Little different story here.
Uncle was farmer in OK in 1938 and got tired of hoeing weeds - joined the Army - was MSgt by the time WWII broke out. Was part of Landing at Omaha. Afterwards, in Germany was PO'ed that the AF conscripted real houses/beds/kitchens while Army lived in dugouts and mud holes. Switched to AF asap. Was chief NCO in Berlin Air Lift. Was in first segment to achieve AF Top-3 SMgt and then CMst (line #7 in first group in 1955). Retired San Antonio from Lackland.
I was in Naval Reserve in HS late 50's. At A&M beginning in 1961 - 2 years of Army ROTC (required during my time). Worked on a double degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering which was going to take 6.5 years.
Viet Nam and the draft came along. I had been in A&M 5 years but was still without a degree so I was eligible for the draft (which only gave a one year deferment at the time). My draft number came up low so I investigated which branch of the service offered the best opportunity for finishing my education. I talked at length to my retired CMSgt uncle in SA. (To be fair all branches have similar education enlisted to graduation and officer programs ) I eventually opted for the Air Force, and went through Lackland AFB in SA and on to Keesler AFB MS in basic electronics and was accepted into AF Airmen Education and Commissioning Program - that wanted me to change my degree to a new program called "computer science) (again, something I should have done in retrospect, but I digress...) - I opted not to. And chose the AF permissive TDY Bootstrap instead to finish Arch/Co/CE at A&M. Was offered AF commission to fly (which in retrospect I wish I had done...) but wanted to take the architecture boards ASAP before I forgot stuff. Randolph sent me to Iceland 1970 - which was great because overseas unaccompanied short tour gave preference to reassignment back to states. I chose A&M ROTC staff to also work on MArch and was accepted as E-5, earned E-6 while on ROTC staff. Learned I could get a direct commission into the AF Medical Service Corps Health Facilities Officer Program as an Architect/Hospital Designer and work with Corps, NAVFAC, etc. (Army has similar program USA Health Facility Planning Agency). 2nd Lt Jan 1973. Great career move, after total 20+ retired DoD/Washington as Health Affairs Chief Architect. Worked as Architect in Austin, Hospital Administrator in OKC, JCAHO-JCR Consultant, etc., ever since.
Fast forward - 7 kids (5 girls, 2 boys), 30-40 years later. Youngest son #2 was bored stiff and chasing girls and not doing well as a fish. Talked to various recruiters. Enlisted in AF. Went to Keesler. Graduated Keesler top of his class with Associates Degree in Electronics. Got his ESCITS and worked in Ops Center at CENTCOM 6 years - Shaw AFB/Eglin/Hurlburt, Qatar, AFghan, etc., became asthmatic. Retired as E-5 at 60% with all VA benefits with only 6 years service. Now has BS. Working on Master's and has a job paying over $100K/yr.
The education provided in the AF for members of "my family" has been great. Every one of my kids wishes they had at least considered the military mainly because the VA education benefit would have save all of us at least .5Mill$$... The educational (as long as you stay qualified....) - and home buying (no 20% down) - and medical benefits for life are beyond calculation when compared to what's now going on in the healthcare insurance field. My older son is doing OK, but the AF gave younger son a boost the older son will likely never overcome!!
So, if you have a kid that is somewhat lackadaisical, needs $$ and some "support system" to get "motivated" - and may or may not really know what he/she wants to do for their lifetime, absolutely, yes, the military is a wonderful opportunity - and if qualified after testing - the options are endless to pursue a career - even one that can be converted to civilian life afterwards.
Of course there are risks, but the camaraderie and relationships built are similar to what most Aggies think they get while at College Station - only more so... In retrospect (again), had I been more serious about the Corps of Cadets and pursued a commission through the Corps I would have saved years of bouncing around and could have retired at a Gen level instead of Field Grade. But, I have had a very nice career. -- in fact, more that one...
AAAAAAAAAAg - Air Force Aggie Architect and Hospital Administrator fm Amarillo, Altus, Austin, Arabia, Arkansas, Africa, Seoul, Bahrain, Amman, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi, DFW-Fairview, Ramstein, San Antonio, Pentagon, OKC, JCAHO/JCR - '65, '69, '73 - A&M Letterman (ret).
Winston Churchill: “If you’re not a socialist in your twenties, you have no heart. But if you’re not a capitalist in your thirties, you have no mind.”