A blog post that explores the reasons people choose to join the military, advice on how to go about enlisting, and what the process entails.
There is a multitude of reasons for joining a branch of service in which you want to serve your country. The US Army is currently accepting applications from men and women who meet their requirements. This article outlines some of the things you’ll find if you try out for enlistment in this branch of service.
30 Reasons To Join The Military
The benefits of joining the military are immense and you may qualify for specialized training that will set you up for a career after your initial enlistment is over. You want to think about your intentions before making any decisions, but there are many reasons why people decide to join the military as their first step in serving our country.
Challenge
Most people enlist in the military for a challenge. It’s possible that while you were growing up some of your friends were your rivals. You would all compete against each other in school, in sports, or even just in life. If you’ve been competitive your whole life, joining the armed forces is a way to test yourself. The military offers physical challenges as well as mental challenges. It’s at this point you’ll find what level of stamina and endurance you have and how driven you are to succeed at every level of training in which you’re involved.
Note: There are physical and mental challenges in the military that will test your skills. This will be a great way to see if you have what it takes to serve your country on the front lines.
Finance
If you’re a college graduate, the military offers your career an opportunity to move up quickly. You’ll get an opportunity to travel, which will open doors for you in the future. Depending on which branch you choose to join, you might get opportunities to go to different countries and experience new cultures. This is a great way to break away from your mundane lifestyle and explore while being paid for doing so.
Note: This is a great way to make some money and start saving for the future. You’ll get to see the world and make it a better place.
Justice
If you grew up on the streets and you want to make a difference in your community for the better, joining the military is a great way to do this. You’ll be able to help other people by offering them security and protection. It’s much easier to protect those who are your friends and taking care of them while they’re in your charge is a responsibility you won’t mind being given.
Note: There are a lot of people out there that need help. They’ve been dealt a bad hand in life and sometimes they don’t know how to get out. At the end of the day these people need protection and for you to offer this, you’re helping them.
Culture
This is a huge reason for many people who enlist in the military. There are many cultures that you can explore and if you’re curious about one country, you can eventually move there and delve into that culture on a deeper level. You’ll find it’s not always about the material items or how much money someone has; it’s really about family and friends.
Note: This is an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and really learn what it means to be part of a community.
Travel Opportunities
This is a huge factor for many people. There are a lot of opportunities to get to travel the world if you join the military. You’ll get the chance to go to different places that would be hard for most people to imagine.
Note: You’ll find this is one way you can test yourself as an individual while helping out your country at the same time.
Discipline
You’ll learn a lot in the military about being disciplined. You’ll get to learn different styles of discipline and if you’re willing to be a student and listen, you’ll definitely be able to take that back with you after your service is over.
Note: Discipline is something that’s hard to instill in children, but it has its benefits. Your children will have an easier time learning how to function in society if they have a level of discipline instilled within them at a young age.
Get in Shape
You might not be in the best shape now, but joining the military is a great way to get into shape. You’ll learn what it means to be disciplined and if you take this mentality with you beyond your enlistment, you’ll realize that it’s possible to do whatever you want to do so long as you put in the work.
Note: This is a great way to get in shape and also get some discipline for your life as well. The older we become the less exercise we tend to do.
Meaningful
There are some people who aren’t happy with their lives. They’re not sure of what they want or what their purpose is. Joining the military is a great way to find your meaning in life. You’ll be able to make a difference and enjoy the ride as you do it.
Note: There will always be bad people in the world, but there also are good people that can help make the world a better place. You’ll find you have more purpose than you ever had before when you join the military.
Full Citizenship
If you’re an immigrant or permanent resident, you might be waiting for a long time to get full citizenship. Joining the military is a great way to help expedite this process for you. This will help ensure that your family will have some sort of protection and togetherness.
Note: There are many military benefits for you and your family. One of these benefits is the ability to get citizenship sooner rather than later. This is for those that are permanent residents or immigrants.
Education
You might not have gone to college and burned through your student loans, but you can still get a degree in the military. If you’re interested in getting a degree and starting a career, this is the way to do it. There’s also the opportunity to go back and get your bachelor’s degree after you’ve served your country.
Note: There are programs that will help you get your bachelor’s degree after enlisting into the military.
Serve Your Country
The United States Army is going through a “Just in Time” evolution. We are still the most powerful military force in the world and one of the ways we make it that way is by recruiting the best and brightest all over the country, from all walks of life. If you are interested in seeing America strong again and making a positive difference in your life; Service to Country is a better way to go than any other form of cynicism…
More Skills
The military will teach you a wide variety of skills that you can take with you into the civilian sector. You’ll learn how to operate certain machinery and weapons that may help you in your future career.
Note: Skills are the foundation of everything we do and if you have a wide variety of these skills, there’s no telling what cool opportunities will arise for you later on down the road.
Leadership
There’s no doubt that you will be a better leader once you’ve served your country. You’ll learn new leadership skills and how to deal with people in different situations. This is an opportunity to lead by example and take care of others who are in your charge.
Note: Leadership is very important when it comes to getting ahead in life. The sooner you start learning about leadership, the better off you’ll be later on down the road when it comes time to move up in ranks at work or even become a business owner one day.
Different Fields to Grow
If you want to join the Army, but aren’t sure what specialty you want, there are a few fields that you might be interested in. These include engineering, intelligence and cryptology. If you’re looking for something less dangerous, then there are also jobs in the medical field.
Note: The military offers many opportunities for those that want to join and help them serve their country.
New Experience for A Civilian Career
The military is very different from any other field you’ve ever worked in. There are new things that you might never have experienced before. You’ll learn new skills that will help you in your future career, including leadership and communications.
Note: The military offers several benefits not available in any other field. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and your capabilities when you choose to serve your country.
To save money
Most people join the military to pay off their student loans or other high-interest debts. You’ll find that when you join the military, you’ll actually save money by not paying for your student loans or any other debt.
Note: I know a lot of young people that are trying to get out of debt and joining the military can help them accomplish this goal very quickly.
Continue Family Tradition
Somewhere in your family there is a tradition of serving in the military. You might not want to, but maybe you should think about it. You don’t have to do what everyone in your family has done before, but it could be something you’d enjoy doing.
Note: Some families have served in the military for many generations and this can instill a sense of pride that others just don’t know.
Positive environment
Any time you join any type of organization, there’s a good chance that you’ll find some sort of positive environment. The military is no different from this. You’ll be around people who are similar to you and share the same values and beliefs.
Note: The military offers this kind of environment and it’s something that can help you feel better about who you are as a person.
Get paid vacation days
While you might think that the armed forces takes away your vacation days, they don’t. If you’re in the Army, Marines or Air Force, you’ll get 10 paid vacation days for every year that you are in. This is a great way to take a break from your day to day life and unwind.
Note: Everyone needs a vacation once in awhile. The military helps out those who serve by giving them plenty of paid vacation days.
Earn military perks
Some of you might be thinking, “What’s the point in doing all of this if I don’t get to keep any of these perks?” While the military does ask that you give up many of these perks, there are still things that you can keep. You can eat at military-approved restaurants and use military facilities after hours.
Note: There are tons of benefits offered by the Armed Forces and they aren’t wasted on anyone.
Life-Long Friendships
The military is a great place to make life-long friendships. You’ll be around people who are like you, share the same values and beliefs and have similar goals in mind. This is something that isn’t available when you’re working at an office job.
Note: The military offers many opportunities for you to meet life long friends in your senior year of high school or even when you’re a junior in college.
Learning Shooting the Military Ways
Ever wanted to go behind the enemy lines and get military training? Well, this is a chance to do this. The Army and Marine Corps offer Basic Combat Training courses where you will earn combat training in marksmanship. You will also learn how to operate various weapons such as the M-16, 5.56mm rifle, M4 carbine, M9 pistol and grenades.
Mental benefit
Some people think that joining the military is a negative thing, mainly because they’re not allowed to talk about their military experiences. This isn’t true at all. When you join the military, you’ll actually learn some life lessons that will help you in your future endeavors.
Note: There are several benefits to joining the Armed Forces and doing this type of work. The more things that you do, the more skills you will gain and this will help make your life even better down the road.
To do Government Business
While it’s not open to the general public, some people do go through some special processes to make sure they can join the military. This is only available in certain cases and you have to be sponsored by someone.
Note: If you need any type of government clearance or you are working for an organization that requires you to have access to secret information, then this is a great way for you to get that clearance. You might also be able to help your country and keep it safe from enemies by joining the armed forces.
To Help Others
When you join the military, you’ll be helping out others. You can join and help out wherever you are needed and there’s no limit to how many missions you can take part in. For example, if your country is having trouble with a specific region, then you might be able to head that way to help out in a war or mission.
Note: The United States Armed Forces are one of the best in the world and when someone joins them they’ll continue to need their assistance.
Housing Benefits
If you’re a member of the United States Armed Forces, then there are housing benefits that you will get. You’ll be able to get free housing if you are overseas and also have access to a low-cost housing program that allows you to rent an apartment or home at a reduced rate.
Note: The military offers housing benefits for members who are serving in different parts of the world. These programs help them save money and understand how life can be different when living abroad.
Sailing the Sea
The military offers a sailing school program that teaches you the basics of sailing. You will learn how to use sails, mast and rigging. If you’re interested in this, then look into joining the Navy or Coast Guard when you graduate from high school.
Are Called To Join Military
There are many different reasons that people join the military, but most of these people are called to do it. This means that they have a calling and feel that they needed to serve their country in some way. They are called to serve for a purpose and not just for the way their life is now.
10 Reasons Not To Join The Military
If you’re looking for a new, exciting job that combines your love of patriotism with the opportunity to satisfy your need for a stable paycheck, then joining the military might sound like an ideal option. But before you enlist, take some time to consider these reasons why the military may not be exactly what it’s cracked up to be.
MONEY
By joining the military, you’ll pay the government a monthly fee that they call “military pay” or just “pay.” Military pay doesn’t come with any benefits. You can’t make money off of it, but you will have to pay taxes on it. With a civilian job, there are other benefits to your income such as healthcare coverage, retirement and vacation time. The average wage for someone in the military is $17 an hour. That’s $350 for a thirty-six hour work week. Take out taxes and you’re left with approximately $230 or an average of $1300 a month.
TIME
Unless you’re in the military as a doctor, lawyer, or otherwise have a prestigious private sector job, your time spent on active duty will likely be nine months to two years (one to three tours). It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find a job that will allow you to continue working for the same company after your military contract ends, and there’s a good chance that the civilian equivalent of your position won’t even exist.
EDUCATION
One-hundred percent of the military’s jobs require at least a high school diploma. That’s an average of twenty years of your life to earn a high school diploma.
FREEDOM
When you join the military, you’ll be required to give up your freedom in exchange for a job. As long as you follow orders, it is possible to have a successful military career with little freedom or personal choice. However, if you don’t like something about the job, it may be difficult to make your bosses listen to you. Unless you happen to be a high-ranking commanding officer, your opinion doesn’t matter much when compared to the people who write the checks. Remember that freedom isn’t free and join the military at your own risk.
LOCATION
Joining the military will not make you move far from where you live now. When you enlist, you’ll be assigned to a particular base located within a 100-mile radius of your current home. When your contract ends, your job will likely not take you far from the town or city where you originally enlisted.
FAMILY
If military service is important to your family or spouse, then there are other benefits that would make it more beneficial to keep him/her at home. The government offers a program called the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) which is a monthly allowance of up to $500 per month. This amount is for families who don’t have access to tax-exempt military quarters and cannot be combined with BAH. In order to qualify, your family must sign a statement saying they are willing to move anywhere the military tells you and that they do not want any part of the housing allowance or tax-exempt status.
CONFORMITY
When you join the military, you’ll be told what to do and think. You will learn the ways of soldiers and be able to reproduce the same ideology that the military leadership wants from the whole military population. There are many things you’ll no longer be allowed to do because they contradict established policy. Many soldiers grow weary of always being told what to do and start questioning it all.
INCENTIVE
In return for answering their recruiting calls, there is no incentive to serve beyond money. You can’t join and get a better salary or better benefits than any other job you could get. Your military pay is the same whether you’re a mechanic, cook, or office worker. You’ll make the hourly rate during training regardless of what job you end up doing.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
In today’s world, it’s essential to be able to voice your opinions and speak out when necessary. However, when you join the military, your ability to speak freely is minimized. You’ll have to censor yourself and don’t even tell your friends where you are going until you re-enlist. You might be allowed to talk about political issues after you’re back from deployment, but all others topics will be off limits. When you deploy, it’s very important that you remember that your family and friends can’t depend on you. If something happens to them while you’re away, there won’t be anyone who could help them.
CONTRACT
When you join the military, you’ll sign a contract that will last for your entire life. The government will then control every aspect of your life including what you can and cannot do with your own money. Your child’s college education may not be provided for by the military, nor will your family’s health insurance be covered by the government. If you plan to have a family in the future, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for all of their medical expenses if they become sick or injured while serving. The one benefit that military members do get is the chance to have an immediate family member deployed with them.