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Yeap...ok, so official announcement to all...I am joining the Air Force ROTC at my university and seeking an officer's commission in the Air Force. Woot! Yeah, it had to get out sometime so there you go. I decided about a month ago that it was a good choice to make...giving the urgings of my parents of course. Now before you go running off with ideas or whatever at my sudden decision to join I want to say a few things.

First of all, I was not forced into it by my parents who are military, Army branch. Growing up in a military family I've always known how the government takes care of you in every way possible no matter where you go or end up. Great pay, benefits, and job opportunities....especially scholarships when you're in college. The only reason I didn't apply for a scholarship when I got into college was because I didn't see any where in the military that would let me be eventually employed into something I love the most and that is web design, computer art, etc. But I was talking to my parents over Thanksgiving break this year and they were saying that no matter what I wanted to do the military (and whatever branch I joined) would find a place for me. So I happily went forward.

Alot of people have stereotypical views of the military, which really bothers me. Most of my friends know how patriotic I am and I can get a little testy about some of this stuff when people start talking and make ignorant comments in reference to these things. So here I go...

Enlisting: This is when you don't go through college and just sign up with a branch of the military. My dad corrected me when he said that I wasn't "joining" the Air Force...I was joining ROTC and looking for a "commission" as an officer. That means I'm going through college first before taking on duties in the military, unlike the enlisted soldier. Those who enlist never become officers, or higher ranking people who receive more pay, benefits, etc. I'm not knocking the enlisted, because without them it would be hard to maintain any branch, but if you want to get into higher ranks the best way would be through college.

Moving: Just because most military families get moved around doesn't mean that it is a done deal. My particular family chose to move every 2yrs to a different country/location. Most of the time you can choose to either stay where you are or move to a different place, where they give you a list of countries/states/etc to choose from that need your services. It's the same as being a missionary, and alot of missionaries stay in the same place for years and years. When I lived in Suriname I had tons of missionary friends...one of my friends had lived in that place for 10 years. Please don't assume that military = moving, because it doesn't.

Boot Camp: Say whaaat? Ok...the only people who are required to go to boot camp (what we call basic training) are usually those who just enlist right off instead of maybe going into college first. So says USMilitary @ About.com "The Air Force only has one location for enlisted basic training: the 737th Training Group, at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas. Each year, over 35,000 new recruits go through Basic Training at Lackland." Understand now? If you enlist you'll be having fun doing push ups, etc...if you go to college on scholarship you'll just be attending classes. Not to say that there won't be any physicality involved: "The only time you're required to spend participating in AFROTC activities is during your Leadership Lab. This will sometimes involve physical fitness drills � but no drill sergeants following you around!" (AFROTC.com)

Uniforms: I'll settle for an explaination from AFROTC.com: "The only time freshman and sophomores are required to wear their uniform is during Leadership Lab, once a week. Juniors and seniors are only required to wear a uniform to Leadership Lab and during one class session during the week. Occasionally, during special events, you may be required to wear your uniform. Otherwise, wear whatever you want....When you're wearing your AFROTC uniform, your hair must be kept in accordance with Air Force guidelines. For men that does mean a short cut, but not shaved. Women's hair must be cut or pinned up above their collar when in uniform."

Forever Committed: Alot of people think that if you join the military it means you've signed your life away in blood forever and ever until you die. Not true. My father retired five years ago and my mom just did this year. We still have military benefits and my dad still gets a pension even though he still works....the same goes for my mother. AFROTC.com says that "After graduating from an AFROTC program, you'll most likely only have a four-year commitment to the Air Force. However, if you choose to become a pilot, it's ten years after pilot training, and it's six years for navigators after training. Air Battle Managers also have a six-year commitment." Not alot of commitment, eh?

Combat: Ok, one thing that really gets on my nerves is people who believe that being in the military automatically tosses you into barren wastelands full of booby traps, flying bullets and angry men in turbans brandishing knives and machetes. Whatever. Only those who CHOOSE to be in an infantry-related career will ever really have to be out there in the heat of battle. Not everyone will get moved into fieldwork. Really only enlisted soldiers and infantry-trained officers will be the first (if not only) to be out there. Most jobs in the military aren't even related to combat work...see the next thing I talk about...

Job Limits: I think the biggest thing that most don't know about is the vast amount of jobs available. Seriously...and the military will always find a place for you. They will pay to fly you around to different places just for you to find out if you want to do a specific job. My mom was flown all over the US to tail people in their jobs to see if she wanted to do the same thing. The military pays for it all, I'm not kidding. And did you know that the Air Force has jobs like Weather Officer, Optometrist, Occupational Therapist, Dietitian, Veternarian, Family Physician, Midwife, Dentist, Lawyer, Chaplain, and even Band?? And that's just Air Force alone...in the Army you have the same thing including other jobs like Firefighters, Graphic Designers, Journalists, Translators, Broadcasters, and even Mechanics. Just about every job you can think of the military has, no matter what branch. Marines, Navy, Coast Guard...you name it, they got it somewhere. You can even serve a part-time job in the Reserves....not to mention the multitudes of civilian (non-military) jobs you can get without even joining a branch.

Benefits: Another thing that is often overlooked by most is just how many benefits the military can give you. Here are just a few from the Air Force that I am currently looking forward to getting once I graduate from college:

• You don't have to live on base and are not restricted to the base.
• The Air Force offers a benefits package that exceeds most Fortune 500 companies.
• Life is FUN � take advantage of sports facilities, recreational facilities, intramural sports opportunities and golf courses on Air Force bases around the world.
• Pay: Highly competitive salary and allowance package
• Vacation: 30 days leave with pay each year
• Sick Leave: Unlimited; full pay continues
• Medical Care: Furnished at no cost
• Dental Care: Furnished at no cost
• Life Insurance: $250,000 of low-cost term life insurance
• Social Life: Officers' clubs, swimming, golfing, bowling, tennis and more
• Education: Opportunity for higher education with tuition assistance or full scholarship
• Retirement: Opportunity to retire after 20 years with 50% of your base pay (Melissa says: this is if you stay with the Force for that long)
• Promotions: Make first lieutenant after 2 years � make captain after 4 years
• Shopping: Save as much as 25% in on-base stores
• Living Quarters: On-base housing available or off-base housing allowance paid
• Travel: Outstanding opportunities for worldwide travel
• Good starting salary with regular pay raises
• Tax-free housing and food allowances
• Up to 75 percent of your postgraduate tuition costs

I certainly do like the last one, hehe. Click here for Army benefits, here for Coast Guard benefits, here for Marines, and here for the Navy.

I'll also mention that a 2nd Lieutenant (which is the rank you'll come into the military if you go through ROTC) starts salary-wise at about $32,000 a year. Excellente! Click here for the pay charts. An 0-1 is a 2nd Lieutenant and an 0-3 is a Captain.

I felt like writing this because of how so many people really don't know what the military is, stands for, or has to offer. I hate it when they make comments and poke fun at a part of the United States that deserves more respect than any other kind of position or job in the entire world. Military officers and soliders risk their lives for each and every one of us when they go off to fight in combat, and it is beyond my thinking why anyone could not appreciate that. Those who join the military don't do it to promote authority over anyone who doesn't join or anything like that...we do it because we love our country and our families. We want to protect what our anscestors fought so bravely to achieve...a place where everyone can be free to believe and do what they want to...we fight for the Bill of Rights and everything in the Constitution.

If you're laughing at me now for saying all this then fine, be that way...I just hope that you yourself have something in your life that you would fight for...something besides your car or your house or even your education. Something greater that actually has meaning. You might be able to name one or two people that you would gladly die for...your girlfriend...your boyfriend...your mom, dad, sibling, relative...but would you die for millions of people? Do you have the guts to willingly give your life for an entire country full of citizens who wave the American flag? And what about those who don't pledge allegience to the flag or the USA? Would you die for them too? If you would...then you have what it takes to be a military officer or soldier. Not saying that you WILL die for your country if you join the US Military...if you read any of what I read above (by clicking on that link) then you'll understand that not everyone has to fight, that is probably the biggest common misconception ever among most civilians and ignorant people.

The only thing I mean when I say that is that a true military person has extreme patriotism...has respect and a love for their country...they truly know what it means to be an American and to appreciate life...and to die for life. That is what I strongly believe...and that is why I'm joining Air Force ROTC.

Thanks for reading everyone.

UPDATE 2/18/07: I am no longer pursuing JROTC or a career in the Military after trying it out for two semesters, but I still hold the same views as stated above. The military just wasn't for me, that is how it is for many people out there. It is ok to feel this way, but the above points are important ones to understand. I will always support and love the military from this perspective.