ALT-1 Joining the Military
The military is a very popular choice for many young people thinking of how they will start their careers. It offers the chance of a well-paying job for someone with little experience, plenty of financial benefits, money for school, and a chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves. It does however come with many drawbacks, such as lengthy training periods away from friends and family, assignments to duty stations all over the world, limited resume-building experience, and risky deployments in combat zones. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you even talk to a recruiter.
Deciding on what branch of the service you are interested in is a tough choice indeed. Each branch of the military has their own unique characteristics, from the hard-fighting Army and Marine Corps to the professionally-oriented Air Force. Each service has multitudes of career fields, from things as civilian-oriented as dental assistants to difficult and dangerous jobs like scout sniper and Special Forces. Each branch also has duty stations all over the world, perfect for those who want to see the world. Each also has its own standards in terms of both fitness and mental aptitude. Here is just a little about each branch in these terms.
Army
The largest branch of the military, the Army is focused on how to win a ground war. Many jobs involve ground combat, such as infantry, armor, and artillery. The choices do not end in roles involving combat though, there are careers in medicine, mechanical fields, intelligence (learning what our enemies are up to), supply management, transport, and many others. The Army also has elite units such as Special Forces (Green Berets) and Delta Force. The Army has many bases across the Continental United States, but there are also permanent duty stations in Hawaii, Germany, Italy, and Korea. Basic training in the Army is nine weeks long and job training can be anywhere from six weeks long to several months long.The Army has the second most difficult physical fitness test, involving a two mile run, and two minutes of pushups and situps. Physical training for almost all Army units is conducted every morning, and many units have lengthy field exercises at their duty station or training locations such as Fort Irwin, California. The Army is almost a guaranteed ticket to a deployment overseas during a long war such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Air Force
The Air Force is the second smallest branch of the Department of Defense, but it has some of the most civilian-oriented careers. Jobs in aircraft maintenance and electronics, air traffic control, and air cargo are the Air Force's bread and butter when it comes to enlisted field, but they also have careers in computers, communications, intelligence, medicine, and many others. Air Force Pararescue is their most elite unit, tasked with jumping behind enemy lines to recover downed air crews. Some job fields in the Air Force, such as explosives ordinance disposal (EOD) are linked very closely with their Army counterparts and they often deploy to combat zones right along with Army units. Bases are located all over the United States, but the Air Force also has duty stations in places like Germany, England, Italy, Japan, and Korea. The Air Force basic training program is eight and a half weeks long and is located at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Additional training varies by career path, but is longer than many Army training options. Many Air Force personnel may find themselves deployed to combat zones, but typically at larger bases with better facilities and security.
Navy
The Navy is focused on winning wars on the sea, and most naval careers involve time on a ship. Jobs in the nuclear power field, ship operations, and dock work come to mind, but there are also plenty of options to serve in the Navy's career fields involving aircraft maintenance and electronics, intelligence, computer technology, and many others. Navy Corpsmen are much like Army medics and often serve with Marine Corps units, who do not have medics. Navy SEAL units are arguably the most elite special units in the US military, serving in roles such as the killing of Osama Bin Laden. The Navy's bases are located mostly in California, Hawaii, Florida, and Virginia, but smaller bases are located along the coast and they also have a sizable presence in Japan. Navy boot camp is nine weeks long and most Navy career fields involve fairly lengthy training similar to the Air Force. Navy personnel often go on long deployments to sea, but some will find themselves in support roles in places like Kuwait.
Marine Corps
The smallest branch of the military, the Marine Corps is actually under the Department of the Navy. Its primary focus is combat, and it trains for amphibious operations. Combat careers abound, but mechanical, intelligence, and other careers in the Marine Corps still exist. Like their Corpsmen, many Marine aircraft technicians work with Navy units on a daily basis. Marine boot camp is 12 weeks long, followed by more combat training before specialized careers. Marines can expect some of the most dangerous deployments to remote locations.
So there is a little about each branch, and here is a little about what you can expect to get out of the military. First, you will get paid on the first and fifteenth day of each month. Pay is not spectacular as an enlisted military member, but it is good for being straight out of high school. You will also get a free place to live, and in today's military that typically means your own bedroom and sharing a kitchen and bathroom with one other person. If you are married you will get the choice of living with your spouse in a home on base or to be paid extra to find a place to live in the surrounding community. You will also get money for college. While you are in, you can get the military to pay for courses you take. After you get out you will get your GI Bill money to use at whatever school you choose. The military also gives you free healthcare, both while you are in and after you get out.
This sounds great, but there are downsides. First, it is hard. Military life means long days, tough bosses, time away from your family, and sometimes risking your life. Think you can last for all of basic training or boot camp without your Iphone, PS3, laptop, and everything else you enjoy on a daily basis? Think you can take waking up well before the sun comes up each day, getting yelled at, and working harder than you ever have? Can you work well with people from all over the country from different cultural backgrounds? Can you tell your parents bye before you fly across the ocean to fight in a war or be at sea for months on end? If not, you might want to consider the civilian world. You cannot quit the military if you decide you do not like it, but if you do something to get kicked out it will haunt you on each job application you fill out for the rest of your life. Do you think you can fit in for the duration of your contract and do your job well? If so, talk to the recruiters.
Talking to the recruiter is the start of your military career, should you choose to keep pursuing it. It is a good idea to talk to each branch of the military that you might have an interest in. One branch might have different bonuses open at the given moment, or might end up interesting you more once you talk to them. It is a good idea to make sure your parents come with you when you talk to a recruiter, as they will be able to tell when a recruiter might not be telling the whole truth and might have more questions that you could ever think of. If your grades are good and you want to go to college first then ask the recruiter about scholarships the military offers. They will pay much of your tuition and fees while you are in school, and after you graduate they will make you and Officer with better pay than if you went in right out of high school.
The military can be a great career or just a good first job, but it is a step that should be taken seriously. Think long and hard about it, talk to your parents about it, and be proud if you do decide to serve in uniform.
