Serving the United States in the military is one of the most selfless acts any person can take in their lives. A few Trojan students will be undertaking the act of serving our country once they graduate in June.
According to Military.com, about 180,000 high school students join the five branches of the military each year. When asked why they wanted to join the military, the Trojans who will be serving our country provided a variety of different answers.
“My grandfather and father were both in the Air Force for a period of time and I felt that it would be good for me too,” Senior Conner McCormick said. McCormick will be following their lead and join the Air Force after graduating.
Senior Noah Cupp is going to be joining the Army Reserves after high school. “What you’re doing is for something greater than yourself,” he said.
In high schools across the country, recruiters from all five branches of the military visit and tell inquiring students the benefits of joining the military. One of the main advantages of enlisting is the GI Bill, which allows those in the military to attend college free of charge. Another advantage that the recruiters will talk about is the ability to travel the world and getting to experience different cultures and styles.
For McCormick, however, his reasoning for joining was more personal.
“I was really inspired by my father and grandfather and to really try and make them proud,” McCormick said.
It is not uncommon for high school students to join the military because their family served. According to a New York Times article in January 2020, almost 80% of those who recruited in the Army reported that they had a family member who served.
The future protectors of our country noted the sacrifices needed to be taken in order to effectively serve in the military. Joining the military is a brave undertaking that requires the right amount of strength and power.
“We all know the physical strengths that come with the military but the mental strengths aren’t always noticed,” Senior Jazmine Routin said. “Mentally you learn to have a strong mindset, you learn responsibility, teamwork, trust, courage, leadership, respect and so much more.” Routin will be joining the Marine Corps after high school.
The most well-known career choice for military recruits is that of being in the infantry, being placed in the battlefields in the midst of war and putting their lives on the line. That is, however, not the only assignment that recruits can seek. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most military personnel were employed in either mechanical work, engineering/science, or transportation. Some of the specific jobs include being a unit supply specialist, a watercraft engineer, and a chaplain in the Chaplain Corps.
Routin wants to pursue working on military vehicles. “I would like to have a MOS of infantry or Tank and Assault Amphibious Vehicle,” she said.
While in the military, these Trojans hope to learn valuable lessons that will follow them long in life, become accountable leaders in their corps and serve their country with a sense of pride.
“I’m hoping to be a better person overall and have a greater respect for everything that goes on around us and what everyone goes through,” McCormick said.
