Nephew has unrealistic expectations of enlistment
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DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a nephew who is dead set on joining the military. He has been talking about it for a few years, and it’s almost time to enlist. He believes that it is as easy as 1-2-3: He will apply, get in and go to basic training. I hope that’s true, but that is not what I have heard from people I know who are in the military. They tell me that the admission process is rigorous and that for various reasons, many people don’t get in. How can I help my nephew increase his chances of getting in and also be realistic? — Join the Military
DEAR JOIN THE MILITARY: Encourage your nephew to do his research so he can figure out his path forward. There are five branches of the military and several ways in — from becoming an enlisted soldier to going to a military academy. Everyone has to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, prove citizenship, have at least a GED and pass a physical. For an academy, enrollment is a rigorous process. Pay ranges broadly depending upon how one joins the military and the rank the person achieves. To learn more, go to: todaysmilitary.com/joining-eligibility/enlisting-military.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I learned that a friend of mine started a business that is eerily similar to my own. We haven’t spoken in over a year, but I thought that was mainly due to COVID-19 and just being busy with life. Now I see that she is launching a business that is a direct competitor to mine, and I am upset. I don’t know that there’s anything legal that I can do about it, but I feel betrayed. She and I spent hours at a time for years talking about my business, as I thought she was my friend. Now I see many of my ideas in action through her promotional materials. I want to address this with her, but I am not even sure what to say. What do you recommend? — Violation of Trust
DEAR VIOLATION OF TRUST: Consult an attorney first. Find out if you have any intellectual property rights and if there is any way that you can officially stop her from pursuing this business. If you do have a legal leg to stand on, you can then approach her with a real possibility of shutting her down.
Otherwise, you can reach out to her as a friend. It would be best if you can speak to her in person. Tell her that you just learned about her company, and you see your ideas imprinted all over it. Ask her why she thought that was a good idea. Directly ask how she could take ideas that you shared with her in confidence for so many years and turn them into a business of her own. Tell her you feel violated and hurt. Sadly, unless you have legal footing, there is not much you can do.
