Yesterday my younger brother let me in on the fact that my cousin is joining the National Guard in May we have always been really close and he wasn't supposed to tell me she was going to but it slipped so now i'm sort of upset actually i'm really upset which is weird because i wasn't when any of my guy cousins made the same decisions. A friend told me to calm down because she wouldn't be allowed on the front lines the problem is I don't know if he was just trying to make me feel better or if that's true don't get me wrong i'm proud of my cuz i just worry because A she's a girl and B she's tiny =( Sorry just sort of needed to get that out

Tell her I said thank you!

I'm sorry you feel that way. I am sure you are scared but it's important that she receive all the support she can, especially from those that are close to her.

As far as the whole 'girl' thing, I'm not gonna repsond to that

To answer the question about the front line they are not allowed.
My daughter is in the Navy and when she told me that this was what she wanted to do I could only support her.
She has to live her life and get her own experiance (in this mothers eyes). I do get nervous but this is what she wants to do. Letting them spread their wings is the hardest thing that life will hand you.
I am proud of her for her choice.

i would be scared, but proud for her. she has as much a chance of giving her life for her country as anyone else you know that joined up. she deserves your love and respect and none of the reaction you wrote about. choke it back and give her your best.

Dont worry shell be ok

A few things you can expect and maybe worry less.

1. National Guard units are selected and mobilized by unit. There is usually a staging and additional training time of 3 to 6 months prior to deployment. The Active force won't take individual people from the Guard unless there is a need for their particular skill and most times only if they volunteer for it.

2. She has a large amount of individual and advanced job training to go through before she would be allowed to join her unit if it was deployed. That will take some time.

3. Based on the type of unit she is joining, she might not ever see action. Admin, Medical and Mechanical are the safest. Military Police however has a high chance.

4. Has the Guard unit that she is joining recently returned from a deployment? The chances of it being called up again soon would be slim if so.

5. Always remember that the training that she is going to receive will not only save her life and the lives of others, but will give her incredible personal skills that she'll use for the rest of her life. There is a point in a military career that a kid realizes that they don't fear be called upon because they have been trained and trained themselves so much they are comfortable because of the skills they have attained.


The best thing you could possibly do for her is to give her your support and tell her to never give up. Tell her how proud you are of her and don't show you are worried. That's what she needs the most.

Ditto!

Tell her "You Rock"

Any person who volunteers to serve , male or female is doing it for their own reasons. Just be proud that she is doing this instead of nothing at all. It could be worse.. I served with my son at one time and his girlfriend actually worked for me while in the service..