Tell him after he calls home first time from basic to hang tough cause basic trainng isn't what the Army is. Least that's what my son would tell him. The lowest point in his life was midway through basic. There's a weekend he will get leave. I drove to Fort Benning, Ga to get him off base. We got a hotel, saw what little there is to see off base, walked the malls, took in a movie and fed him pretty good. It was the saddest weekend I can remember spending with him. He'd sit and eat just staring. I reckon that's the thousand yard stare you here about because physically he was there and mentally he was way, way off some place. Then a week or so later I get a call and he's the happiest kid in the world. Ask what's up and he replies we are past the bullshit and now we are doing real Army stuff.
The whole family went down for graduation. Will never forget walking into a McDonalds in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was in uniform of course, every one thanking him for his service. He looked at the kids behind McD's counter and said to us, everyone one of those kids should be in the Army. They're wasting time here.
3 incredible Iraq tours later he's soon to be out. He's tentatively accepted an offer from a major defense contractor.
There's opportunity in the Army, if your son will stay on the look out. Folks on the outside want what the Army will give him.