Presents information on military careers in such areas as administration, aviation, engineering, law enforcement, machine and precision work, and nuclear operations
CommentsWe have all heard the military slogans: "aim high", "be all you can be", "it's not just a job, it's an adventure", and the classic "the few, the proud, the Marines". Maybe you've heard the radio or TV ads promising enlistment bonuses, up to $40,000 toward college, and so on.
Unless you've had a veteran in the family, your opinion about the military branches and careers may be formed by television, the movies, or CD-ROM games, but beware—joining the military is a critical and complex decision for any person. And the military makes it more difficult by accidental design. How? During the research for this book, I made a casual observation. I walked into a typical military recruiting building where all five of the armed services maintained separate offices. As I went from office to office, I was struck by the fact that each service office, while it would not, of course, knock the other services, strongly stated that only its branch could fulfill your future. And therein lies the problem. It is not up to anyone to decide what branch, program, or occupation is right for you. Only you can decide that.
Up until recently, the military branches required, at the very least, a high school education from the pool of enlisted candidates; however, critical shortages of personnel, which we have now, changed that mandate.
Recruiters may always look for candidates with education, but they may steer other candidates into specialties in which the military has a critical need. In other words, you may go into a recruiter's office with the intent to sign up as an officer in a college ROTC program for computer engineering, and wind up settling for an enlisted position in the infantry. This is not to say that military recruiters are a bunch of unsavory characters, but always remember that they have been assigned a mission to acquire as many qualified candidates to fill critical-need positions (such as infantry).
I was extremely honored to have Lt. General Vernon Walters write my forward, a man who served several U.S. Presidents as an advisor, and whose military career is considered legendary. He is also the author of Silent Mission (1978) and The Walls Falls (1994), both outstanding and highly recommended books.
This book is intended for anyone interested in a military career, as well as by those currently in the military who are looking for a change. It was prepared to make candidates aware of the real possibilities that exist in the United States military.
