Why serve in the military?
What do you want to do after high school? Where do you want to go after college? If you seek a new challenge or path in life, then join the military.
A military career may not be as classy and glamorous as the jobs in the entertainment industry or professional sports. Indeed, it is much more than a career or job – it is a vocation. It is a higher calling to serve the country at the highest level.
The purpose of being in the military, whether in the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Marines, or the National Guard is to serve and defend the country against domestic and foreign threats. Soldiers also respond to natural or man-made disasters to provide medical relief, support search and rescue operations, and maintain peace and order. At times, they are called to serve in other countries to conduct peacekeeping missions or fight in wars.
Serving in the military is a good career opportunity for young adults but it is not for the physically, mentally, and emotionally weak. The military demands only the fittest individuals within their ranks.
If you decide to serve in the military, you must commit to motivate yourself to serve the country. Here are five things you should do to prepare before enlisting in the military:
- Start your training while in school
Are you of high school age? If then, you have all the time to prepare for boot camp, where you will be taught drill, basic equipment maintenance, weapons and workplace safety, marksmanship, fieldcraft, radio use, and defensive and offensive operations.
The boot camp, which lasts for many weeks, involves many physical activities, so you will need to build physical fitness. Before you qualify for Basic Combat Training (BCT), you will undergo a physical fitness test where you will do push-ups and sit-ups and run a two-mile army run. (Some branches even have pull-ups and swimming.) Participate in sports as much as you can. Build your muscles and your stamina.
Aside from building physical fitness, you also need to excel in your studies. You need to study hard because you will be required to take the Army Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which determines the careers that suit you in the military. The ASVAB tests your knowledge in areas such as math, general science, word knowledge, shop skills, and mechanics.
- Change your habits and lifestyles
To endure the physical and mental demands of military training, you should start adapting to the military lifestyle. In other words, follow strict rules and regulations and develop more discipline in your life. How? Here are a few examples:
- Eliminate fear and anxiety from your life.
- Get up as early as 4:30 AM to work out.
- Go to bed at about 9 PM. If your boot camp is in another time zone, adjust your sleep schedule according to that time zone.
- Eat healthy. Include fish, chicken, beef, pasta, vegetables and fruits in your diet. Get enough protein and carbohydrates. Cut on unhealthy snacks such as chips and soda to train your body to reduce hunger urges.
- Quit smoking and alcohol.
- Practice proper hygiene. (In boot camp, shaving is an everyday task.)
- Learn to shut up and listen. In boot camp, recruits do not speak until spoken to.
- Learn not to argue. You will never win against the drill instructor.
- Learn to work as a team.
- Learn to prioritize. You will have to choose between the things you like to do (like reading, chatting with buddies, and writing mail) and things you have to do (like scrubbing toilets, doing your laundry, and shining your shoes).
- Keep away from crime
The military would not accept applicants with a felony or misdemeanor conviction. However, they might overlook past criminal violations if enough time has passed and you have maintained a good record since then. There is still a chance for a waiver for a non-violent, non-drug violation.
Keep away from crime and make sure you avoid bad company. Focus on your studies and physical training. Focus on your goal, which is to join the military.
- Cherish your relationships
Spend more time with your family. Value your friends, colleagues, neighbors, churchmates —everyone you hold dear in your life. When you undergo boot camp, communication with loved ones will be limited. You will not be allowed to see them until graduation ceremony.
However, you are encouraged to communicate with your loved ones through letters. Write letters to your loved ones. The pen is one of the Military Weapons by Robert E. Wright.
A Vietnam War veteran and now published author, Wright used the pen to fight against the loneliness of separation. “I had to communicate, communicate, and communicate,” said Wright. “My weapon would be pen, paper, and pictures.”
- Be more focused and consistent
Basic military training is 20% physical and 80% mental, meaning your mind can be either your best friend or worst enemy in your transition to military life. Resist the temptation to give up. Focus on the task at hand. Keep going forward, push yourself harder, and stay positive. You join the military not to give up but to serve the country at your best and with your best.
Interested in joining the military? Make sure you are truly committed to serving the country and can meet the requirements. Seek an appointment with a military recruiter in your area today. Good luck!
Alex Writes 