Men crying.

[whaywardj]

Hell. Tears once came to my eyes while watching an old ATT "Reach Out And Touch Someone" TV commercial. I was having a very bad week.

[Bluevetteracer]

Yes, point taken in turn. On the whole, though, I'd much rather see that than to hear either of them say, "Oops!"

Oh. Speaking of pilot, I just realized something. I might wanna pick your brain on a subject, if you're willing. It appears my son has decided to enlist in the Army at the somewhat late age of 26. Turns out, he qualifies for WO after basic (88 percentile AFQT score). Not having 20-20, he's looking at helicopters. Meanwhile, the recruiter is all over him. I'm telling him recruiters are a step above used car salesmen and not to sign anything until he's PERFECTLY clear on what they're promising him and has it in writing. He's saying, "Yeah, dad," but I can tell he's ignoring me (What else is new between kids and their parents?) and itching to get on with it.

Care to pass along anything you're aware of he might want to know BEFORE he commits? PM or here is fine. Thanks in advance, man.

I will help all I can, but I am running out the door, and need more time then I have now to help you.

Until Tonight.

[vashti]

It appears my son has decided to enlist in the Army at the somewhat late age of 26..

I hope you are okay with that. I know I'd be crying, for sure.

[Bluevetteracer]

I hope you are okay with that. I know I'd be crying, for sure.

Commy

[vashti]

Commy

No, just a parent. Besides, I prefer pinko-commie.



War monger.

[Bluevetteracer]

Wayward, I will go over all I know about W.O programs and the Army.

Ranking (From Army Site)

Enlisted Personnel Ranks
Once Recruits complete their Basic Military Training, they attain the rank of Private. Enlisted personnel form the basic foundation of the Army's manpower. These ranks are worn on both sleeves. Shown here are the Lance Corporal and Corporal ranks. Privates and Recruits do not wear ranks on their sleeves.

Warrant Officer Ranks
Warrant Officers are Specialists who have distinguished themselves with their dedication and professionalism. With more than 10 years of service, they are the most experienced personnel in the Army. Because they are given Officer-type duties, their ranks are worn on the epaulettes. They have similar responsibilities and authority as Junior Officers.

Officers
Officers wear bars on their epaulettes. Commanding platoons or companies of men, they oversee the execution of orders and ensure the welfare of the men under their command. They are most important in small-unit combat, and earn the respect of their men by leading by example. As exemplary soldiers, they bring their men into action with dedication and energy.

Now, To be an officer in any Branch you have to have a 4 year degree, testing, accepted, etc. Not sure if the Army has changed this but the Navy/Marines and the Air force is dead set on a 4 year degree to be an Officer.

To be a Warrant officer, you need not have a 4 year degree, but some college is usually needed, as the spots are sought after. The Army is the only branch that allows Non Commissioned Officers (Warrant Officers) to fly.

Which is a good deal for guys with their stuff together, and no degree to get into the cockpit. The slots are not given away, and Warrant officer School is actually tougher then OCS (Officer Candidate School). They make the Warrant officers work harder I guess??

A Warrant Officer basically has many of the privileges of an Officer, but without the salute. They work closely with other officers, and are basically treated as one, but still call the Officers "SIR".

Now, on to the recruiters.

They are one step below used car salesman. Officer recruiters are different, they are still on the shady side, but they are senior enlisted so a tad better to deal with. Even though the term Officer is with Warrant Officer does not afford them the better recruiters, he will have to enlist. Do not let him go down there alone, they will gang up, pressure him, and he will sign. GO with him.

Before your son signs anything, GET IT IN WRITING, I cannot say that hard enough. Is this active Army or a Guard unit?

Helicopter training is very very expensive, and the military is about the only route a guy can go to get some good time, in good equipment, and get a job when he gets out.

I am not sure what the commitment is, BUT for Officers and I am guessing a Warrant officer as well, your commitment BEGINS after you get your wings.

So in my case, I had a minimum of 6 years AFTER flight school, which was 2 years long. After that my Re-Upping is on my terms. So if they offer him a helo slot, here is what his schedule may look like. (It has been a while since I checked this stuff out)

Basic Training - 8-9 weeks
Warrant Officers School - 12 weeks (Be in good shape)
Flight School 12-14 months
Commitment starts 4 years maybe 6?

So at least 5 years, maybe 7.

Not bad for a million dollars worth of training.

Now, if he is 26, this may be his only option, unless he has a 4 year degree. If he has a degree, then go in as an Officer, without a doubt.

And on another note, the war will be just about down to a flicker when he gets out of flight school. Notice that the only thing that gets shot down is helo's? There low and slow, and make a good small arms target.

With any luck he will get stationed in Germany, that would be a great place to spend 4 years. Really, if he is single, and ready, it is a lifetime of experiences. He will get to fly some cool toys, go to the beer hall in Frankfurt, and when he grows up, he can get a decent civilian job.

Remember get it in writing, his entire list of schools, etc. Where he gets based will be out of his hands, somewhat. Top of the flight class gets to pick first. BUT if there are 8 of you, and 8 orders for Iraq, it does not matter how well you did. Now, if there are 2 orders for Germany, 1 stateside, and 5 for the sandbox, then doing well would help him out. You don't know what the orders are until near graduation from flight school. And again, remember this THE NEEDS OF THE ARMY.

If you can think of anything else let me know.

[Unity]

But what about people with emotional problems and mental illnesses? I my self am not the wellest of people and find it hard enough getting through life without all the emotional problems I have on top of that. Already being so restricted, it makes it hard to concentrate on not doing something, when the only thing going through your mind is the pain and stress you're suffering.

This is a topic I had concidered starting my self, as I find it very hard to control my emotions. Whether it be happiness, sadness or even anger. It makes you look and seem more insecure than you are, which insedently makes you more insecure.

I being a very emotional person, find it hard not to shed a tear during sad movies. I tend to get so involved in the story and so attatched to the characters that I feel the emotions more than others. So again under this topic it makes you more insecure and paranoid about your self.

I'd personaly like to think it's okay for a man to cry, but the fact of people saying that you shouldn't cry makes it harder to understand. I mean, I don't just randomly burst out and cry, but when I'm in a situation where others would be able to control it, like getting hit, or a broken heart, or even sad movies, I can't.

Even talking about it now makes me sad, as it's something in my life I've always had problems with, on top of everything else I go through. I just don't understand why I should be led to believe that I should suffer more than I already go through, by trying not to do something that's a part of what makes me me.

[whaywardj]

It's not a matter of changing anything. It's a matter of re-directing the forces of the feelings to less problematic channels. One feeling at a time. One moment at a time. One who is sad doesn't suddenly become happy. He just learns how to manage his sadness in a different way. If it's in your nature, it never goes away. Things just get added to it -- like adding rooms to a house -- until, over time, it becomes almost unrecognizable as what it once was. In general, IMO, one who learns to manage his more distressing feelings in new, more productive ways acquires what others might see as a stately demeanor. That demeanor is often a sign of the terrible emotional geographies a person has traversed. And it isn't "stately" at all, really. It's more a reflection of the complexity of the psychological "machinery" a person has created to guide this feeling or that feeling from one direction to another. Not quite "armoring," or "repression" or "denial," but dangerously close them and things of their ilk.

[jaslovesant]

I've seen my boyfriend cry twice one I understand and the other I don't. He cried when his good friend died, and I understand that. Then he cried when his football club was relegated - which i found funny and pathetic. Yet he don't cry over me.

[bluesummer]

I agree with the 'time and place' point, but should point out that should apply to women as well. Nothing annoys me more than some silly female blubbering over her problems at an inappropriate time or place and assuming no one minds because she's a woman. Get ahold of yourself.