graduated when I was 49. Later that year a marine recruiter gave me a call to sign me up. I sounded all excited and ready to pack my tooth brush and go. I think he was already counting his bonus. Then he asked for some details, like year of birth. I said 1949 and he kind of lost interest.

we went to our granddaughter's high school for an open house thingy. I was appalled to see tables set up just outside the entrance with uniformed military recruiters hoping to talk to the high school kids that evening. Asked my husband just who is it that allows this crap? Made me sick. Bring it if you care to . . .

I do not want our sons to serve either college or apprenticeship through union trades.

Just how I feel

20 years active duty that opened the door for another opportunity to serve another 22 years in a civil service military related skill which allowed me to directly support and work with other's sons and daughters in the field. Often ran into the sons and daughters whose parents I served when they were just kids. Almost 80 now but I still feel like I am serving.

but my point is recruiting on a public high school property should not be allowed. If a kid wants to join there are plenty of ways to learn about doing that besides having it thrown at you on your high school grounds.

These last two decades for our fine troops has been a cluster and I don’t want my boys ever under a rucksack I chose infantry just see if I could do it.

Weight, water and cold. I’ve experienced all three.

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He lives 4 houses down from me.

He couldn't get a job because he grew up in a depressed area, and the Navy was his opportunity to get out of his hometown and establish a career. He married and used living expense money off-base, still hits the commissary (subsidized) and exchange (just tax free) to buy stuff for friends and family. I think one of his kids used his GI Bill for education. I believe he said he is on 50% pension and now works for a government-funded defense contractor. I'm not sure what their health care coverage is. He even got his kid a job at the navy yard. He gets $250 off on his property taxes. Never served a day of combat.

He is a typical Libertarian--the guy who plugs himself into every available program, and views everything he taps into a justified, while viewing programs he can't tap into some form of tax that he's paying others to enjoy. He goes around and calls everyone who works in government a socialist. He kept his mouth shut when his three kids were in school and now that the last graduated high school several years ago, he's calling for reducing education funding, teacher salaries and staff levels, like they weren't already cut to the bone already. He's calling for township workers to be fired, because they aren't essential. His police officer neighbor, who is also a bagger is going the same thing. He cries that he's paying too much in taxes for the township workers.

I mentioned several times to both that they are the socialist takers that they keep complaining about and hate, and that really sets them off because they both have a litany of excuses as to why their income streams and history of living on taxpayer-funded salaries are warranted, and how everyone else working in government aren't.

I have no problem with military careers and other workers, and while shorter stints are common, you need the older career people to actually run the show. My immediate neighbor is ex-defense contractor who entered from the civilian route (never in the military). He is a mild Trumper (as in we never really had it out because he's not an overt asshole) and did quite well with his government contract gigs and has a similar view as the guys down the street. That guy was pushing that anti-vax bullshit while at the same time ferociously trying to get the vaccine for both his wife and he. They were calling every day and crashed the vaccine lines a couple of times until someone admitted them. Then they were boasting that they got the vaccine to me, while still telling others it was a hoax, but they did it because they were in their 70s and just wanted to be sure.

I have a problem with people who justify their taxpayer-funded jobs while decrying others and especially those who are actively trying to eliminate other people's jobs.

I don't get how they view their jobs and value different from everyone else and have such animus against others.

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really great ones to offset these you described.

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I just don't want a neighbor that starts fights, makes life difficult or rats out their other neighbors or me.

The other neighbors are nice, and luckily those MAGAts are a several houses down.

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My favorite face palm bumper sticker: Keep the gov't's hands off my social security. I know the proud owner never spent a day in the service. In fact an overwhelming majority of the Republican party has that mind set. "I got mine; screw you." They don't make up the bulk of VFW or American Legion membership. He's a mild Trumper? I rest my case.

Contrary to popular belief, service personnel (one and done, career or retired) are not cloned in a secret site in Nevada. We're individuals and one size does not fit all. Further, civie world had as much if not more influence on our individuality as the service. I submit your acquaintance is a retail asshole and has been long before he rolled off the bus at Port Not The End of the Earth, but You Can See It from Here.

As for your question about his health care, if he isn't on it already, he's eligible for Tricare for Life. It's a sweet deal; a deal everyone in this country should have. Uncle fully pays any essential health care. Can't get a face lift or tummy tuck on his dime, but keeping you alive and in reasonably good health, yes. Not sure about his family's eligibility.

Parents should worry about. At least they are out in the open. It’s the MAGA type recruiters, Proud Boys, One Percenters, White Nationalist, and right wing militias in the dark corners of the net, that most high schoolers see everyday. Not occasionally at a High School Career day.
I served in the Navy, during Vietnam. I joined, draft number 324. Best thing I ever did. But, I see the point. Where the GQP and Fox is taking this country now and the brain dead’s licking it all up, I would not give a day of service to it or a single one of them. Serving under coward Trump and “HIS” generals, what a joke. Look at how many insurrectionist were vets and even active. Military can do young people great, it now can breed hate and cultish gun fanatics looking for war here. Just my opinion.

without any real direction. I joined the Navy on a whim (Vietnam was still going on so Army wasn't too desirable). Did 4 years, came out with GI Bill (college, home ownership), and some of the best friends a man could have.
Be nice to those recruiters - they've put a lot of kids on a good path.

I graduated High School with minimal chance at a decent job in the town I grew up in, so I enlisted in the Marines, much to the chagrin of my father, and spent 35 years as a Combat Engineer operating heavy equipment except for a 2 year stint with the Marine Security Forces.

I have never once regretted my decision, except for the time spent away from my family.

When I was young, my plan was always to join the Marines when I graduated high school. I fully expected to sign on the dotted line the day that I went to the Marine recruiting office. The recruiter told me repeatedly how they were going to make me a killer. They were going to make me tough and make me a killer. Before signing anything, I went next door to the Air Force recruiting office to see what they had to offer. That guy talked about life after the military. About the education that I would be getting in the Air Force and that I'd be able to use that education as a civilian once I got out. I did six years in the Air Force where I was trained as a meteorologist. I did work 10 years in the weather industry as a civilian.

Isn't it funny how a salesman can change your mind about a product just that quickly.

Speaking of teaching, how’s little Duncan’s training coming along?

I always tell people to check out other branches and get a career field that you can get a job.

That was the only recruiter we had in our town. I never even thought of joining another service.

I stood out in rain, snow or sinking into mud and all I was thinking was, "They're making the same pay"