Have you ever been to our Bayshore Mall and walked by the Army and Marine Corps recruitment office? Have you ever walked by and thought about joining? I know I have. I walked into the Marine recruiters’ office to learn it wasn’t for me. Then I got a call from the Army recruiter. I gave it a second thought and realized just because the Marines weren’t for me, it doesn’t mean that it all isn’t for me.
The most nerve-racking part that I’ve found was walking into the office itself, not certain what would come. The process is fairly simple. You walk into the office, introduce yourself, and then listen. As much as I’d like to believe the recruiters, I like to fact-check. So after countless calls with family and friends who’ve enlisted, I decided I was going to start the process for enlistment in the U.S. Army. I am currently in the process of learning whether or not I’m eligible due to a back injury.
The first question I tend to get from recruiters is “Why do you want to join?” My answer, “Ever since I could remember I wanted to join.” If I make it through the enlistment process, I plan to use a benefit you receive, which is a paid-for education, but it is not my deciding factor for wanting to join. Upon being in the recruiting office, the recruiters will list off all the benefits, which include while being in, free housing, insurance paid for, all meals paid for, and up to 100% paid for schooling when you get out.
The next step is coming to the realization of whether it’s for you or not. If you decide it is, the recruiters will set up a meeting with you, and if you’re under 18, your parents will get their blessing to start the full recruiting process. No papers you sign at this point say you’re committed. You make a plan to go to the Military Entrance Process Station, aka MEPS, and off you go.
At MEPS, you go through testing and a physical to make sure you’re capable of working this demanding job. This is where roadblocks normally occur. From my personal experience, I wasn’t able to sign any contracts due to needing waivers, but are currently in the process of being looked over. Said waivers are assigned when you have an injury that might prevent you from being physically capable of working in the military or if you have a criminal record. For both situations, the waivers are sent for review by your military branch’s general or nurse. The majority of the time, the waivers go through; sometimes they won’t, though, which you should not be ashamed of because you tried. If you don’t need waivers, you go through a “job interview” where you choose your job and where you will be deployed to when you pass basic training. Then you swear in, and you are officially considered a member of the U.S military.
If you have a calling or a reason to join, I would 100% recommend you give it a shot or call your nearest recruiter and get some information. It is an honor to say you served your country, as fewer than 1% of American citizens join. Even if you just do your time and get out, it is still an honor, and you should be proud of yourself. If you give it a try and can’t make it pass MEPS, you should still be proud that you had the courage and drive to do something that 99% of citizens don’t.
