I know I don't talk about my day to day job often and surprise most when I tell them that I am in the military. I guess I don't have the stereotypical military person look or demeanor, that is not a bad thing though.
Talking to one of our football players today got me thinking. There are a lot of good reasons to join the military and you need to figure out for yourself what you want to do afterwards and set yourself up for future success. Don't get a job that sounds cool on paper, pick one you can relate to, see yourself doing day to day and also gives you skills to use in the civilian sector. Also determine if you want to be an officer or enlisted. If you want to be an officer, determine if you want to go the ROTC route through college or go to one of the service academies, but that is a whole commitment by itself, phew. Another big decision is if you want to go active duty or guard/reserve, that has a major impact on numerous avenues.
The first thing to consider is that joining the military is an opportunity to improve your life in ways that other jobs don't offer. You'll learn how to lead others, and you'll get a chance to travel around the world. You'll also be able to meet people from other cultures and backgrounds—which is something that can help you grow as a person and expand your horizons beyond what you could have ever imagined.
You can find a job with the military that will let you travel the world, work with like-minded people, and get paid for your education. The military offers many different types of jobs, so whether you want to be an engineer, pilot or mechanic there is something for everyone.
If you aren't sure what kind of job would suit your interests best or if you don't have any experience in a particular field, it's always best to talk with someone who has worked in that field before. You can also ask them about their career path and how long it took them to reach their current position. This will give you an idea of what kind of schooling or training is required for each type of job so that when it comes time for college applications everyone knows what they need from both schools and parents alike!
And when it comes down to it, joining up isn't just about getting money for school: it's about learning leadership skills and roles that will help you grow as an individual—and help other people too! Your training will teach you how to be a leader within your own unit, but also how to lead teams of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life—and that's something that will benefit both them AND you throughout your entire life.
