fun" seeing him have that rude-awakening to the way you have to hold-in letting your discontentment about the current situation unfolding in front of you show, when it's superiors that you're interacting with.
In the times he's invoked that kind of a nerve in me... and I've had to step outside of being "Dad" for a second here and there and check him on stuff, occasionally harshly. I kept reminding him how he has NO IDEA how much he's going to have to learn to just sit there and shut-up and suck it up when he's in that enlisted situation. So it should be amusing to see how this aspect rapidly causes him to grow-up and mature more, in terms of holding his tongue on the replies.
Feel free to chime-in to this thread with little tidbits of info I should probably know about, and prepare for. Thanks.
