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The Bellarion

The Bellarion

The Bellarion

Is The Military Right For You?

When imagining life outside of high school, most students, even some upperclassmen, still have no idea what they want to do or what they want to become later in life. With the expansive variety of possible occupations, many students have a difficult time choosing a single career to pursue. Some individuals in particular may be deciding whether or not serving their country by joining the military is something that they are interested in. If interested in pursuing a career pathway of this nature, a student should consider a few important things: the before, during, and the after of their college education.

Before committing to a military academy or even just the military itself, it’s necessary to fully understand and accept the responsibilities and risks that come with living a military lifestyle.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Karl Gerhart discussed what students should think about before finalizing their decision to join the military. With 27 years of experience in the army, Gerhart explained that, “Other than going to war, the military demands a lot of time, energy, and hard work. Long hours of physical and mental training are inevitable and make for a real challenge. While rewarding in so many ways, the main thing I would advise prospective students to consider is the time that it will take away from family and loved ones.”

Along with considering if the military is something for them, students will also need to choose an academy to pursue their military education. There are many schools to choose from depending on which part of the military an individual would like to be a part of.

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Once a school is selected, individuals can begin to pursue the education that they need in order to be successful in their future career.  Students must be prepared for all aspects of life on campus; both physically and academically.

Sam Berard, a junior at The U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY, gave a detailed description of his schooling thus far when he stated, “Unlike most colleges where you will have ample freedom, when you attend West Point, almost all freedom is stripped from you. Many people will relate West Point to a jail for many reasons. Each student has to take a minimum of 18 credit hours, must maintain room standards every day, and the freshmen must also do duties such as take out the trash, deliver laundry, and clean the common areas. Freshmen are also not allowed to talk outside and must cup their hands, make a fist, whenever they are outside as well. I say all this to make a point that most military schools hold unique challenges that are different from other schools. While we go through these challenges, we hate the institution; but after we are done, it gives everyone a common experience that binds everyone together.”

As challenging as it may seem, Berard made sure to mention that even though the process of joining the military is difficult, it helps strengthen relationships and builds confidence and character.

After students consider their options before school, and do some research on what it will be like during school, there is one final question to ask: What will happen after school? The last thing an individual should decide before going into the military is what they plan to do after they receive their education.

Current officer Major Christopher Johnson, 2001 USMA graduate, when describing some ways former students can apply themselves to different parts of the military, he stated, “Part of the USMA education has to do with teaching cadets leadership skills and teaching them how they can apply these skills to positively influence others. Personally, I’ve used my chemistry degree and my experience in the army to come back and teach cadets the skills that will benefit them later on in their military career.”

While there are many challenges and hardships associated with joining the military, it is also an awesome responsibility. Yes, there will be sacrifices, but that’s the same with anything else in life. Becoming a part of the armed forces requires not only physical ability, but mental strength as well; which is not that easy to obtain. With the being said, when deciding whether or not the military would be right for you, do not take the decision lightly. Really think about your future and what you wish to accomplish later on in life.

Even if the career pathway explained above isn’t for you, it is always important to remember that the military should not be feared, it should be respected. And soldiers should not be ignored, they should be honored.