On the Bridge of a Destroyer or Cruise Director on "The Love Boat"

NJROTC-CC

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DS has me very worried. He is a social butterfly. He would much rather be hanging with his NJROTC buddies (both male and female) than doing anything else. His grades are o.k. They need to be better. He is rising as a leader already as a sophomore in NJROTC, and is on several competition teams and winning medals, but I wish he would spend more time hitting the books. Oh well, his grandmother was Prom Queen of her high school. I guess he takes after her. So, right now, I think he might be more well-suited to becoming a cruise director for Carnival Cruises, than an OOD Underway on a ship of the line. Hopefully, he will eventually serious-up without me having to hit him up side the head with a two by four. A lot of his friends are enlisting. That has me a bit worried. I am not against enlisting, but I see some kids doing it just because they are just sick of school and looking for adventure and not because they have a particular job or training they want to pursue in the service. As long as he goes to college later, I really have no objection to him enlisting first. If he does, he will join a long line on both sides of our family.
 
So, right now, I think he might be more well-suited to becoming a cruise director for Carnival Cruises, than an OOD Underway on a ship of the line

A lot of his friends are enlisting. That has me a bit worried. I am not against enlisting, but I see some kids doing it just because they are just sick of school and looking for adventure and not because they have a particular job or training they want to pursue in the service. As long as he goes to college later, I really have no objection to him enlisting first. If he does, he will join a long line on both sides of our family.

> Not everyone is destined to be an OOD Underway., and there is absolutely nothing wrong with enlisting because they are sick of school and looking for adventure. In fact, some of those kids get in, and realize that its a great gig and end up serving 20-30 year career and retire as senior enlisted. I'd be proud to have a kid as a Chief Petty Officer...really the backbone of the Navy.

Sophomore year is really too early to be worried. Sure , if the goal is a Service Academy or other Ivy League school, the hard chargers are already establishing their record.. However, there is a lot of growing up done between sophomore year and into college, and a lot of late bloomers end up doing very well in the end. I sometimes wish I had been more carefree and had more fun during those days. My only recommendation would be to ensure that DS recognizes that actions have consequences, and that being carefree doesn't necessarily mean careless --- In other words, avoid mistakes and actions that could close doors and impact the rest of your life.
 
I think he might be more well-suited to becoming a cruise director for Carnival Cruises, than an OOD Underway on a ship of the line.

Unpopular opinion, but considering I’m one of the few people on here with a license, I can tell you it would be far less stressful to be an OOD on a gray hull then it would be to have responsibility for passengers on a cruise ship.
 
Unpopular opinion, but considering I’m one of the few people on here with a license, I can tell you it would be far less stressful to be an OOD on a gray hull then it would be to have responsibility for passengers on a cruise ship.

If they had said Captain I’d agree with you, but the cruise director is the person in charge of all the entertainment and not responsible for the safe navigation of the ship [emoji16]
 
One of my close childhood friends became a cruise director on a major line. He had a great career and now has a well-known morning radio show. Several of my friends enlisted out of HS. They had/still have great careers. The huge majority of my friends did not become cruise directors nor did they join the military. They are all doing just fine as civilians. I'm not sure why you are worried. Your kid will choose his path and I'm sure he'll be just fine. My older son wanted USNA since elementary school. He always wanted it. We always made it clear that it was his choice. My younger son thought he wanted the same thing. As a HS sophomore, he sees first-hand what his older brother goes through on a daily basis. He now has no desire to join the military. That's fine. He may change his mind. He may not.
 
DS has me very worried. He is a social butterfly. He would much rather be hanging with his NJROTC buddies (both male and female) than doing anything else. His grades are o.k. They need to be better. He is rising as a leader already as a sophomore in NJROTC, and is on several competition teams and winning medals, but I wish he would spend more time hitting the books. Oh well, his grandmother was Prom Queen of her high school. I guess he takes after her. So, right now, I think he might be more well-suited to becoming a cruise director for Carnival Cruises, than an OOD Underway on a ship of the line. Hopefully, he will eventually serious-up without me having to hit him up side the head with a two by four. A lot of his friends are enlisting. That has me a bit worried. I am not against enlisting, but I see some kids doing it just because they are just sick of school and looking for adventure and not because they have a particular job or training they want to pursue in the service. As long as he goes to college later, I really have no objection to him enlisting first. If he does, he will join a long line on both sides of our family.
DD walked away from college and a ROTC/D1 athletic scholarship after one semester to enlist. While it rattled me and the DW, in hindsight it was a very good choice for her and she has turned out well... so far.
 
If they had said Captain I’d agree with you, but the cruise director is the person in charge of all the entertainment and not responsible for the safe navigation of the ship [emoji16]

Yeah my thing is that the cruise director has to run the drills, and will therefore prusubmably be the voice leading a real abandon ship. Packing a heard of drunken cattle into a tightly enclosed plastic box dangling 12 stories above the water while the ship is on fire.... makes weapons release authority sound almost appealing.
 
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