I was a police officer, specializing in tactical (SWAT and TACTICAL K-9) for twenty years. My youngest son used to go to the range with me and help keep the line clean when it wasn't live, and occasionally would get to run a mag thru an M16 or a pistol. When I was training tactical patrol dogs he would go with me, and actually be a decoy on searches and things, where safety could be assured. He started all this when he was around 6 years old. I was his hero, and it showed.
That boy is now a Sgt. in the 82nd Airborne with a combat tour in Afganistan, one in Iraq, and now Iraq again (Bagdad). Last month he turned 23 years old in Bagdad. He's a Sgt. He's a combat vet, He takes care of his guys and vice verca, He's as hard as the hinges of Hell, and He's DAMM SURE MY HERO, AND IT SHOWS.