IF I Join The Military Will I Have To Fight?

By Jack H. Sousa


If I join the Military, will I have to fight? This is a question that I often hear from potential military recruits when they are contemplating whether or not to join the US Armed Services. And while I cannot give you a yes or no answer up front, I will use this article to help YOU understand this idea and determine if the military is the right choice for you.When you join the US Armed Services, there is of course a chance that you will have to fight, but it's not a guarantee. Back in the day, the word 'military' or 'soldier' was synonymous with hand-to-hand combat.

A quick overview of what happens once you decide to join the military is perhaps the place to start. You will have to contact your recruiter, fill out a mountain of paperwork and undergo a background check. You will have to pass a variety of examinations including fitness, medical, vision, hearing, psychological, and academic.This process can take anywhere from a few short weeks or longer depending on what is involved in your individual situation. Once you pass and qualify you will receive a bootcamp or ship date.

Bootcamp, while quite exciting is no laughing matter. You will endure weeks of intense physical, mental, and academic training. You will be pushed to your limits and perhaps find yourself wanting to quit many times along the way. This is something that you must keep in mind, as only a true desire to succeed will help you survive. After bootcamp you will go through your specialty training school which will prepare you for your specific job within your branch of service. This can take anywhere from a few short months to over a year. While this is quite rigorous too, many find specialty training school slightly easier than bootcamp.

Once the training is complete, your true service begins. You can be stationed anywhere in the world, asked to do any number of tasks related to the work you trained for. You may find yourself in combat, or sitting behind a desk. You may find yourself removed from family and friends for months at a time. I'm not trying to discourage you from joining, but instead want to make sure this is something you've fully thought about before joining.

Determining Your Future With ASVAB Testing,Just because you join the Army does not mean that you will be on the front lines. The Army has many needs and offers many job opportunities for recruits. To find your career path, you must pass a battery of tests known as the ASVAB, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.The tests assess your abilities in the following areas:Word knowledge,Paragraph comprehension,Sum of Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension,Arithmetic Reasoning,Mathematical Knowledge,Numerical Operations,General Science,Coding Speed,Auto and Shop Information,Mechanical Comprehension.Electronics Information.Your score on the ABVAS determines your fitness for the military, as well as your suitability for particular careers. Some jobs require a higher package of verbal skills,while others require math or engineering abilities. If you are aiming for particular career path, you should review the Army jobs list and then prepare to improve your scores in certain areas much as you would for a college entrance exam.

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.

If you set your sights on becoming an officer, you need a bachelor's degree. This might be in progress when you join up, but you must have your degree before you can be promoted to an O-3 or higher in any branch. The military is not an alternative to finishing your education.

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.

So, I do not know what it must be like to be the wife waiting for the husband to return and he never does. I am not mother who sends her son off to battle and prays nightly that he returns safely. As a daughter I have never struggled to understand where my Mom or Dad were and what a war really means.I can only empathize. And today, be grateful beyond words. I do not understand nor do I live in fear as those in war torn countries do. And the reason I don't and hopefully never will is because of all those people who serve our country. Their commitment and courage have protected me and my family through all the conflicts and ugliness.

The military entrance requirements vary somewhat depending whether you want to be on active duty, in the reserve, or in the guard.Age Limits For The Army: Active Duty 17-42. Reserve 17-40. Guard 17-35.Age Limits For The Air Force: Active Duty 17-27. Reserve 17-34. Guard 17-40.Age Limits For The Navy: Active Duty 17-34. Reserve 18-39.Age Limits For The Marine Corp: Active Duty 17-29. Reserve 17-29,Age Limits For The Coast Guard: Active Duty 17-27. Reserve 17-39.Citizenship Requirements Vary.The military defends our country, but you do not have to be a US citizen to join. As long as you are a permanent resident alien with a green card, you can join up. If you want to become a US citizen, your naturalization process will be fast-tracked, so you can attain that goal within a year.If you are interested in joining the military, you should examine all branches to see which one is the best fit for you. A recruiter for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard can tell you the specific requirements for joining and, if accepted, enjoying a fulfilling career opportunity where what you do matters to many people beyond yourself.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

If you like my article, please leave your comments here