[masraum]

Originally Posted by Instrument 41

So knowing this, why do I have this inner apprehension/reservation about the whole thing? I can't put my finger of why or what is causing this feeling. Any one else have a son that joined the military and felt the same way?

I assume it's a combination of things like, "he's so smart and 'with it' that he could do more (college, etc...)" and/or "what if he ends up someplace dangerous and gets hurt."

You may not be thinking this consciously, but in the back of your mind someplace you could be thinking that the military is not the best use of what sounds like a great kid with the ability to do just about anything.

Or, maybe I'm completely off base.

I don't need flames about this, it's not my opinion or even necessarily the opinion of the OP. My dad was in the Navy, I considered going in the military, and think very highly of folks in the service. I don't think that they are less intelligent or anything like that. I know there are very smart and very capable people in the service. I think that the service probably needs more of them.

I'm just trying to answer the question above.