Well, I've made up my mind for sure and it's time to tell the parents. But here is the issue; they are very against me joining the military. Does anyone know of some good links with parental FAQ's or have some advice on how to break the news to them?

First you need to formulate a grand master plan...

Go to the Army recruiter and pick up all the recruiting brochures you can fit in your pocket. Strategically place them around your parents house.

Start wearing cammo and speak only in acronyms. When they ask you if you are planning on joining the Army look shocked, then tuck and roll under the dining room table and belly crawl into the living room.

Keep this up for a couple of weeks.

Once they're good and paranoid, sit down and watch the Guardian with them. Afterwards coyly insinuate how awesome it would be to join the Coast Guard. They'll practically beg you to join!



Or you can explain to them that joining the CG is your decision to make and you need them to support you and your decisions, no matter if they like the military or not..

to the master plan! Most appealing plan yet! *imagines the plan at work...* *finds cammo*

quote:

Originally posted by Mammelli:
Well, I've made up my mind for sure and it's time to tell the parents. But here is the issue; they are very against me joining the military. Does anyone know of some good links with parental FAQ's or have some advice on how to break the news to them?

Go to the Coast Guard Fact File page:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/comrel/factfile/index.htm

Print out some of the data on lives and property saved, etc...

Print out everything you can find on the GI bill and tuition assistance.

The point being is you want to have answers ready when you sit down with your parents. It will also show them you have put the effort into researching the Coast Guard and are serious about it.

Once you have all your ducks in a row, have a sit down and let them know what you want to do. Explain why you want to join. Answer their questions the best you can and listen to their input.

Most parents I have met are interested in their kids making good decisions for the right reasons, and once they see you are serious, and have a good understanding of what you are getting yourself into, they will most likely go along. Not that they will be happy, but hopefully they won’t fight you on it. Most recruiters will be happy to sit down with your parents and answer any questions they have.

Some parents are just plain anti-military and nothing you say will help. If that is the case just be honest and respectful.

When I talk to people that want to join and I get answers like "I want to drive around on a cool boat and bust druggies", I tell them to spend some more time thinking about what they want out of life. When someone tells me they want to part of something important, help save lives, protect the American people and serve their country, I have all the time in the world to for them.

Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by Mammelli:
Well, I've made up my mind for sure and it's time to tell the parents. But here is the issue; they are very against me joining the military. Does anyone know of some good links with parental FAQ's or have some advice on how to break the news to them?

When I told my parents, I thought my mom was going to have a complete breakdown! Of course, this was because she knew nothing about the Coast Guard. She just assumed that I was joining the military, and they were going to send me off to the desert with a rifle in my hands.....which is ironic because that is where I am headed in a few months haha. However, once I sat down and explained to her about the CG's many missions, and places I could be stationed...she was a lot more understanding. And, although she has never been really "happy" about the idea, she was proud that I made such a commitment to help others. And it makes me proud to be able to tell her what I have done at the end of the day.....although I know what details to leave out LOL! GOOD LUCK!

Matt

Aye, follow what bfayer suggested because when I first decided to explain my decision to my family I had three runs to go through: my parents, my uncle, and my grandparents. We're a tight nit bunch so they were asking all the questions they could think of to find out more.

Besides knowing the information, like the statistics and such, also tell them about what kind of ratings YOU are interested in. Explain to them how striking works or if your recruiter has mentioned a garunteed A school, the benefits starting, and what kind of involvement you can expect once you're in. Outline a path that you would like to follow throughout the Coast Guard, a general guideline that can give them a better look into this other world without having done any research.

I was surprised to find that my family, although anxious and frowning at the beginning, in the end agreed and supported me. Now I've gone through Meps, got an AFQT of 85 and am filling out the second bit of paper work. So essentially I'm right where you are ^.^

Prayforsurf

That was truly funny, not much makes me laugh out loud on this board.