Family and friends against joining the military

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Whenever I mention joining the Navy Nurse Corps to my family or my boyfriend, they tell me not to even think about. My boyfriend even got mad at me for even researching it and told me to never do it again. They all think it's a death wish and I'm practically performing suicide. Should I really be this scared about joining? Is there anything I can tell them to put them at ease? Thanks :)

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This really burns my buns :madface:

I am sure you have respect for your family and boyfriend but ask yourself who's life is it? If you want to join the military then go for it...the military has been great for me and many others and no it is not a death sentence if it were the case I would have died 9yrs ago :rolleyes: People who do not know about the military should not make comments like that. And I am not going to even comment on your boyfriend for telling you not to look again!!!!!!!!

Honey live YOUR life if you like it stay if not you can always get out and pursue another career. Just my :twocents:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

The Army is the best thing that ever happened to my youngest daughter. She's been in for three years, and she has grown up in ways even I can't believe........at the tender age of not-quite-21, she is already the training supervisor for her base's air traffic control tower, and is expected to make Corporal by this winter. She is responsible, hardworking, enthusiastic, ambitious, physically fit, and self-confident---NONE of which she was before she enlisted.

Yes, I worry about her being sent overseas (although she was in an MVA last fall and suffered permanent hand injuries, and now that she is also newly married and a mother-to-be, it's looking very unlikely that she'll ever go to Iraq). But I wouldn't want to hold her back, because she has become an incredible woman, and one of whom I am very, very proud.........and a lot of the credit goes to the Army.

I say, if you want to join the military, you should go for it! I'm sure your parents have many of the same concerns that my husband and I did, and your boyfriend is probably afraid you'll meet someone else. You can always tell him that when you go to boot camp, you'll be too busy (and too tired) to even THINK about anyone else.......and it's the truth!

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

sxtaco - The decision is ultimately yours... your 18 years old and need to leave the proverbial nest & your NOT married. Do a lot of research and make a very careful & long thought out decision. IMHO, everyone should do at least one tour of military duty. Maybe a military career is not for everyone, but it is for me. ;)

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Whenever I mention joining the Navy Nurse Corps to my family or my boyfriend, they tell me not to even think about. My boyfriend even got mad at me for even researching it and told me to never do it again. They all think it's a death wish and I'm practically performing suicide. Should I really be this scared about joining? Is there anything I can tell them to put them at ease? Thanks :)

Hello sxtaco,

While I suggest respecting their opinion as their opinion I do not suggest following another's suggestion blindly, especially when it involves putting your own hopes, desires, dreams and ambitions aside.

They are talking about what they would do and to suggest you live their life is absurd. No doubt that once you research and follow through with it they will end up bragging about you and beaming with pride about you.

Now that you know they are reactionist nay sayers you are also in the know that they aren't able to support your choice yet or to share your enthusiasms.

This is your life and in my opinion you do not need to make them feel better about your choices, you ought to be able to be able to spend your time going on ahead and making your choices.

Remember the Dr. Suess line, "those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.." I would bet that those who matter in your life and apprently seem to mind now, will not REALLY mind when they see that you are certain of this. I think they will convert to supporting you. If they don't then, aren't you glad that you are still following your dreams anyhow?

Good luck!

Gen

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Don't think I'm going into this blindly. This isn't a definite decision, but its just something i'm really considering. I don't plan on jumping in on this until I know all the information I need to know. I finally talked my boyfriend into supporting me after a long long fight, and in a way, he's kind of excited for me, but like I said, it's not 100%.

wow, I didn't know there were tours. Could I ask the recruiter to set one up?

Thanks for the help again!

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Don't think I'm going into this blindly. This isn't a definite decision, but its just something i'm really considering. I don't plan on jumping in on this until I know all the information I need to know. I finally talked my boyfriend into supporting me after a long long fight, and in a way, he's kind of excited for me, but like I said, it's not 100%.

wow, I didn't know there were tours. Could I ask the recruiter to set one up?

Thanks for the help again!

Hello sxtaco,

After having learned the hard way about no good boyfriends...I for one would never want to have another one whom I had to fight with all night just for them to support my decision to "consider" something...good grief, (you could've been sleeping or studying happily or enriching your life versus fighting for simple consideration and respect-which by the way, ought to come naturally and unconditionally, not dragged out like pulling teeth).

Good luck,

Gen

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

Sxtaco-

O.K. for one thing, when Vette Man said tour, it's not like going to a factory and seeing how a car is made. He meant, everyone should be in the military at least once, we call our time in the military "tours." However, you can see a recruiter and get something setup to see a base if there is one nearby. Figure out what you want to do inlife first though. Being enlisted and being an officer are 2 different things and would require you to see different recruiters. I've been in 10 years and love it.

LT Dan

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Sxtaco-

O.K. for one thing, when Vette Man said tour, it's not like going to a factory and seeing how a car is made. He meant, everyone should be in the military at least once, we call our time in the military "tours." However, you can see a recruiter and get something setup to see a base if there is one nearby. Figure out what you want to do inlife first though. Being enlisted and being an officer are 2 different things and would require you to see different recruiters. I've been in 10 years and love it.

LT Dan

Sir, thanks for the tour explanation. I forget that some interested in the military are not familiar with such speak. I must remember to speak just as a nurse must speak to a patient vs. another nurse, or other health care professional with such jargon.

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haha, i feel stupid now. sorry guys.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
haha, i feel stupid now. sorry guys.

Stupid? Not hardly, now your smarter with a little more military jargon knowledge stored in your brain head housing group. ;)

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Specializes in long term care, agency, correctional.
Whenever I mention joining the Navy Nurse Corps to my family or my boyfriend, they tell me not to even think about. My boyfriend even got mad at me for even researching it and told me to never do it again. They all think it's a death wish and I'm practically performing suicide. Should I really be this scared about joining? Is there anything I can tell them to put them at ease? Thanks :)

I hear ya:). My boyfriend calls me a freaking idiot for wanting to join. Most of my family is oppossed as well. They give me so many reasons why they think it is a bad idea. My advise to you is research and talk to lots of people who are actually in or were in and follow your heart. Don't give up your dreams. I tell my family that this is something I really have passion for and I believe in fate, when they talk about how I could die. That seems to help them understand a little bit. I hope this helps. Goodluck

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