Joining the Military After High

Joining the Military After High School

Serving the country is one of the greatest honors of American citizenship. Joining the military at a young age potentially provides funding for college tuition, valuable technological and vocational training, and a lifetime of support networks. Moreover, military service fosters self-discipline, character development, and cooperation. The experience can leave an indelible mark on the young person's life, forever altering his or her perspective toward international politics as well as toward more abstract concepts such as courage and honor. Furthermore, joining the military immediately after completing high school offers many Americans the opportunity to earn college credit or funding for their educational advancement: neither of which they may have been able to afford otherwise. The most apparent drawback to military service is of course the danger of combat. Especially when the nation is embroiled in war, service might mean front-line battle. Young military officers risk their lives in the service of their nations, and could potentially die in duty. Yet their service would be forever remembered by all Americans as honorable. High school graduates who join the military earn positive benefits including financial support; career and educational experience; respect and accolades; and social and personal development.

One of the primary reasons to enter into military service immediately upon graduation from high school is to earn college credits and tuition and therefore military service benefits millions of students from working-class or poor families. College tuition has skyrocketed in recent years and scores of hard-working families cannot afford to send their children to school. Students who opt for military service receive financial incentives that will help them to afford college. Upon the completion of basic training, new recruits can also earn credits that would also help offset the costs of college tuition. In spite of the various dangers military service entails, family members would ultimately benefit from their children's service and the likelihood of a calamity is statistically low. Military service, because of the financial opportunities it opens for recent high school graduates, can result in improved career options and outlooks for the future over simply entering into a community college program or obtaining minimum-wage jobs.

In fact, a second primary benefit of joining the military immediately after high school is for the vocational and educational experience service offers. While in the military, new recruits specialize in systems of their choice. Skilled military professionals teach their new recruits about technologies and introduce young military officers to the basics of military theory, tactics, technique, and international relations. In the military, recent high school graduates come into contact with specialists in international terrorism and peacekeeping as well as intelligence and criminal justice. Exposure to a wide range of concepts and ideas might stimulate young minds and inspire many young men and women to pursue careers they may never have even known existed. Military training means more than the physical rigors of boot camp; new recruits also learn about the state-of-the-art developments in weaponry, surveillance, and information technology. A potential political career and professional military career are other potential outcomes of early military service and training.

Because of the vast educational and professional development opportunities available to the new and youthful recruit, military service also entails valuable personal and social skills development. The basic training endured by all new recruits taxes both body and mind. Getting into physical shape is one of the possible benefits of military duty. Military training is also notoriously rigorous and highly demanding. Senior officers require continuous respect and obedience and therefore the young recruits learn about deference to authority. Consequently, the new officer develops admirable self-restraint and self-discipline, traits that come in handy throughout the rest of their lives. Troubled teens or at-risk youth may therefore benefit most from early military service. Joining the military immediately after graduating high school might preclude the young adult from embarking on a lifetime of criminal or deviant behavior. In addition to personal psychological development, the new recruit also develops valuable social skills. Living in close quarters with peers engenders trust and leads to lasting friendships with people from diverse backgrounds.