Thanks to Jesus's General for the info. I thought I'd send along a little note of encouragement to the proud father.
Congratulations to your son Mr. Hinderaker,
I'm sure you're justly proud of him. If he is half as supportive of our efforts in Iraq as you are
I'm sure there's a US military uniform in his immediate future.
I'd like to take this occasion to recommend that you encourage him to enlist in the US Army. The Army has missed it's recruitment objectives for 4 months running. The Marine Corp would be an option but the Army has better equipment and the Marines have only missed their recruiting goals once in the last 10 years. And frankly while I admire their policy of not leaving any man behind they tend to get themselves into positions where there are too many men they have to recover with their "gungho" attitude if you catch my drift. The Navy and Air Force are doing fine. The other services don't really need him and while I'm sure being the son of a bright fella like yourself he'd probably be able to enlist anywhere the US Army needs bodies.
I can't recommend the National Guard or Reserves, they are even more poorly equipped than the Marines and are paid the least of all the major services while drawing some of the hardest most dangerous duty. If you weigh all the opportunities available I'm sure you'll agree the US Army is his best bet.
Now as a parent I know you're concerned about your son's safety. No small consideration for his mother too I'm sure. Let me remind you Vice President Cheney says the insurgency is in it's last throes. By the time he gets out of basic training - and I'm not going to sugarcoat it - gets sent to Iraq the fighting should be all but over. But in the event the Vice President's prediction proves to be premature you and the Mrs. can rest easy knowing he'll be fighting with the finest military the world has ever seen against an assortment of poorly trained foreign jihadis and cranky Sunni Iraqis who don't even know how to properly clean a weapon let alone fire one. Yes it'll be hot, uncomfortable and he'll stand a small but real chance of getting killed or maimed, most likely by an IED, but if you really look at it his chances of dieing are really not that much greater than getting hit by a drunk driver on some college campus.
And speaking of college, do you really want your son at his impressionable age to immediately go off to some leftwing campus (and sadly they're all pretty much leftwing these days aren't they?) where he'll be indoctrinated in all kinds of leftie appeasement theory? Why not send him off to
the US Army where he can get the discipline to help him resist such defeatist tripe?
Imagine the pride both you and he will feel while he's heroicly serving our country. Imagine not only the cash enlistment bonus and educational opportunities but the way phrases like "take it from me, I was there" or "when I fought in Iraq" will sagely roll off his tongue and stop all arguments right in their tracks as admirers (especially the ladies) turn to hear his words of wisdom in years to come. Yessir Mr. Hinderaker this is his chance to make money and earn the respect he and his family so richly deserve by becoming a US Army combat veteran. I'm hoping he'll back your words with his deeds. We're counting on him like we've counted on you through these dark years since 9/11. Your country needs him. Won't you please help? Operators are standing by.
U.S. Army Recruiting Station
1655 W. County Rd b-2
Roseville, MN 55113
651-628-0811