Parents at Interview

DS's school does it if you want if you schedule an appointment when you're doing you regular campus visit. If not, they do it prior to the interview. Very thorough and professional looking PowerPoint screen show. As for the interview, DS/DD is who they want to hear from, and sometimes people (including me at times) have the urge to jump in and fill in some missing blanks they perceive.

tuba143, glad to hear things went well. I look back at that day and was glad it was another opportunity to spend quality time with DS on the drive there and back, spend some more time checking out the campus, particularly since school was in session, and see how well he now handles himself as a young man. Made it a lot easier when I dropped him off there last month to get moved in and not spend a lot of time with useless and potentially embarrassing hovering. Hopefully that will get me some more time with him when he's home on breaks, although I sure most of his time will be like this past summer -- working out, spending time with his friends at the casinos (he's remarkably good at blackjack) and eating 5-8 times a day when he's not sleeping.
 
It is an intervier after all...

Respectfully this is an interview, more importantly it's an interview for a responsibility that many will not know or understand. This is a military interview to see if your son or daughter has the morals and values that are needed to be a US military officer.

They know that they are meeting with high school kids. They are looking for officers not parents. Your family support will come out in the interview, they know how to get that answer.

Go for the 1.5 hour ride, buy a big grinder (sub, whatever you want ot call it) a book and drive to your quite place. Eat the grinder, read the book and take a nap.

My son had his interview back in early July with an 06. It lasted for almost 2 hours, I had the grinder and a nap, they were both good.

Although I would have also like to be with my son it was more important for him to continue the journey on his own. This is a military decision and after serving myself it really has to come from your child.

The results of my sons interview were for lack of better words "glowing". When the results were posted with the recruiter my wife made the following comment. As she cryed she said "he's gone, this is real".

We feel that by our son doing this all on his own his true self came out. The only thing we have involved ourselves in is the college visits. As so many know college for an 18 year old is a change. The military will break him down and build him to what they want. College is well...college, or in their eyes freedom!!

All the very best to all of our children that apply...
 
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Blacklab said:
Respectfully this is an interview, more importantly it's an interview for a responsibility that many will not know or understand. This is a military interview to see if your son or daughter has the morals and values that are needed to be a US military officer.

They know that they are meeting with high school kids. They are looking for officers not parents. Your family support will come out in the interview, they know how to get that answer.

Go for the 1.5 hour ride, buy a big grinder (sub, whatever you want ot call it) a book and drive to your quite place. Eat the grinder, read the book and take a nap.

My son had his interview back in early July with an 06. It lasted for almost 2 hours, I had the grinder and a nap, they were both good.

Although I would have also like to be with my son it was more important for him to continue the journey on his own. This is a military decision and after serving myself it really has to come from your child.

The results of my sons interview were for lack of better words "glowing". When the results were posted with the recruiter my wife made the following comment. As she cryed she said "he's gone, this is real".

We feel that by our son doing this all on his own his true self came out. The only thing we have involved ourselves in is the college visits. As so many know college for an 18 year old is a change. The military will break him down and build him to what they want. College is well...college, or in their eyes freedom!!

All the very best to all of our children that apply...
Click to expand...

All well and good, but when you receive a call from the ROO and PMS asking that you come meet with them I think it would be a bit rude to say "No thanks, I'm off to get a grinder and take a nap, the kids on his own" It's fine that this is what worked for your son, but not every interview is the same, if your asked to meet with them I'm not sure it shows respect to decline to invitation. Army, Navy, and the Air Force all operate differently, there is not a blanket answer that covers every situation. It is pretty clear that the Army does not handle interviews the same as the Navy.
 
Ahhh...yep!!

Yep that would be different!! If that was the case, I would go. I would wait to have the grinder and nap until later.
 
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Dang it! I was made to wait in the car and it was Hot! :shake:
That kid would have not let me anywhere near that interview or any other!
Wow, I wonder what that says about me? Pushy, overbearing buttinski I think,,,,,
Good call.
 
A need for grinders

You always have to plan for a good grinder, there is nothing better... Being a NY city guy there is a real need for good food. I will say that I also had to wait in the heat.

Regarding the interview, my son was also in control. It was his journey and I was to stand back which was just fine with us. If he needed us he knew we were there for him.

I guess in some interviews the parents also get called in. Clearly I would go but I would only answer questions that were asked of me. My son could and always has answered for himself.

I'm certain your child would not say pushy, overbearing buttinski... If your that involved the comments would be more like Pushy = there when I need them -- Overbearing = my parents give me great guidance and support.
 
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My experience

For DS interview he went in by himself and I toured the campus. When I guestimated his interview would be close to being over I entered the building to look at some military displays. My DS and the PMS were coming out at the same time and the PMS says Dad?! I said yes and he said "Very pleased to meet you" and he shared a lot of good info about the school and military with us for an additional 5 minutes or so. My DS said the interview was relaxed and straight to the point which made him at ease because there were no suprises. I am glad my son enjoyed the experience. I read the horror story about the family that had a bad experience with the PMS basically disrespecting their son during the interview. If anything the young men and women should be admired for wanting to serve whether they get offered a scholarship or not. JMO.
 
The AROTC interview was fun - for us and DS. We were invited to come for the day and meet everyone, but the actual interview was done by a small group of cadre(PMS, ROO and another member). They came and introduced themselves and sent us uptown with a nice GoldBar to get coffee, DS went off to do the talk. I joked as they left, just not to leave any physical marks on him, that I can get anything out of him without a mark so they should have no problem:biggrin: DS later reported the interview was informal and lasted about 1-1.5, then they just talked for another .5 hour. He had completed his first ever APFT earlier that day, they provided a place to shower and change before we headed over for the meetings. Yes, he wore a full suit and tie(DS loves to dress up:eek:). It was a great day and DS was really impressed with the program, he had come prepared with his own questions too.

I don't think DS could have done anything different/better at his interview. The fact that we were invited from the beginning to come along was great. I never questioned whether or not to go - I respect those parents that feel differently and that different branches might not be open to the parents attending, however, it just wasn't our situation.

Good luck to all of the applicants yet to interview!
 
Army

Army :) My DS is only wants to be in the Army. I asked about the other branches but he is not interested. He is in AJROTC in HS so possibly that was the swaying factor.
 
DS's NROTC interview was 5 hours away and at a Navy Recruiter's office in a strip mall. I was prepared to wait in the car, but one of the recruiters saw us pull up and invited me in. While DS disappeared in the back to be interviewed by an LT, I stayed in the office and got an education!

I had this vision of recruiters standing on the corner and flagging people in to sign up. I THOUGHT they would be on the phone soliciting young men and women to consider joining the Navy. Whoa--was I wrong!

One recruiter (who seemed to be in charge) gets a phone call from what must have been a school counselor. "He's had a felony? I can't do anything with that. He's coming over with his dad? Okay, I'll talk to him."

In the meantime, another young man comes in who had an appointment. He begins filling out paperwork.

A few minutes later, in comes the first young man (looking fearful--or perhaps fearfully hopeful) and his dad. The recruiter explains that he can't really help him out right now, but that he needs to finish high school and get some college courses under his belt. He is advised to get a job and work hard...oh, and stay out of trouble. Both dad and son looked disappointed. The recruiter told them they might check next door with the Army or Air Force.

The recruiter then goes to the young man filling out paperwork. He says, "So you heard that right? You don't have any felonies do you?" "No Sir. No FELONIES." "But you do have misdemeanors on your record?" "Yes Sir, but I've been off probation for 6 months." "You don't have any kids do you?" "Yes Sir. I have a son." "Are you married?" "No Sir." "Well, you at least have a parenting plan don't you?" "No Sir. My girlfriend gets more money from the State if we don't have a plan." ...and so it went, with each new piece of information slowly sinking this young man's ship.

Phone rings again and another recruiter answers. "So he just got out of jail?..."

I could have observed this process much longer than the hour and a half we were there. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the process.

Kat
 
sort of reminds me of the way, a long time ago, a judge would give a convicted criminal the option of serving jail time, or joining the military.

Those times are gone.

, Army Regulation 601-210, paragraph 4-8b: "Applicant who, as a condition for any civil conviction or adverse disposition or any other reason through a civil or criminal court, is ordered or subjected to a sentence that implies or imposes enlistment into the Armed Forces of the United States is not eligible for enlistment
 
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