My 18 year old daughter wants to join the Air Force...

[x-g.o.p.er]

and be a pilot "just like you, daddy." That would be me, and I have never felt so sad in my life. I am pleased she looks up to me and thinks what I do is worthy of a career she would want to do, but I don't want her to be fodder for the war machine.

I am reaping what I have sown, and I am devastated.

[MrSoundAndVision]

1. well tell her why it's wrong

Lt.

[4morewars]

2. god help us all....

maybe this iraq mess will be over by the time she is ready for combat? Also, most kids her age change "what i wanna be when i grow up" like 4 times a day !!! hang in there

[x-g.o.p.er]

11. True, they change their minds more than the wind changes,

but she seems pretty determined about this. It just seems like yesterday she was playing with Barbie's.

[Red_Viking]

3. Take some solace

...in the fact she respects and admires you so much. Since she obviously holds you in such high esteem, she'll listen when you explain your concerns.

The bottom line is: she'll have to make her own decision. Give her your wisdom and let it guide her.

My nephew just joined the Army. I'm terribly worried about him. So I feel your pain.

Good luck!

And, thanks for your service to our country. I appreciate your dedication and courage.

:dem:

RV

[Earth_First]

4. Comming from a Veteran...

I wish you all the best in accepting her decision, whatever the outcome may be. I'm sure she is a very bright, well-educated individual, and I know you're behind her every step of the way. Godspeed, friend...

[NewHampster]

5. Be proud of the woman you've raised

Respect her, love her and help her.

IMHO

[Insider]

6. my father cried when i told him

i had already signed up for the army. only second time i had seen him cry (1st when his mother died). he said "you are no killer, and that's what they expect...killers"

love her, guide her, and then let her do her thing. anyway, the air force is cool, right? :D

edit for typo

[x-g.o.p.er]

8. My dad cried when I joined up, tpp

The Air Force is cool when compared to the other branches. I just worry for her safety if she actually does this.

[DarkPhenyx]

19. I think all Dad's cry.

I didn't see mine do it, but Mom tells me he did.

[DarkPhenyx]

7. First, her desire isn't wrong.

Wanting to serve her country should be encouraged, not discouraged.

Second: There is absolutely nothing you did during your service which would cause you to lose your daughter as "fodder to the war machine".

She needs to hear your reasons for why you would be happier for her to not serve her country in this way. Be logical. Emotional reasons aren't it. Well, in this case they may actually help. Don't tell her she's making a mistake, simply show her why it may not be the wisest choice. Offer alternate ways of "serving".

If she still shooses to sign up? Hold her hand, cry where she can't see, and we'll all offer support and "prayer" in our own way.

[x-g.o.p.er]

9. Thanks for the advice...

It's difficult not to be emotional. But you have some very good points. Thanks

[DarkPhenyx]

13. Absolutely no problem.

You are more than welcome. As an officer in the military I am furious with how our troops are being abused at the moment, but I still believe very strongly in serving your country in whatever manner you choose. Military, America Corps, Red Cross...hell, get your Ham Radio License and volunteer during domestic crisis'.

[DrWeird]

10. Fighting in Iraq is wrong and should be discouraged.

There's nothing about fighting in Iraq that serves the country.

[DarkPhenyx]

12. Rhetoric and blather

in this instance we are talking about serving our country...not fighting in Iraq. PLease stay focused and help our fellow DU'er.

[Broadslidin]

16. Together, Visit a V.A. Hospital As Soon As Possible.

This is definitely not the right time for joining
our empire's military and for what....
protecting U.S. corporate interests which are roaming
unregulated like predators throughout the world.

[DarkPhenyx]

18. Unless you honestly believe Bush will get re-elected...

...then she won't even see service before he's out.

[Pax Argent]

14. If it happens I wouldn't be very upset; the Air Force does a lot of good

Yes, they drive bombers and fighters, but they also drive the transports that we use to supply relief to countries in need and supply the pilots used by NASA (I believe) to explore space. I believe that females typically become non-combat pilots so she wouldn't likely be one of the ones dropping bombs.

I've worked with Air Force folks for the better part of ten years and I think that you'd be hard-pressed to find a better group of folks to work with, from the blue-suiters on the flight line to the folks with the bars. If she is bent on the Air Force, you could do far worse.

[x-g.o.p.er]

24. It's not that I don't think military service isn't admirable...

It is, I've got over 17 years in. It's just that she's the type of smart and compassionate that she could really change the world for the better, or be the head of her own company. Not that I'm biased or anything....

[WitchWay]

15. Try to explain to her

You could try to explain to her about the military/industrial complex, about the war machine, about American imperialism. If she looks up to you, she should appreciate your advice and knowledge.

I'm sure she's a great kid! She's thinking of her country and her career, and that's admirable. I don't think 18 year olds are very old. This is due to the fact that schools tend to keep kids in a naive state, and uninformed about many important issues. I think that sometimes schools make kids sort of helpless, by avoiding discussion of controversial issues and world affairs.

It's just so hard for young folks to understand things that take a great deal of time, wisdom, age and knowledge to understand.

Please, its not too late to discuss things with your daughter. Even if she still wishes to join, she should have some more thought on her choice. If you are unable to do this directly, for some reason -- you could try to point her to people to talk to, books to read, news articles, other media sources, or discussion boards. If she does join, than she could understand and be informed of all the complexities and issues. I think she'd appreciate it, and feel that she was making her decision with all information. Whatever choice she makes, it will be from an informed perspective.

[CRK7376]

17. Best if Luck

I'm career Army and fortunately my kids, oldest is 15, are not that interested in joining the military yet...Hopefully it will stay that way. Though the few times the questions have come my way I've encouraged them to go AF rather then my SOF route. Maybe its got something to do with long deployments to Korea, Afghanistan, and other quirky little places that seldom get press....Serving one's country is admirable, got me too, but there are other ways to serve America. Best of luck with your daughter.

[MrScorpio]

20. Try to give her all the benefit of your experience in the service

In the end, the choice is hers.

Support and love her regardless of her decision.

Remember, our current CinC won't be in office forever.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Tell her the truth about war

Tell her about other ways to serve her country and the people around her.

[Logansquare]

22. Bless her for wishing to serve

but now is not the time to join our armed forces. Tell her she can do it when she's through with college; maybe things will be sane again in four years.

[x-g.o.p.er]

25. She wants to go ROTC...

and then to pilot training, which will take a fair amount of time, about 3-4 years (she will graduate HS with an Associate's Degree).

Hopefully, by then, this madness will be a memory. I just think it will be same story, different country, though.

[IronLionZion]

26. Kerry will be commander in chief by then

so she's not going to kill arabs for Bush to get rich. The air force is cool. I'm considering it myself. much safer than the army and marines.

support her no matter what she decides. Remember that we need good people in the military.

[Generic Other]

23. Read about the Air Force Academy scandals before sending

your daughter in harm's way.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/story/0,9171,1101030310-428045,00.html

[Skittles]

27. I was an Air Force gal when I was 18

but it was a different world during the Carter administration. Times were so boring I could feel my hair growing. I could not recommend the military until this disgusting band of thugs is through occupying the White House and the Iraq situation has some sort of resolution.

[x-g.o.p.er]

28. I sooooo agree

[DemExpat]

29. 2 years ago my son was talking like this too......

he is now 20.....

I was terrified too. I would explain to your daughter that joining the military under these idiotic thugs is not the thing to do, in your most humble opinion...

Best of luck to you all,

DemEx