Thank you for sharing this.
Glad you introduced us to him.
I hope that we can maintain a culture in the military that allows people like George to, well, happen. I wonder if that is still true, or to what extent.
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like an awesome person.
Jesus Christ.
Well over 1 million people may have been affected by what went on for decades at Camp Lejeune, including thousands of children and thousands more people who never served in the military. The worst part is, as the article touches on, Camp Lejeune is very likely NOT an isolated case. U.S. military bases all over the world could be in just as bad, possibly worse shape, and the cover up could be massive.
I didn’t know The Atlantic was in the video making business, but I’m glad this made this beautiful video.
https://twitter.com/starsandstripes/status/1045555453755830272?s=19
The F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet, the U.S. military’s most expensive weapon ever produced, was used Thursday for the first time in a combat mission, striking a Taliban target in Afghanistan, defense officials said.
The Marine Corps’ F-35B variant of the aircraft carried out the strike on a static target in support of ground clearance operations after flying from the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship now positioned in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, according to statements from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the Marine Corps. The ground force commander deemed the strike successful, according to the statements.
In May, Israel announced its air force had used the F-35 to strike multiple targets in the Middle East, marking the fighter jet’s first combat use.
This just in: flying advanced military aircraft is dangerous. Do not try this at home.
Note: that’s pronounciated Bew-fort (SC), not Bow-fort (NC).
Did someone say Beaufort?
I’m not sure P&R is the best place for this, but I know there are a number of veterans here so I’ll just lay it out there…
My oldest son, who struggled at West Virginia University but is pretty damn smart, met with a Naval recruiter today. He spent time talking with the guy about his options if he enlists and what he could potentially be able to do. Given he was in the engineering program at WVU and his math and science is strong while his ability to stay on task there was not (probably gaming was his issue… sigh) the recruiter was telling him they’re in desperate need of nuclear engineers and on the practice test he scored high enough that he’s already close enough to probably get in the A track with a little studying before taking the ASVAB. He’s looking at a six year commitment with two years of school/boot camp (I guess…) and four years of service on an aircraft carrier or submarine, etc.
They’re also talking about a signing bonus if he qualifies that’s five figures and very good. He’s got WVU loans he’s paying slowly now and it would cover that easily with some to spare if he chose that option to wipe away the debt.
Obviously, this is maybe not the best time in recent history to be serving given the guy at the top, and that concerns me, but I do see that this is a really good option for my son and three years ago I would’ve said to do it without hesitation. Now I guess I’m hoping my liberal leanings would inform his ability to serve us all.
Give me what you got, Qt3. I know many of you can comment. Pie in the sky recruiting or realistic possibilities? He’s 20 years old.
Growing up as a civilian surrounded by military brats overseas, I can tell you a lot of kids followed their parents footsteps into the military. It’s not a bad option, if you can get them to pay for school, and have you start out as an officer.
I know I was heavily recruited in high school until it came out that I took Ritalin to control my ADHD. Then the calls stopped.
None the less, if you love socialism, the military is the place to be!
That being said, besides an Uncle, I have almost 0 experience with the Navy. Almost everyone I know came from and went into the Army or the Airforce.
It’s a big decision and not a bad when during peace.
I’ll agree with legowarrior - not a bad option for many people. However, that signing bonus will have some fine print so keep that in mind (for instance, if he doesn’t get his security clearance and therefore can’t get the gig, he loses it). In addition, it’s really a commitment and I’d be slightly worried if follow-through was a struggle for him in college. But then again, people grow into themselves at different times, and if he’s somehow instinctively feeling this is good, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand.
He should only do it if he wants to be in the Navy, that is, live on a ship far from home and make many other sacrifices in service to his country.
That said, my wife teaches at a university and she always says ex-military make the best students; they know why they are doing what they are doing.
Does he do college first and come in as an ensign, or does he come in as enlisted?
Air Force vet here.
- Don’t believe the recruiter (meaning stay skeptical and follow up on everything he/she says if possible).
- Along the same lines, anything the recruiter says will happen after you join, will probably not happen unless you have it in writing before joining. Meaning… if you want a specific MOS (job) then make sure you have that in writing before you sign on the line that is dotted. None of this "Don’t worry, we’ll get that job secured while you’re in boot camp nonsense). Don’t believe them when they tell you its easy to become an officer after you enlist. Again, anything promised to happen after you enlist is pie in the sky bullshit. Don’t believe it.
- Go talk to the Air Force recruiter. I got to go sleep for a night on the USS Midway in San Diego with my son’s cub scout pack and I would not wish multiple years of that on my worst enemy.
- Investigate what that 2 years of training entails. Sometimes its on the job and sometimes its bootcamp 2.0. The jobs that take multiple years of training can be intense. Its not college. Its 8 hours of the same subject day after day. There is studying and there is testing and there are consequences for falling behind.
I got taught software development by the Air Force and got my bachelors while enlisted. I was enlisted for 4 years. Joined as a aimless 18 year old with no experience in anything and left to get a 60k/yr (in 1998 dollars) job as a developer with professional experience. It was a good experience for me.
I don’t think I have much to add other than what is stated here already. Get a guaranteed naval rate and school in writing. The recruiter should be able to give him a guaranteed contract if his ASVAB is high enough.
I know two guys who were on subs. They really didn’t like it. One was a nuke. He ended up working HVAC. The other was a cook who is now a harbor master in San Francisco. Make of that what you will.
This is par for the course. I was a Fire Controllman when I went in the Navy at 19. Good rate, good schools, good bonus. Radars and weapons systems.
After I got out, I then went to college and studied subjects that had NOTHING to do with that. Then when I went back in the military later I went in the Army and what I did there had nothing to do with what I did in the Navy.
The Navy helped pay for college.
Tis rare the 19 year old who knows exactly what they want to do for the next 25 years at 19.