I didn't necessarily expect to join the military when I was 18. However, I graduated from Southport High School in 1972
and went to four years at the Air Force Academy. It seemed like a good idea at the time and I honestly didn't know what to expect.
It was only after joining the Air Force and attending the Academy that I found out what military life was going to be like.
Some young folks know alot more than I did because they had a member of the military in their family or maybe even lived the life while their parents served. But for me,
I went from being a preacher's kid with no exposure straight into the yelling drill sergeant/upper classmen yelling at me to do whatever they wanted.
That isn't a bad thing and honestly, it wasn't a shock either. I kind of expected it. And, it didn't take long for me to adapt to it either. I did what they told me to do and joined my fellow basics as a team
to help each other get through it. Military life is very big on depending on each other and building a team of trusted comrades.
Another big reason I didn't have as many problems was because I was already in shape. You need to be ready for the physical stress before you get into the military.
Don't count on them putting you in shape...although they will. It is more a shock to your body if you weren't in some kind of shape before joining.
Although you think it will, basic training doesn't take forever. If you have a mind to and depend on and help your buddies, you can make it through.
The military has two rank structures...enlisted and officers. Both groups go through Basic Training. After Basic, each person will almost immediately begin training in their specialty field. This could involve
a move to another base or not. But the military wants to start training you into the field of your expertise as soon as possible.
I joined the Air Force. Of course, I will tell you that it is the best service to join. It is certainly the most competetive to get into. But, I encourage anyone interested in a military career to
research life in that service, where training and base locations might be and watch lots of videos on what life might be like...because it is definitely different than life in the civilian world.
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard...and now Space Command all have requirements for recruits. Know where you want to go before you sign up. You might not get your first choice (that is a slogan you will remember your entire career),
but serving in the military is a noble calling, a challenging life and a rewarding future. GO for it!
As I mentioned, I went straight from High School to the Air Force Academy. I will talk about that in a minute. It is not for everyone. But, you might be interested.
My son, Josh, chose to volunteer to join the Army. He went to a recruiting office and they advised him through his process. You need to be a high school graduate, so finish up strong!
It isn't hard to find a recruiting center. There is probably one close to where you live. Plus, you are certainly adept at using the computer. Just google it.
Here's an example of what I found:
"To contact an Air Force recruiter, visit airforce.com/find-a-recruiter, use the phone number 1-800-423-USAF (8723), or use the chat feature on the Air Force website; these methods connect you to local recruiters for enlisted, officer, and healthcare roles, with options to find someone near you or get online help." All the other branches
of the service have similar websites.
I mentioned that I went to the Air Force Academy. It is in Colorado Springs. The Army has West Point in New York and the Navy has the Naval Academy in Maryland. These schools are very competetive.
I was fortunate that I got in. To enter the U.S. Air Force Academy, applicants must be U.S. citizens, aged 17–23, unmarried, have no dependents, and possess good moral character. Competitive candidates typically have a high school GPA of 3.8 or higher, top-tier class rank, strong SAT/ACT scores, and a record of leadership in extracurricular activities. A congressional nomination is required.
Each of the academies has a website you can look at for admission requirements. Here is an example of the one for the Air Force Academy:
https://www.academyadmissions.com/requirements/
  
Each of the academies are four year colleges with intensive classes, stressful physical requirements and lots of time spent just in training and academics. These are the hardest schools to attend in the country, so if you aren't real academically motivated, they probably aren't for you.
The academies are the best way to become officers in their respective branches. However, they are not the only ones. To be an officer, you must be a college graduate. But you don't necessarily have to go to the academies. My son in law, Ben, graduated from Oakland City College near Evansville. After graduation,
he applied to the Air Force, competed for entrance and won a place, not only in officer training but in a Pilot Training position as well.
The military loves motivated men and women. If you have the desire to excel, they will help you do that.
What most people like the most about the military is that they will teach you a skill or profession that can suit your lifestyle and personality as well as your skills. This training will be useful for your whole life. Many who leave the military find very good jobs in
their chosen fields throughout the rest of their lives.
Many people love the military...some do not. It isn't everyone's calling, and sometimes it isn't what you expected or what you wanted in life. That is ok. The military life isn't one you sign up for for the rest of your life.
Some folks choose to make the military a career...often of twenty years or more. The pay is steady and increasing over the years, the health care is provided, if you like to travel you will see the world. Others, however, choose to not stay for the entire career. Commitments are rarely over four or five years.
And, if that lifestyle doesn't appeal to you any more, you can separate from the military and usually find a pretty good job out in the "real world" after your term of service.
A life of discipline comes with the choice to join the military. You give up some of your personal freedoms...choosing to wear whatever you want, having any option to live anywhere you want to live and choosing to just quit a job you don't like. But along with the disciplined life
comes job security that you can't always find outside. If you like to lead and move up in your career field, the military offers lots of opportunities for that to happen. The service you choose will decide where they need your services...where they want you to live. Remember that if you join the Navy, you might be
in a ship at sea for long periods of time. The Air Force moved me six times in twenty years with moves to training locations in between lots of times. If you have a family, they can usually move with you...but not always. Remote assignments can happen some times to very remote locations of the world or dangerous
locations where others cannot accompany you. That might not be for you.
In short, the military style of life isn't for everyone but it isn't a bad life. It is a life of discipline and loss of some personal freedoms but it is also a pretty dependable life with many challenges, rewards and opportunities you won't find anywhere else.
Although I didn't really know what I was getting into at age 18, I never regretted joining and look back fondly on many of my experiences in 23 years in the military. Sure, there were lots of disappointments that my family and I got through. But I was always convinced
that the service I gave to my country was valuable and almost always appreciated. Those years in the Air Force helped me get a great job after I retired. I am still enjoying the retirement I received from the Air Force today and for the rest of my life. It isn't a life style for everyone. But, I would encourage
any young person to consider it.
I believe the military, like all other areas of life, needs good Christian men and women serving, leading and influencing the direction of our nation in this, and many other ways available in our society. If you'd like to talk to me more about any of this
please feel free to shoot me an email at daveweb1@aol.com
I'm available to speak to your youth group or church at future dates. Feel free to contact me at that email address
or though this website for possible opportunities. God bless you as you seek His direction for your life!
Web Site Designed by Rev Dave Matthews. To contact him, send an e-mail to:
Daveweb1@aol.com
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