My son

[Mud_Bug]

Right about now I'm a VERY proud papa. My son Tyler left for Army boot camp Sept 11, 2012. Now being gone for just a few weeks, I never realized how much I was gonna miss him. He was a feature here in our home, that now is gone, to peruse his dreams that he set for himself. I'm very proud of the young man he's become even before his departure. He paid his own bills, made his own money, saved his bank up and bought his own vehicles. Saying that his responsibility level as a 19 y/o young man surpassed how I was at his age.
Upon graduation in Feb 2013, his next schooling will be at Ft Beginning, Ga for Airborne and Air Assault schools....then off to Washington state for Pathfinder school. He elected MP as his "Job", however is not your typical MP brigade. It's a "Tactical MP Brigade", newly formed in the Army. With all these schools and training programs he's going to, he won't be out of training until mid next year.
As much as I miss him, I'll have to learn to "let go" and let him be the MAN he so desperately wants to be. My heart shines with pride and my tears are gleaming from happiness....my home just isn't the same with him being gone. I miss him terribly.

[eamarquardt]

As a friend, a Major General, told my son as he deployed to Iraq: "Keep your head down".

Good luck to your son and may he keep his head down.

Cheers,

Gus

[bonnie]

Proud too. My nephew is in military college and chasing his dream too.

Gus, I too have told friends and family to keep their heads down.

[48Rob]

Congratulations!

Young people with initiative keep our country alive.

Rob

[pete42]

That brings back memories way back in 1960 I was six days out from graduating from high school
when I left for the Navy boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval training center.
I turned from being a frighten boy at the begining to a world traveler at the end of my four years.
I am one who thinks everyone should serve it makes you grow up and you don't even realize it's happening until later.
so good luck to your son Tyler and good luck to your family as well, you will see a lot of changes.
I have several friends who attended "jump" school, being a pilot I never understood why you would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

pete

[coop74]

That brings back memories way back in 1960 I was six days out from graduating from high school
when I left for the Navy boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval training center.
I turned from being a frighten boy at the begining to a world traveler at the end of my four years.
I am one who thinks everyone should serve it makes you grow up and you don't even realize it's happening until later.
so good luck to your son Tyler and good luck to your family as well, you will see a lot of changes.
I have several friends who attended "jump" school, being a pilot I never understood why you would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

pete

there are no perfectly good airplanes... if they were you guys would not start the day by walking around them to make sure everything is right...

Then again I have taken off about 80 times where I did not land with the same aircraft.

Good luck to your Son, and tell him that first jump is not bad, it is the second one that is really scary...

[nrody]

Tell your son Thank You for his service. I appreciate it very Much. And thanks to all others who are serving and who have served.

[kirkman]

I second that tell your son thank you !

[PKCSPT]

Thanks to you and your family and your son.

It shook our world when our son went to basic, last out of the house so I called it empty nest cold turkey style. Proud of our young people who are fighting to keep our country safe.

[suckerpunched]

I was going to ramble on about my military career,,,,but just tell your son...thank you and God Bless
TC

[Mud_Bug]

Thanks everyone. I finally talked to him Sunday afternoon. Wow what a joy to hear his voice.

[Mud_Bug]

Thanks everyone. I finally talked to him Sunday afternoon. Wow what a joy to hear his voice.

[CARS]

Tell him that we all say Thank You for serving the greatest country in the world! (even though our elected seem to screw it up)

I wish I would have enlisted instead of "falling in love" (not with my current love). That has to be one of the top five regrets of my life. We have 2 kids out of the nest and 2 still here. Talked the first 2 into checking out the military. #1 failed the test (isn't that what people did when they needed direction in life??), #2 decided to borrow money to be in the medical field through college.... (why not let us taxpayers foot the bill??????). #3 is one of the smartest kids I have ever met, but just plain lazy. Too soon to tell about #4. I hope I can still guide her to serve her country.

Someone earlier said to "keep his head down". I get it. But you should be proud, don't worry, and keep your head high!!!