For Parents

Making the Right Decision

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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

A Message to Parents

Every Soldier has personal reasons for joining the U.S. Army, and your son or daughter is no different. Listen to the stories of young Soldiers and their parents to help understand why people choose to serve.

LET YOUR CHILD PURSUE HIS OR HER DREAMS

Law enforcement. Engineering. Law. Medicine. No matter where your son's or daughter's interests lie, the Army offers expert training in a wide range of careers: 120 in the Army Reserve and 150 in active Army. Whether they choose to explore a new career or strengthen their current one, hands-on experience will give them an edge.

MAKE COLLEGE AFFORDABLE

Education can be costly, but the Army offers rich benefits that can significantly lessen the financial burden. These include offering money for college, college loan repayment programs and other academic incentives.

UNDERSTAND THEIR REASONING

When your son or daughter comes to you to discuss joining the Army, listen. They're making a choice that requires a deep personal commitment that will give them the strength and focus to succeed in life. To become someone you'll be proud of.

STAND BY THEM

Your son or daughter will learn what it means to be a Soldier—a title of distinction. They'll face new levels of responsibility, discipline and self-knowledge. But first, they'll need you to stand by them.

Army Strong Stories

25th Annual Salute to Veterans Air Show

May 20, 2013

The 25th Annual Salute to Veterans Air Show will be held at the Columbia Regional Airport in Columbia, Missouri on May 25-26. This year’s program includes an impressive array of planes and warbi…

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Army Team Building at Silex High

May 20, 2013

Thursday, Sergeant Blakely from the U.S. Army Career Center in St. Peter's, MO will support faculty team building activities at Silex High. Army team building activities promote leadership, unit …

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Swear-in at NHRA Race

May 20, 2013

Sergeant First Class Eaves, a recruiter from the U.S. Army Topeka Career Center, prepared Future Soldiers (new recruits) to take the Oath-of-Enlistment from the Kansas City Battalion Commander Lieuten…

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NHRA Race in Topeka, KS

May 20, 2013

Staff Sergeant Conger the Kansas City Recruiting Battalion's Soldier Hero visited with Tony Schumacher about the race car. Tony Schumacher, is an American drag racer who is a seven-time NHRA Champ…

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CULP Benin

May 17, 2013

Just a quick bit of what I will be blogging about: I am traveling with a team full of fellow cadets to Benin on an English teaching mission. Throughout our travels, I will update with some of our aw…

Season of Remembrance

May 17, 2013

Throughout history, our Soldiers, veterans, civilians and the entire extended Army family have made contributions to our Nation. The Season of Remembrance lasts from May through July every year to rec…

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Blue Springs High School is a U.S. Army Star School.

May 17, 2013

Blue Springs High School is a U.S. Army Star School. Blue Springs High’s marketing teacher, Cara Anger and DECA students received the Army Strong plaque from the Greater Kansas City Company Com…

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Army ROTC Opportunities

May 16, 2013

Army ROTC Opportunities If you're thinking of just getting started in college and are looking for tuition assistance, find out how you can get that as well as a clear path to leadership in Army R…

The U.S. Army is Recruiting for Warrant Officers.

May 16, 2013

The U.S. Army is recruiting for Warrant Officers. Individuals who are accepted for Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) will first attend the ten-week Basic Combat Training (BCT) course as an Enlis…

May - Interesting Dental Case

May 15, 2013

I had a cool case come in today on sick call. The patient came into the clinic 6 days after his surgery complaining of pain and puss coming out of his upper right socket where his wisdom tooth was r…

2013 Army Birthday Celebration in Kansas City

May 15, 2013

2013 Army Birthday Celebration Mark your calendars now for the 2013 Army Birthday Celebration. We will conduct the celebration of the 238th Birthday of the U.S. Army at the Westin Crown Center, 1 Per…

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Army Hummer at Shawnee Mission Park for Mill Valley High School Senior Day

May 15, 2013

Staff Sergeant Banks from the Overland Park Army Career Center will have the Army Hummer at Shawnee Mission Park to support Mill Valley High School Senior Day. Students can play games and take the pus…

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KCTV5 News and the U.S. Army Recognize Blue Springs High School

May 15, 2013

KCTV5 News and the U.S. Army will recognize Blue Springs High School students, classes, clubs and sports teams for making a difference in their school and community. Blue Springs High exemplifies the …

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I want to be the first Pagan Chaplain

May 15, 2013

I want to be the first Pagan Chaplain. We've all felt a higher calling, and my calling is to aid those spiritually, regardless of creed. I just feel like the Chaplain Corps will reject me because …

Army Birthdays

May 14, 2013

Four years ago I was still Cadet Romeo. On 15 May 2009 I stood with my classmates from Mary Baldwin College and the Virginia MIlitary Institute and Washington and Lee University and swore an oath. Wha…

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Discussions

Army Reserve to Active Duty?

12.05.2011 - If I plan on doing the Alternate Training Program in the Army Reserve, can I switch to Active Duty after BCT/AIT or is i...
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Becomeing a Sniper

01.24.2013 - Hi i am 15 turning 16 very soon. An i have wanted to become a sniper for as long as i can remeber. I was wondering if an...
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Life after Basic training and AIT --- ?? What to expect?

05.21.2013 - Sir or to whom it may concern, I am aware of the basic training that you warriors had went through, but I was ju...
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Enlistment Question

05.21.2013 - My son leaves for OSUT in about 8 weeks, he signed his contract in January 2013 for a 18 X and enlistment as E-3 (PFC). ...
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Sniper school

08.01.2011 - Greetings sir, I had great affection for sniper rifles specially the one i own, an M107A1 but the question is, can en...
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Weight Requirements for enlistment

05.20.2013 - I currently went to a local recruiting office and was told that i was unable to join the Army because of my weight. I am...
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Sniper Officers?

05.20.2013 - Can an Army Officer become a sniper? Or are these positions only for enlisted soldiers?
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Basic Training Information

02.26.2013 - Where do you living while in Basic Training? How many pairs of cloths can you bring when going off to basic training? An...
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Would I catch a lot of heck being an older recruit?

05.20.2013 - Would I catch a lot of heck being an older recruit? I'm planning to enlist as soon as I get my 15 college credits (I'm g...
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LPN, 2 Associate degrees...lots of questions!

05.19.2013 - I am 22 years old, never served, my recruiter is not very knowledgeable as for as the medical aspect of the army. I want...
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OUR DAUGHTER, THE SUPERHERO

Nancy: She came home and she said, "Well, I'm going to the recruiter, I'm going to join the Army." And I went, "Wow."

Shannon: I kind of knew their reaction would be a little like, "Are you crazy? What are you thinking?"

Brad: Personally, I didn't really want her to go. I was a little nervous about it. I said to her, "You know, if you do this, you more than likely will be overseas at one point in time." And she told me, "I understand that, and I'm ready to do that." Her exact words were, "I want to serve my country."

Shannon: He was a very honest recruiter. He said, "As an MP, you will be deploying." And to me right there, just, that was just, I wanted to do it. I wanted to do my part in this world.

Brad: I had a knot in my chest, 'cause I knew that eventually deployment would come about.

Shannon: At first I was real, real nervous because I was fresh out of Basic Training, but I think that was the best training I could've possibly had, was to be deployed right away.

Brad: She ain't no little girl no more, but she's my little girl, and she was going off to war, simple as that. Every day I would go to work and the very first thing I would do would be to head right for the computer and fire it up and [think] "Please be there, Shannon. Please be there." I think I must have said it every e-mail, every phone call. I was so proud of her; it was hard to get the words out without crying.

Shannon: I feel like my self-confidence just went through the roof. I can do whatever they throw at me. There may be a little setback here and there, but you overcome that setback and you just drive on.

Brad: We're amazed. Her brother thinks the world of her. She's just his superhero. I was that way too. I think I sent her an e-mail once and said, "Superman himself could land next to me and I'd say, 'Excuse me, sir. You're blocking the view of my daughter.'"

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FOR PARENTS

A Message to Parents

Army Strong Stories

Discussions

OUR DAUGHTER, THE SUPERHERO

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