Should You Go to College or Join the Military?
One of the freedoms we get to enjoy in the United States is freedom of choice. It’s a freedom many countries don’t have. In some countries, military service is mandatory. In ours, the only time service was required was when the draft was in place, and that was many years ago.
For some, the military is a choice they’ll never make. I honestly believe this is what makes our military weak. After high school, or even later on in life, many choose college. Yes, this is a great choice, however, nowadays with online college degrees many people should consider time in the military.
With opportunities to have college paid for by the military, why not?
Which Is Better?
For me, even though I had the opportunity to go to college after high school on an athletic scholarship, I still knew and felt it was my duty to serve in the military. When you ask the question, which is better? Well, it depends on who you ask and that will determine the answer. For most veterans, they’ll most likely say the military should be required.
There are many different reasons I think serving in the military is better. With the lack of discipline today in today’s youth, this could end up benefiting many. The other fact is, with the constant threat of terrorism reining everyday, we need to be better prepared to defend our own country and our borders.
College vs. Military
College will give you knowledge, but the military will give you experience and knowledge. This is why so many civilian companies have a preference in hiring military veterans.
Leadership experience is not gained in the classroom. You might learn some theory on leadership, however, you won’t gain the experience that you would through the military.
For many, the military is a second choice simply because they’re lazy and they don’t want to, or can’t handle, the ongoing commitment the military requires.
The Things You Gain from Military Service
These are the four main things you will gain from the military:
- Discipline
- Dedication
- Determination
- Desire
These are also the four main things that will lead to, not only a successful military career, but a very successful civilian career if you decide to leave the military.
Think about It
You won’t gain these from college. You will gain plenty of knowledge towards a career, however, look at the amount of unemployed college students and their struggle to find gainful employment.
Our country continues to show its weakness simply online and in person. We should hope that we don’t end up fighting a real war because if we do, we may have a rude awakening through our enemy.
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Integrity - March 20, 2018
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Honor - March 19, 2018
- Veterans without Care: What’s Wrong with the VA? - December 18, 2017
