Option for Thai daughter-U.S. Army reserves

[dean]

My step daughter graduates this Wednesday from high school in Kansas City. While her English is better now than when she arrived here in October, she is going to the community college here next year to concentrate on learning english (the only subject that she took outside of english this year was P.E., art and math ;I don't think that she would do well in any subject that required a good knowledge of english in listening to lectures and reading books). I did get a call this week from a recruiter for the Army reserves. He said that, with a green card, all programs would be open to her except for the few that required clearance for classified material. More importantly, she would be eligible for the money given by the government for bonuses and college funds. That would be a big help financially. I am weighing the financial and skill development pluses from being in the army reserve versus the negatives, the biggest one being possibly having to serve in a war zone. I was wonering if anyone else has some experience with the reserves, either being in it it or having a family member in it.

[Flashermac]

Just be VERY SURE she signs up for a decent MOS (military occupation specialty). Recruiters have quotas to reach and will try to shove her into anything to get her to enlist. The Army Reserve is NOT what it was during the VN War, when it was a safe haven from ever going to a combat zone. The reserves nowadays are pulling just as much combat duty as the regulars. So are the National Guard, even though during VN the saying was NG means "never go".

 

I'd suggest the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard might be a better option. Probably have many more "safe" jobs. While the USAF does have some tough jobs, it is overall the closest thing to being a "civilian in uniform". Try for something she can use outside the military - e.g. electronics, photography, medical etc.

 

Recruiters contact all high school grads. Listen to what they say ... then judge carefully. The scholarship money the military offers is quite tempting - around $45,000 now if you sign up for it immediately. But beware of putting your foot into something you are not going to like.

 

Reserve obligations are for six years. With the shortage of personnel these days, you can end up spending a fair hunk of that on active duty. It's not just 6 months training and then attend meetings any more.

 

 

 

[Flashermac]

p.s. Just remembered ... if you are not a US citizen, you cannot be sent into a combat zone unless you agree to go. Even during the VN War, guys with a green card could be drafted - but not sent to Vietnam. I remember a Thai student who didn't know that (the Army isn't about to tell you!) and was ordered to RVN. He took his R&R in Bangkok with his family, which was nice. He later was wounded in action, which wasn't so nice.

 

Make a big note of this: [color:red]NON-US CITIZENS CANNOT BE SENT INTO A COMBAT ZONE AGAINST THEIR WILL.[/color]

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

Wouldn't it be better and not very expensive to just send her to a community college for a couple years? (She attends English classes already. More of that, and some courses that she may be able to handle at her current level of the language?)Rather than signing up a contract she'll be stuck with if she ends up hating it in the US Army? Most community colleges are inexpensive for a resident of the state (some nearly free in some states). Also, as a 'minority' she might be eligible for some assistance as well for schooling.

 

Maybe some part time community college courses while working part time as well to help with the finances?

[BillyJ]

Dean,

You didn't mention what your stepdaughter wants to do. Although the benefits look tempting it is far from easy money these days. As a 30 year veteran I have to say if she is not committed to this plan it could be a huge mistake that could have ramifications for many years to come.

B

[Flashermac]

I agree, BJ. Six years is a lot of one's life to commit at such an early age. Women in the military do not have a cushy life. That's why I suggested if at all, go Air Force.

 

I was an Army instructor in the 1990s. Before Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1992, the reserves were filled with people seeking easy money. That all changed when the reserves and NGs got called up and sent off to war. Suddenly, a lot of folks were looking for ways to get out. (We even had some O-3 regulars who tried to resign their commissions to keep from going!)

 

Physically, the Army is demanding even for a woman ... push ups, sit ups, a 2-mile run just to pass a PT test. If she is not very strong physically, definitely forget the Army and Marines.

 

Dean, when I was an undergrad, there were special scholarships for Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, women ... you name it. Seemed like there were scholarships for everyone except heterosexual, "European-Americans" like me. (That would have been "discriminatory".) See if you can find some Asian-American scholarships she might qualify for. Apply even if she doesn't think her grades are good enough. Somebody has to get them. I knew gals who got small scholarships simply because nobody else applied for them.

 

 

 

 

 

[Old Hippie]

I would advise against ANY front line force...Airforce, in the rear with the gear...Coast Guard etc should have the same benefits, and have less risk.

[dean]

She's definately going to Community College for at least one and probably 2 years. The money she could get for her education is tempting but being called to active duty isn't. I haven't as yet tried to sort out the scholarship money available to her. Fortunately for her (not me), since I didn't work for the last 3 years, as a family she would probably qualify to have a decent amount of her college paid for. I know that, going to school in Thailand, every third or fourth thursday, she would go to school in fatagues (sp) and go to some military related Thai exercize but I'm sure there is no relation between that and what would be expected of her in the U.S. reserves. Besides, she is on the small, skinny side and does have some problems with some of the exersizes in P.E. Basic training might be too much to get through with her physical makeup. I haven't talked to her yet but I think that I'll see what scholarship money is availabe first. I wish she hadn't graduated this spring and gone to high school another semester and just took english courses. She just isn't ready to take a diverse course of study in a university setting, without the help of an English Learning Language program, which she has in H.S. By the way, she does like both her art courses and food preparation courses, so maybe that might be her furure. Whatever makes her happy and can provide a decent financial future is fine with me.

[unit731]

Take her to air shows during the Summer months.

 

Take her to some military base nearby. Have some women IN the Reserves/Guard speak with her. Not the recruiter.

 

She has to be motivated and be able to make the committment. If she is not motivated then dump the idea.

 

The MOS is crucial to her happiness and success if she decides she wants to enter the military.

 

The Air Force is the best. Air National Guard/Reserves is OK.

 

There are size and weight requirements. Also, someone would have to sit down with her and discuss 'sexual harassment' to her. Being around young horney guys does pose certain situations and potential problems.

 

If she is willing then go for it.

[gobbledonk]

Having served 4 years in the Regular Army here in Oz, I really have to caution you against steering her in this direction unless she is personally committed to doing it.

 

The best piece of advice I was ever given was at the recruiting office - an old Sergeant said that the Army was for people who liked team sports, particularly contact sports. Right through recruiting, on exercise and in barracks, I was reminded of this time and again. It sounds cliched and I guess it is, but not everyone can sublimate their own personality to the extent that living with a bunch of jocks is a desirable state of affairs, but I found that the most successful women in the Army were pretty much 'males with female genitalia'. Regardless of your specialisation, you are first and foremost a grunt - why they allow women to serve in the Army is beyond me : it can only be misplaced political correctness.

 

I second the earlier suggestions that your daughter look a lot more seriously at Air Force-related roles, or even Navy/Coast Guard - still boys clubs, but generally with less emphasis on lifting heavy weights and marching 15km with a 40kg pack. Working out in a gym to keep fit is very different to repeatedly hammering your knees, back and ankles : I saw plenty of medically-unfit grunts in my brief time in the baggy green.