Another off topic subject, but I dropped my youngest son off at the recruiters office today to be shipped off to basic training. I know he is going to be ok and its the best thing that a young person can do, but its a very emotional day. How many of you have sent your kids off to the military and how did you deal with the "empty nest syndrome"

I haven't sent my kids off. My girls wont even look a recruiter in the eyes! but I have been there (in his shoes!).He's going to be fine. And he will be a better man for it, he will maybe get some college money out of it and move on, or he may make it a career. Either way, it's something to be proud of for both of you! Good luck to him.

Mr. Ferry, I never saw my dad cry until the day he dropped me off at the train station to go to lovely Ft. Leonard Wood, Misery, the garden spot of the Ozarks.

The year was 1961 and fortunately, for a short time, we weren't fighting anyone. This was a really great thing because the US Army had the absolute worst military training in the entire planetary system. Our training was geared for the lowest common denominator which was one step below Girl Scout Brownies.

Things were different back then. Almost everyone HAD to join. Your son will be fine. Not only will he come back a more mature adult but he will actually be trained in something that might prove useful.

On the other hand, if you need some bridges blown up, I'm your man.

There are 10 years between our oldest and our youngest so the "empty nest syndrome" for us is a long weekend. If the kids or grandkids are not at our house, they are on the phone. If you're really lonesome, come out to Mequon. You'll get over that in a hurry.

I'm a multi tour combat vet myself. He's going to be just fine. Basic will test his physical and mental abilities, but in the end he'll be just fine. I've been taking advantage of the schooling and almost done with two degrees, and used my VA home loan to buy my first house just this last December. Sure I went through [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] for a while, but I've made some closer than blood brothers, and have a solid plan for mine and my kids futures. Make sure you write at least twice a week with words of encouragement and support, and that will get him through the hard days and nights.

Wonderful Ft Lost in the Woods, Misery. By any chance were you an engineer?

Dad couldn't be there to see me off. I suspect his experiences in Southeast Asia had something to do with that. It really hit me hard though when the recruiter picked me up and mom was crying as she hugged me good bye. It dawned on me that she had already sent one to the army and it couldn't be easy on her.
A few months later it I with tears in my eyes when I marched past my mother who had come to see me graduate basic.

David, I am probably the worst Combat Engineer on the planet. I make Beetle Bailey look like G.I. Joe! The only thing I did well was shoot and I learned that in high school.

I dropped my son off last year. I did ok but his mother was a wreck for 3 months of boot camp.

Lost in the woods 98'

Keith, we had two of our boys go into the service,our middle son Ted and our youngest son Danny. Both went into Spc.Opps. and I don't think there was a day that went by that their mom and I didn't worry about them. Having said that,remember that everyone that enlists is not a shooter and the services offer a ton of opportunities in non-combat fields can lead to great careers. In this ecomony that the job market is almost non-excistent,especially for young people, I truly believe that the military is a really good choice.

Firm believer that everyone should be required to do 2 years of service.

Best years of my life were spent in BDU's.

Your son will be fine as others have stated. Worst thing you have to worry about is him getting sent to Korea and coming home with a wife. lol

Thank you all for the encouragement. Hopefully his first 6 years go well then he can enjoy another 14 until he retires.

Congrats. What branch, where basic, why the six year enlistment (submariners?)

Here is what we are getting tomorrow, for the empty nest syndrome.

Phil I can tell you 98% of the time I prefer my black lab over the kids.

Enjoy the new member of the family.