If he'd like to talk to someone here at A&M about options for him after he attends Junior College and gets his grades up, I'd be happy to help. Our Army ROTC team here is top notch, and would be willing to talk to him also, and at least lay out what his options are.

We DO have a lot of veterans here at A&M, many of whom did one enlistment, got out, and are now in college using their Montgomery GI Bill benefits and getting a good college education. Some are in the Corps, in our Veterans outfit, Delta Company. Again, we can talk those options with him too, assuming he'd like to do so. COL(R) Jerry Smith runs our Veterans Support Officer here on campus, and I can help arrange a meeting with him to talk to him about life AFTER the Army (assuming he decides to enlist) as a college student at Texas A&M if he'd like. He is an awesome asset to Texas A&M and to our veterans who are attending Texas A&M.

On a personal note, I have a son who is a CPT in the Army at Ft Hood, and has deployed 3 times (1 Iraq, 2 Afghanistan) in the 8 years that he's been in the Army. He graduated from A&M-Corpus Christi, commissioned, and has done well as an Army officer. My oldest son enlisted in the Army. He was not "engaged" with college, wanted no part of it, and enlisted as an 11B Infantryman instead (as an Artillery officer that bothered me to no end, but it was what he wanted, and I wasn't going to argue with him!). It was EXACTLY what he needed. He learned discipline, leadership, commitment, teamwork, and what it meant to be a valued member of an organization committed to something greater than himself. He also matured a LOT in the Army, and it made him a better man as result of that experience. He is out of the Army now, and is living and working in Austin and doing well.

I tell you that just so you understand that everyone is different, and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other. Each of my sons is a different person, and each has their own motivation and desires for their future. We are willing to talk to your son, find out exactly what he wants to do, discuss his options with him, and then allow him to make an informed decision that works best for HIM, because ultimately HE will have to live with his decision.

Please contact me if you'd like him to come and talk to our Army ROTC team and/or Veterans Support Office here about options. My e-mail is: jramirez@corps.tamu.edu. Happy to help in any way I can.

Best of luck to you both. Gig 'em!