thedrifter
05-15-07, 06:51 AM
They want youth
By Rachel Kaatmann
She cried all the way home the night her son enlisted in the military.
Dorothy Holm thought her son Patrick could do anything he wanted. She imagined him as a teacher who also coached sports.
But after he scored nearly perfect on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Marines' elite intelligence division.
A senior at St. Charles West High School, Patrick originally wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force, but decided the Marine Corp. offered the kind of select group he yearned to be a part of.
Dorothy said that after interrogating Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Amaya at the Marines recruiting office in St. Peters, she accepted her son's decision.
Now her attitude had changed dramatically. She said she is proud of her son.
"It's good for young people who are not sure what they want to do," she said. "At first, I was very disappointed and was very scared. Â….. But this is what he wants to do."
Patrick's safety is still on Dorothy's mind. He might go to Iraq within the next two years if the war continues. But she can't afford to worry too much, she said.
"Patrick is so happy; he gleams," she said. "He's talked to me about the chances to travel and the lifelong bond he will make."
Recruiters have high and low seasons during the year as they work to identify potential recruits. Winter months are usually the slowest and by now most students have decided whether to enlist.
Chris Greiner, principal at Francis Howell High School, said recruiters usually visit with students during lunch hours. He said the relationship with military recruiters is positive.
"We haven't had any reported problems. They are guests in our school and they behave appropriately," he said. "We have a senior class of 400, and we had nine of those say they plan to enlist."
Although less than 10 percent of students choose a career in the military, recruiters say students can have both a college education and life in the Armed Forces.
Patrick Holm plans to use the GI Bill to receive two more years of college education once he spends five years in his intelligence unit. He already has received a $3,000 signing bonus and will have his meals, tuition and some clothes paid for.
Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sims, a recruiter for the Marine Corp.'s St. Peters office, said when a student expresses interest in joining, he asks them several questions and visits with parents.
"We set up a time to meet with parents and schedule students to visit the military enlistment processing stations, where they take a full physical," Sims said.
Sims said most parents are supportive but some will talk their children out of it. As was the case with Patrick, Sims said friends have a big influence.
Since the war in Iraq began, Sims said the number of students in St. Charles County who have enlisted hasn't fluctuated. He said there are several veterans in the area. Many students choose a military career because it's a family tradition.
Sims said if a student chooses a career in infantry, there is a good chance he would go to Iraq. Only men are allowed to fight, but women can serve in other capacities.
"It all depends on what unit they are stationed with and what deployment cycle the unit is on," he said. "Some won't go at all."
Most students from the county choose careers in aircraft mechanics, infantry, military police officers and engineering, he said.
Sometimes military recruiters visit colleges. Deirdre Proveaux's grandson, James Ketz, decided not to join a branch of the military after a visit from recruiters.
Proveaux, a member of the Mid Rivers Ethical Society, said her grandson was asked to join the military about two years ago, while studying criminal justice at St. Charles Community College.
She was angry because he had little training and was offered a $17,000 signing bonus.
"Kids in school are vulnerable," she said. "I know there is a place for the military, and it does build character, but these kids had no extensive training at all."
She said she might not be happy with the war but respects students who choose a career in the military.
Sims said Marines rarely give students major incentives. It's more about students' desire to be a part of a respected, elite branch, he said.
"We don't throw a lot of money at them," he said.
For now, Dorothy Holm just waits until Patrick leaves for boot camp on July 16.
"I'm still emotional about it, but they say to write every day those first two weeks of boot camp, and I will," Dorothy said.
Rachel Kaatmann can be contacted at rkaatmann@yourjournal.com
Ellie
By Rachel Kaatmann
She cried all the way home the night her son enlisted in the military.
Dorothy Holm thought her son Patrick could do anything he wanted. She imagined him as a teacher who also coached sports.
But after he scored nearly perfect on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Marines' elite intelligence division.
A senior at St. Charles West High School, Patrick originally wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force, but decided the Marine Corp. offered the kind of select group he yearned to be a part of.
Dorothy said that after interrogating Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Amaya at the Marines recruiting office in St. Peters, she accepted her son's decision.
Now her attitude had changed dramatically. She said she is proud of her son.
"It's good for young people who are not sure what they want to do," she said. "At first, I was very disappointed and was very scared. Â….. But this is what he wants to do."
Patrick's safety is still on Dorothy's mind. He might go to Iraq within the next two years if the war continues. But she can't afford to worry too much, she said.
"Patrick is so happy; he gleams," she said. "He's talked to me about the chances to travel and the lifelong bond he will make."
Recruiters have high and low seasons during the year as they work to identify potential recruits. Winter months are usually the slowest and by now most students have decided whether to enlist.
Chris Greiner, principal at Francis Howell High School, said recruiters usually visit with students during lunch hours. He said the relationship with military recruiters is positive.
"We haven't had any reported problems. They are guests in our school and they behave appropriately," he said. "We have a senior class of 400, and we had nine of those say they plan to enlist."
Although less than 10 percent of students choose a career in the military, recruiters say students can have both a college education and life in the Armed Forces.
Patrick Holm plans to use the GI Bill to receive two more years of college education once he spends five years in his intelligence unit. He already has received a $3,000 signing bonus and will have his meals, tuition and some clothes paid for.
Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sims, a recruiter for the Marine Corp.'s St. Peters office, said when a student expresses interest in joining, he asks them several questions and visits with parents.
"We set up a time to meet with parents and schedule students to visit the military enlistment processing stations, where they take a full physical," Sims said.
Sims said most parents are supportive but some will talk their children out of it. As was the case with Patrick, Sims said friends have a big influence.
Since the war in Iraq began, Sims said the number of students in St. Charles County who have enlisted hasn't fluctuated. He said there are several veterans in the area. Many students choose a military career because it's a family tradition.
Sims said if a student chooses a career in infantry, there is a good chance he would go to Iraq. Only men are allowed to fight, but women can serve in other capacities.
"It all depends on what unit they are stationed with and what deployment cycle the unit is on," he said. "Some won't go at all."
Most students from the county choose careers in aircraft mechanics, infantry, military police officers and engineering, he said.
Sometimes military recruiters visit colleges. Deirdre Proveaux's grandson, James Ketz, decided not to join a branch of the military after a visit from recruiters.
Proveaux, a member of the Mid Rivers Ethical Society, said her grandson was asked to join the military about two years ago, while studying criminal justice at St. Charles Community College.
She was angry because he had little training and was offered a $17,000 signing bonus.
"Kids in school are vulnerable," she said. "I know there is a place for the military, and it does build character, but these kids had no extensive training at all."
She said she might not be happy with the war but respects students who choose a career in the military.
Sims said Marines rarely give students major incentives. It's more about students' desire to be a part of a respected, elite branch, he said.
"We don't throw a lot of money at them," he said.
For now, Dorothy Holm just waits until Patrick leaves for boot camp on July 16.
"I'm still emotional about it, but they say to write every day those first two weeks of boot camp, and I will," Dorothy said.
Rachel Kaatmann can be contacted at rkaatmann@yourjournal.com
Ellie