Pena 1

Anthony Pena

Prof. Charley Bevill

ENGL-1302-MHS05

10 April 2021

The Future of the Military

In today’s perception, joining the military is viewed as a frightening option, especially for

freshman’s and sophomore high schoolers. Many students do not have the complete information

necessary to ambition a military career or take advantages that military programs offer.

Therefore, it is important to implement in every high school around the nation a mandatory

program that could last one semester and could provide to the student high school credits. The

program main purpose is to introduce student in the beginning of their high school years to the

military forces culture instead of waiting to their junior and senior years. By introducing the

freshman and sophomore students into this program would allow them to have a more in-depth

view of what the military offers in its programs. Also, with this course the military forces would

have the possibilities to increase their recruitment rates by explaining students’ different

question. Many misassumptions enforce the fear of joining the military, on this class the students

would be able to clarify and aligned their believes about the program; also, it will benefit to

educate the parents simultaneously. A mandatory, one semester course in high school would be

beneficial for students to expand their options, while they are trying to figure out their future

career path.

First, to ensure that every high school student has access and knowledge to different

military force’s programs, it should be a mandatory, one semester accredited class. Many

students in their junior and senior year in high school do not have sufficient knowledge about the
 Pena 2

military educational programs that could help them access to a free college education. School

seems to lack on informing students about the programs. According to Reuben Weir, a junior

student at Mannford High Scholl, who is searching the different options and information about

how to join the military and understand its benefits, he stated “I didn’t know anything about the

ROTC program.” Many other students like Reuben has not received any information about this

program throughout their high school years. The ROTC is a military program that could help the

student’s aspirations of obtaining a college education while building a military career. Many

low-income families are uneducated on the benefit that these program offers. Based on the

Today’s Military website, “The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program

offered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young

adults to become officers in the U.S. Military. In exchange for a paid college education and a

guaranteed post-college career, participants, or cadets, commit to serve in the Military after

graduation. Each Service branch has its own take on ROTC.” Moreover, this information is only

introduced to the students at the age of seventeen and eighteen while they are completing their

junior and seniors’ years. Today’s Military offers a clear explanation about the requisites on how to

start benefiting from this program; however, because the existence of this age requirement,

younger students and some parents are uninformed about this matter which would require schools

to directly teach the course

Secondly, by introducing a mandatory one semester class as early as the nineth grade, it

could open the possibility for the forces to increment their future recruitment rates. According to

John Spence on his article “The Military’s Real Problem: Fewer Americans Are Joining,” he

explains, “The number of Americans eligible to serve in the military is dramatically shrinking,

leaving the Army at its smallest size in over 75 years and forcing units to rely on unstable and
 Pena 3

unprepared servicemen.” There is evident that the forces struggle to convince civilians to be part

of their institution including young people and their parents. Many changes had occurred in the

forces where they are encouraging the members diversification. This is an important matter for

high school students to learn that the force is welcoming and supporting citizens from different

believes and backgrounds; for example, the sex orientation is no longer a barrier to enlist the

military. Council Foreign Relations on its article “Demographics of the U.S. Military,” express,

“President Barack Obama’s administration allowed openly gay individuals to serve in the

military with its repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in 2010. Prior to that, gay, lesbian,

and bisexual individuals could serve but were forced to conceal their sexual orientation.” By

teaching younger military aspirants throughout their high school year about the underlines details

of the military will open the chances that this students feel connected and relate with this force

institutions; also, encourage them to search into the program as a one life option.

Lastly, the implementation of a mandatory military one semester course, could help to

clarify the misconceptions and the stereotypes in many young students. For many students and

their parents, the military is synonymous of war and the possibility of losing their lives in

combat. According to Damien Cave on his article “Growing Problem for Military Recruiters:

Parents” the article states, “Mothers and fathers around the country said they were terrified that

their children would have to be killed -- or kill -- in a war that many see as unnecessary and

without end.” Moreover, Cave also stated, “Around the dinner table, many parents said, they are

discouraging their children from serving,” this is being a growing issue for military recruiter not

to be able to access households to explain what the military program is about. Another

misconception about joining the force is that this is the last resort for someone life. Many

students seem to think that the military is the last option to go to in case they are not able to
 Pena 4

succeed with their studies. Task and Purpose website states, “People often believe that someone

joins only because her or she flunked out of high school.” With this class students would learn

that there are many other reasons like patriotism, limitless opportunities, and search for structure;

for example, Task and Purpose explains, ‘“The reason for joining the military reported by the

highest percentage of respondents (96%) was to serve their country. Additionally, 74% of

respondents said they joined to ‘improve their life circumstances.”’ Now, the careers

opportunities are also being underestimated by student’s perception of the forces. Many students

believe that the military is about free college tuitions and deployment. However, many students

overlook the fact that the military forces offer a variety of technical training. The article of

Military.Com “Getting Technical Training and Certifications In the Military,” presents,

“According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor electricians, carpenters, construction workers and

computer systems specialists will soon be the most sought after and highest paid workers in the

U.S. In fact, the median annual pay for these professions ranges from $40,000 - $73,000 per year.

Military.Com also explains, “Many of these programs are available to you while you are on

active duty. Some even allow you to attend training instead of performing your normal duties.

Others let you get certifications which will transfer to civilian jobs based on your military skills,

training, and specialties. Still other programs allow you to use your military training to complete

a technical or college degree.” Overall, there are many misconceptions about the military

specially in the student’s minds that make the students overlook a military career.

In conclusion, it is essential that many students have the option to study the military

programs and understand its culture. Many programs had been offering for high school student at

the age of seventeen and eighteen, but the two years before graduating high school might not be

enough for students and parents obtain the proper information and take the decision whether it
 Pena 5

could work or not for them. For example, students like Reuben has not received any knowledge

about program that could benefit their college education and their military carrier at the same

time, for example, the ROTC. It seems like introducing a course that could teach the students to

understand the benefits, requirements, and occupations could be beneficial for the military

institutions to increment their new recruitment rates. This is model had been implemented in

other high school activities, like sports, where student learned at a young age and pursue a

passion for it. The class will fill out many gaps, questions and misassumptions that laid in

students and parents minds. Addressing these issues will open the opportunity for recruiters to

easily reach new prospects, who at this point would have a different view on the military. Lastly,

students would have an understanding of the different career possibilities that the military offers,

like, a college education, a training and certification trades, or by pursuing the different ranges

within the institution.

Works Cited

Cave, Damien. “Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents.” The New York Times, The

New York Times, 3 June 2005, www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/nyregion/growing-problem-for-

military-recruiters-parents.html. Accessed 10 April 2021.

Editors, CFR.org. “Demographics of the U.S. Military.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council

on Foreign Relations, 13 July 2020, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/demographics-us-military.

Accessed 10 April 2021

“Getting Technical Training and Certifications in the Military.” Military.com, 22 July 2020,

www.military.com/education/money-for-school/vocational-training-and-certifications-

program.html. Accessed 10 April 2021

“ROTC Programs - Today's Military.” - Today's Military, www.todaysmilitary.com/education-

training/rotc-programs?gclid=27a7f43de2921759a5b8944fb8bbd7c0&gclsrc=3p.ds. Accessed 10

April 2021

Sicard, Sarah. “6 Military Stereotypes That Are Just Plain Wrong.” Task & Purpose, 2 Feb.

2016, taskandpurpose.com/humor/6-military-stereotypes-that-are-just-plain-wrong/. Accessed 10

April 2021.

Spencer, John. “The Military's Real Problem: Fewer Americans Are Joining.” The Agenda, 15

Dec. 2015, www.politico.com/agenda/the-militarys-real-problem-fewer-americans-are-joining-

000005/. Accessed 10 April 2021.

Editors, CFR.org. “Demographics of the U.S. Military.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council

on Foreign Relations, 13 July 2020, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/demographics-us-military.

Accessed 10 April 2021

Weir, Reuben (High School Student) in discussion with Anthony Pena, April 2021.
Pena 7