IF I Join The Military Will I Have To Fight?

By Sharida Kuiken


Are you debating a career with the United States Armed Services? Do you have dreams of enlisting in the military to serve your country, travel the world, get money for college, or simply live a life of patriotic adventure? In this article I will give you some tips and advice regarding joining the US Armed Services.I often hear this comment from potential military recruits "I think I want to join the Army" (or Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard). Joining the military was one of the best decisions in my adult life and may very well be for you, however this is not a decision that you want to take lightly.While the military certainly offers a great deal of benefits, it also requires a serious commitment with rigorous work and personal sacrifices. Therefor, if this is something you are interested in doing, be sure to properly weigh your options prior to enlistment.

A typical war involved enemy soldiers meeting on the battlefield. The act of war was defined by the soldiers on the ground engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Surrenders and victories were often determined by the ability of one side to fight harder than the other.That is not the case today. Very few battles are still fought in a hand-to-hand combat manner. Few battles are even fought on the actual battlefield. In today's world where technology dominates, many battles are fought in the boardroom, or with weapons fired from a long distance away.

Therefor you first have to consider how you interpret the word 'fight'. In today's military, many service members do not even carry a weapon on deployment. And of the troops deployed to the war zones such as the middle east, many of them are actually stationed on a safe and secured US Military Base working in rather safe conditions, perhaps doing paperwork or other technical aspects related to the larger fight going on.The above scenario applies to a large volume of the troops currently deployed. However, there are still those troops who are actually on the ground, patrolling enemy territory, and yes engaging in hand-to-hand combat if the situation calls for it.

Will YOU wind up in that situation? It depends.what job or line of work are you applying for? Are you looking for a field that requires weapons and combat skills? Or perhaps are you applying for a job that is just as important, but perhaps behind the scenes of war? The military offers many of these positions.AND YET you still cannot be certain. You can join the army with the purpose of a military police career, and find yourself on security duty on a US base, perhaps not far from your home town. Or perhaps you can join the coast guard as a yeoman (paperwork/office related) and find yourself in an office in the middle east working alongside a PS (military police-like) unit.

Has the patriotism of our military in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places in the world made you interested in joining up? What does it take to be "Army Strong"and "Aim High" to "Fly-Fight-Win?" Ready to be part of "A Global Force For Good," or belong to "The Few, The Proud, The Marines"? Each branch of the service has its own specific requirements for becoming part of the enlisted corps or becoming an officer.

Regardless of which branch of the service has captured your heart, there are some military entrance conditions that are standard for entering any branch.Get That Degree.Our military is a group of committed, educated people ready to serve our country. When you sign up, you should at least have a high school diploma in hand. You might be able to be accepted with a GED, but your career opportunities and advancement will be limited.

The minimum age to get enrolled in the United States defense services is 17 years with the prior permission of the parents. At this age, the aspirant has to participate in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). The applicant is given the opportunity to participate in locally sponsored military related activities ranging between sports and completions led by recruiters or other military liaisons. The prospective service members are recruited from high school and college, the target age is between 18 and 28 years old. Currently, when the economy is stumbling, and the spirit of patriotism is high, the opportunities in military with their benefits are attracting the youngsters to join the services. The military recruiters on the campus are offering competitive entry-level salaries. There is no racial or color discrimination in the military services and even the African-Americans are given the equal salaries and similar opportunities for growth.

In return for your commitment to serve, most branches of the military have options to help you pay for your education.Couch Potatoes Need Not Apply.If you have watched news footage of our military abroad, you are aware that service personnel work in tough conditions, maneuver difficult terrain, and have many physical demands put upon them. To join up, you must be "fit to fight." You'll need to be in good health, be physically fit, and be able to pass a standard entrance physical exam to meet military entrance requirements.

The military services of the United States are structured into five branches namely.U.S. Army,U.S. Marine Corps,U.S. Navy,U.S. Air Force,U.S, Coast Guard.All branches of the military services are part of the United States Uniformed Services and are operated under the civilian control of the President serving as commander-in-chief. All branches except the Coast Guard are part of the Department of Defense under the authority of the Secretary of Defense, who is again a civilian. The category - Coast Guard, falls under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. Just like any other military, the members of the U.S. Armed Forces hold a rank, either an officer or enlisted and are promoted accordingly.

There are approximately more than 1,426,000 personnel currently active in the military with additional more than 1,259,000 personnel in the seven reserves. Women cannot serve in the combat specialties but they are allowed to serve in non-combat specialties.Apart from the combat services, there are many other ground services such as logistics, transportation, administration, medical, engineering, accounting, public relations, and so on. Further, there is always a big demand of the aspirants to join any of these services. Many of the former defense personnel are now well settled in their life even after the retirement. Moreover, the benefits which they get even after their leaving the services are enough to attract anybody to join the military services. So, you can also apply to the services of your choice and serve the nation with proud and dignity.




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