My son resigned from USMA in lieu of a conduct investigation. He received an honorable discharged but his DD form 785 he received a 5 "definitely do not recommend". He had a beer in his room for his first offense. His second offense he got caught for suspicion of being drunk shortly after the first offense. He has aspirations of being an officer and has expressed interest going the Navy route and possibly doing NROTC. I know you can appeal the DD785, but I heard its like impossible to get it changed. Is Roth completely out of the questions. I just don't want my son to have these opportunities stripped from him for making a few mistakes. Any ideas on how to handle this, or if ROTC is even in the question. Thanks
I just felt a little off put by this one statement:
I just don't want my son to have these opportunities stripped from him for making a few mistakes.
This is your family, and I believe it is a family decision. I get wanting to gain information. However, impo, if he wants these opportunities, don't you feel at his age, isn't it his responsibility to research them?
Working with him to figure out to pay for a traditional college is one thing in my opinion. It is something as a parent, I think there should be an involvement... going to a CC and needing a car to get there impacts your life too.
However, wanting to serve is all on him. He needs to fight for it. He needs to research how to commission. NOT YOU. This is his life, and he needs to step up to the plate.
~ Might be wrong, but I am assuming he is 19 going on 20 next year. He is not that 17 yr old applying for SA/colleges. He now has more life experience under his belt.
This is now his fight. Cut the apron string. Sorry, that may seem harsh, but it is the reality for any 18 year old in the military. Traditional college kids are still seen as kids, but not true for the military. You can't have it both ways. If you say they are in the military, than you have no voice in any of their decisions. SAs are unique, however, if at any time you thought he was actually in the military because he attended an SA, than accept the fact in the AD world, 18 means they are adults, and no voice.
Just curious, if it was only alcohol, did anyone else get in trouble? Did he bring the alcohol in, or was it supplied?
~ If it is the 1st, than how did he get it? More importantly to me, if he purchased it on his own, than you need to have a family discussion of why he purchased it?
~~ Again, I do not see it as an alcohol problem, I see it as a college kid thing. Yet, for him, at an SA, I see this as a self inflicting problem. He knew the risks and had no problem breaking the rules. I would be asking my child, WHY?