Regarding John Holden’s letter in the Oct. 15 issue (“Kids who won’t be enrolling in college deserve help, too”), while I understand Mr. Holden’s concerns about students who aren’t academically gifted, I find it deplorable that he would bolster his point by writing “the only place I know that will accept an inexperienced, low academically achieving student is in the military . . . and that’s not a choice that anyone wants to make if he or she doesn’t have to.”

I’ve lived in Thousand Oaks since 1964. Both my sons graduated from Thousand Oaks High School, as did I. My 21-year-old son is currently serving in Iraq in the U.S. Army as a gunner. He enlisted when he graduated from high school and concurrently served in the Wyoming National Guard while pursuing his degree at the University of Wyoming.

Contrary to Mr. Holden’s derogatory and shortsighted remark, my son’s service to our country was a choice he wanted to make. In fact, he could’ve used his college track as a reason to not go to Iraq along with his troops but bravely chose to put his college education on hold to serve alongside the young men he had trained with during his first three years of college.

Mr. Holden’s logic is further flawed with his statement, “Few people can make it through basic training and can handle military life.” Basic training, while requiring rigorous physical ability, also requires intelligence, aptitude in a variety of areas (geography and engineering to name just two) and attention to detail.

I honor and admire all of the men and women who are serving and have served in our armed services. I also honor and admire anyone who works with those who aren’t academically gifted.

I choose to believe that Mr. Holden’s disrespectful remarks toward our military aren’t representative of those of you who care about the academically challenged. Kathleen Nakos Westlake Village