This summer many students will be trading in their orange and black for camouflage and boots. These students are the fresh faces of the United States military.
Senior Jesi Robinson is one of these students. Last summer, she completed basic training for the National Guard. A member of the military for more than a year, Robinson will complete a job-training course this summer and be a part of the National Guard for the next six years. She said that while visiting a friend, Robinson found her passion.
“I loved it,” she said.
Robinson said her uncle was also in the military. He was a nuclear engineer in the navy.
Like Robinson, senior Erica Laslo is planning to enter the military following graduation. She will enlist in the Air Force Reserves. By entering the reserves she will be able to attend college in the spring of 2010. Being in the reserves means she will not be called to duty, which allows her to go to school.
According to about.com the Air Force Reserves recruited 465 new members in 2005 alone.
The U.S. military does a lot to help its members get an education. The military pays for all of its members to further their education in a collegiate setting.
Inthavongsa said her recruiter informed her that she has opportunities to get college hours while still being in the Air Force.
Laslo is looking forward to good experiences in the military. Both of her grandfathers were in the military and they have told her stories of how much they loved it.
Laslo is also looking forward to serving her country, as well as helping others.
“It was always a dream of mine to help other people,” Laslo said.
Like Robinson and Laslo, junior Katey Inthavongsa is also entering the military following graduation; she is entering the Air Force. She said that one reason she is entering the Air Force is because it is a guaranteed job.
“I’m guaranteed a job until I leave,” Inthavangsa said.
According to America.gov, recruiters have seen a steady increase in military enrollment and feel that the struggling economy is the cause.
In March 2009, the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fear of unemployment is not the only thing that has driven Inthavongsa to the Air Force. Her uncles were in the Air Force and she wishes to follow in their footsteps. One person from every generation of her family has been enlisted in the military.
Another reason Inthavongsa joined the air force is family history. Her uncles and cousins are in the military.
“Its feels a lot better that I won’t be the first from my family to join,” Inthavangsa said, “It’s comforting.”
Inthavongsa said the military is a good alternative to college upon graduating high school.
“College is expensive,” Inthavongsa said. “It’s really hard to get a job with no college app.”
In the military there is a very real chance that at any moment you can be called to duty.
“We’re not always fighting,” Inthavongsa said. “There’s always a chance you will get sent out there.”
When someone enlists in the military they have many options, one option new member have is doing “split ups”. Split ups are helpful for members that are still getting their education.
Split ups are an option that allows students to finish high school and be in the National Guard at the same time. Another perk of split ups is the member is still getting paid like any other member of the military. The member works on weekends and trains during summers.
Training is a very hard part of the process.
“It was not rainbows and butterflies,” Robinson said.