Stressed, overworked, tired: these are the words I constantly hear from students buried in their college applications. Then they ask me how my applications are going, and I tell them I don’t have to fill any out since I am going into the Air Force. But as I tell them about it and the many benefits, they act surprised, like they never even considered military service as an option.  

After graduating high school, there are so many paths to follow, like trade school, a gap year, the workforce, or the military. However, college is so commonly seen as the default option. College is an amazing opportunity that everyone should consider, but it can cost a lot of money and time. So many high school students should not just go straight to deciding college is right for them immediately after high school; the military should be considered, too.

If you do decide to go into the U.S. armed forces, there are numerous routes to take: the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Space Force, and the Coast Guard.

Now, once you figure out which branch you want to go into, you also need to decide if you want to go into active duty, reserve, or the National Guard. Active duty is full-time and federally funded. The reserve is part-time but still federally funded. The National Guard is part-time and is primarily state-funded. 

Choosing to go into the U.S. armed forces is a commitment that should be thoroughly thought about. There are risks of injury, long-term physical damage, and significant mental health challenges. The military can also involve unpredictable hours and schedules, and lead to a lack of autonomy/freedom since it dictates where you live, your job, appearance, and some aspects of your private life. 

However, all of these potential risks can be limited if you do your research and choose the right path within the military for you. 

Firstly, enlisting in the military can help students find their purpose in life. After graduating from high school, you are expected to know what you want to be and do for the rest of your life. But when you’re only 18, it can be hard to figure that out. According to the Education Data Initiative, as of July 2023, 43.1 million Americans were college dropouts. College dropouts are 100% more likely to be unemployed than any degree holder. 

Going into the military, whether it’s part-time or full-time, allows more time for adolescents to figure out their purpose, if they want to go to college eventually, and what they want to study. It can serve as support while independence still exists. Even some of the technical and job-specific training can transfer over to college credit if your college allows it. 

Even if you decide to go to college eventually, the military will provide financial benefits for service members who attend college. This can help cover the cost of tuition, fees, housing, or textbooks. According to the Education Data Initiative, the outstanding federal student loan balance is $1.661 trillion. Student debt is commonly a financial struggle people have to deal with for the rest of their lives, so why not take advantage of the financial aid the military can provide? 

The military can also simply shape you into a stronger person with valuable skills. Each branch of the military involves training programs that can help with physical skills like running and mental skills like leadership, public speaking, and overcoming adversity. The basic military training for recruits can be hard to go through, but graduating from it can be very rewarding.  

Certainly, the military is not for everyone, but it should be considered by everyone. Many recruiters visit Metea so don’t be afraid to talk to them or even email them, here is a spreadsheet of when recruiters visit our school and their emails.