As the high school curtains close, a new stage beckons graduates: choosing a career. Upon tossing their graduation caps, many students would choose to march towards a different kind of education, trading textbooks for tactical training. Joining the military post-graduation is about commitment to growth and service, shaping lives beyond the classroom. The military branches offer a unique blend of challenges and opportunities that forge the leaders of tomorrow.
Sergeant Thomas Lenhart is a member of the National Guard who graduated from Joseph A. Foran High School in 2012. He signed on Oct. 2, 2019. Lenhart expresses that being part of the National Guard is beneficial, saying, “You have the option to stay in the town that you live in, which is what I get to do, while serving the community and country on your schedule.”
This branch of the military could be a great option for students trying to discover what career is right for them.
Lenhart says, “I can have a full civilian career, have a regular life here in Milford as I have since graduating while protecting and serving my community at large.”
Some feel the military isn’t an option due to the ever-present pressure of attending a four-year college. If students are not only surrounded by people who advocate for colleges but also people who are going to discuss the choice of the military, it will help students understand that the military is an option as well.
At Foran, Pamela Procyk is the College and Career Counselor. Procyk organizes various branches of the military to come in and speak with students. “Typically this happens in April – it is posted which branch is visiting which day, and students can sign up if they are interested”.
The military enlistment process is different and difficult for all. Lenhart did not know at the end of highschool that being part of the National Guard was part of his feature.
Lenhart says, “When I was a student here, that [the military] was probably the last thing on my mind.”
Lenhart discussed that when he was in high school he took the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. This was what got him thinking to look into the services. The ASVAB test, still offered at Foran, is a timed, multi-aptitude test that determines not only if joining the service is a good fit for the student, but also which branch and military jobs they may be most comfortable in.
Procyk says “About 15-20 students at Foran take the ASVAB each school year.” Students could take this test for many reasons beyond joining the Military. For example, they could take the test because they have a military family background or to get any other benefits it offers.
All service branches offer the opportunity for an education during and after serving. Lenhart is currently a truck driver, but he is looking into joining the medical career field. His civilian job is working on railroads, and some positions require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CDL training can cost up to thousands of dollars, but through the military, he was able to get this schooling for free. He has been to numerous schools and has been building college credits through being part of the National Guard.
The enlistment process is simple once it is decided what service a student would like to enlist in. Some feel pressured to sign the moment they discuss with a recruiter but that is not what they have to do. The recruiter will go through a typical interview to see what the person is looking to do. They will also discuss what the individual’s background includes, and what health-related questions they may have.
After speaking with the recruiter, the next step is the Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS). Here, the individual will go through medical screening and take the ASVAB test again, or if they have not done it already. If the individual qualifies they will learn about different careers they may want to pursue.
Lenhart says, “They’ll typically ask you to write down 10 different jobs you want, they’ll narrow it down to three and then down to one. So at that point, you would sign your contract after reviewing it.”
After signing, the individual would go to a recruitment program to learn skills they will need before basic training, otherwise called boot camp. This is where they teach the job that the individual has signed for. Basic training is considered one of the most difficult processes of becoming a soldier.
Days of basic training start around 5-6 AM and continue for 16 weeks total. Lenhart says “If you are not a morning person, you will become one.”
Each day begins with physical training. Although the soldiers are guaranteed 3 meals a day, they become fast eaters. Mail is the only communication home to friends and family. Daily training can consist of physical training, soldier tasks, qualifications of proper weapon-handling, and team-building..
Lenhart says, “The biggest thing is learning how to get along with each other.”
Lenhart recalls when he and the soldiers around him were put in a room and asked why they joined. There were a variety of different responses. One thing that all soldiers had in common was that they chose to be there and that no one forced them to join. When they are reminded of having one thing in common, it creates a team environment.
Lenhart says, “There is no I in the Army.”
A lot of military members say friends made in the military are considered family. There is also a strong sense of understanding what someone is capable of when surrounded by the right environment. If someone is surrounded by the right people in the correct place, they are bound for success.
Lenhart says, “It turned my life around.”
The military has a behavioral health office that helps individuals with a variety of conflicts including financial, personal, or career. Lenhart is also a Suicide Intervention Officer. He takes calls day and night and his job is to hopefully help the person resolve their conflict.
After high school, the stress of finding a career can be relieved from widening a student’s perspective to more than just a four-year college. When joining the military, students can have a sense of belonging and a look into what it feels like to give back to their community and even country. It gives a feeling of camaraderie and family while also supplying a lifetime career.
Lenhart says, “It all depends on what you want to do with your life because we only have one of them.”
