I was hoping the debt might have some negotiating room but it sounds like a lock. Ouch. Not that it's worth much but he truly does have my sympathy.
Good his sense of humor's still intact. If you see it slipping away, you might point out that all those little homilies about life may be trite but, generally speaking, are true. Not always but often enough that most people survive to look back and realize one of the reasons they think they have it pretty good at the moment is because it sucked so badly back in the long ago.
What's happening to your son sound like some horrible combination of heartbreaking and maddening. And they want him to pay for it to boot. I can't think of anything encouraging to say, since it sounds like a final decision but... maybe there comes a point when the absurdity of an organization's rule might lead you to suspect a career of toeing the rest of them might not make for the most satifying life?
Btw: on a 24 hour basis you win, but I've got you for the year. Trust me.
You are right about the toeing the line thing. After this experience, who knows what could/would have happened while being an officer...besides the obvious, thowing yourself in front of a fellow warrior, if needed.
He is exploring several ideas to earn the money back - blogging about the The downside to his situation is that it is a debt to the government might be interesting - he also has picked up a couple of well paying part time jobs. It won't get the debt paid off, but it's something while he finishes his last class. The downside to his situation is that it is a debt to the government - it's a much shorter repayment term, higher interest and can't write off the "interest" on taxes. He will have to earn a tidy sum - and fast - so that he can get this resolved and move on with his life. Turning to crime hasn't been a thought, yet and his sense of humor hasn't subsided since this happened before Christmas. He did a quick google search online and found out that all of the "domestic terrorists" owed zero dollars to the government. One of the accomplices to the Oklahoma City bombing had his fine cut to below what son owes. He noted the irony, there. Has one class left to go before graduation - the stress of this situation his final month of school was disastrous on his Calc 3 grade. With budget cuts in California, getting a community college class isn't the easiest proposition in the world. He has moved home, which he never thought he was going to have to do. Some big adjustments.
One thing that is difficult is that I work with students for college admissions. One of them got one of these big scholarships last year. I had to counsel him and his family that things CAN and MIGHT go wrong and that he needs to watch his step and never let down his guard until he gets those stripes pinned.
-- Edited by SamuraiLandshark on Saturday 14th of April 2012 08:08:46 AM
Today, did my taxes. Owe more than I expect. I also did all my kid's taxes, for good measure.
The mail carrier didn't even knock before dropping off a redelivery slip, slated for Monday for a certified letter. I tracked him down in the rain to sign for it, several blocks from home. We were waiting on this letter for several months.
My son found out that his soon to be Naval Career is officially finished and that his appeal was rejected by Navy Command. For...drumroll please, 8 pounds over standards. Whoo hoo! He also got the letter asking for him to sign that he is now on the hook for almost $150,000. (The good news is that on his federal return he gets $16 back. So subtract that from his debt.)
