Careers in military provide unique options

Becoming a part of the armed forces is a dream of many high schoolers and it requires a great deal of hard work, dedication and discipline. There are several different paths a student pursuing the armed forces can follow after graduation, and they all result on a road to one of the most highly respected institutions in the country.

Academy

Military academies are some of the most prestigious schools in the country, offering the best possible training for those pursuing careers in the armed forces. Each of these academies is home to a different branch of the military.  

There are currently military academies for the Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force in select locations across the country.

Attending one of these schools before enlisting gives an individual a much higher chance of becoming an officer and having many other opportunities once enlisted. According to the Air Force Academy, a graduates’ starting salary will also be increased.  

Recently graduated Madi Gloss currently attends the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She explains the great impact the school has had on her, “I have learned several things while at the academy…teamwork, trust, leadership, moral courage, and self-discipline.”

Not only does an academy teach the basic principles of the military, but it gives students a chance to decide if the armed forces are right for them before they commit to enlisting, especially at such a young age.

Though attending an academy is useful, it extends an individual’s service time. A graduate will enlist after college, making their retirement date further away than if they had enlisted straight out of high school.

Nonetheless, an academy thoroughly educates and prepares a person for the challenges they will face in the military. Gloss claims the academy helped change her for the better, “As an individual I definitely have changed since high school with being more assertive and willing to try new things.”

The lessons taught at the academy have also given Gloss a new view of veterans; “I am certainly more respectful to the people who have come before me and died for this country.”

Active Military

When many hear the term ‘active military’ it is assumed to mean fighting, driving tanks, and more fighting. In reality, an active duty soldier is open to hundreds of more career paths; many of which do not involve any physical combat.

According to the U.S. Army, there are over 150 different career options for active duty soldiers. The Army offers jobs in the fields of medicine, science, computer design, and much more.

Enlisting in a branch of the military following high school offers several benefits for a recently graduated student; one of the biggest being a finishing your service early. Enlisting immediately provides an earlier retirement, so soldiers have more opportunities to pursue another career after their service.

2011 Perry graduate Chris Spelts explains his decision to enlist in the marines after graduating, “I just wanted to get on with my life and start something right out of high school.”

Spelts describes another plus to enlisting young, “if you serve for four years, you get the GI Bill.” The GI Bill is one that has been aiding veterans since World War II and provides many benefits to those who have served. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains the purpose of the bill is to provide veterans with funds for education, home loans, and unemployment pay. A student wishing to attend college after serving will be rewarded with the benefits of the GI Bill, making a college education essentially free.

While immediate enlisting has its perks, there are a few drawbacks to the choice.

Going straight to the force prohibits someone from going to college right after high school and missing many things their friends will experience. It does not give them the time to decide if the military is right for them before they fully commit in a way such as enlisting.

Despite its cons, those who join the active military come out with a new sense of responsibility and maturity that will stay with them the rest of their lives.