One Team. One Fight.
High school seniors plan to join the armed forces after graduation.
Are boot laces tied? Beds made? Zippers closed? Walking with speed and purpose? All these questions run through the minds of seniors David Test and Tyler Young. Both of these students have signed the roster and will join the Marines and Army to gain financial aid and a connection to their family before them after their time at LHS comes to a close.
Every couple weeks, recruiters from the Navy, Army, Air Forces and Marines come to Liberty to scope out students in hopes of filling slots in their rosters to ultimately place them in a unit. Jobs such as an Engineer, financial management technician, psychiatrist and physician are seen within the different career programs. Students who sign up and pursue a job within the Army go through rigorous training and testing, such as the Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) and boot camp, which dictate their placement in the corps.
“The whole point is stressing you out and having you attempt to learn in an environment that is intended to be stressful,” Test said. “As long as you understand that quitting isn’t an option. You just keep going.”
The person’s placement is based on the scores they received. After completing a three month boot camp and testing, Test is going into a job as a financial management technician. The position’s main goal is to maintain order with the Army’s money and people’s paychecks. Test’s father went active duty and Test has found his involvement in the Army as a way to connect with him.
“I do share something with my dad,” Test said. “He was on active duty and although he went through a different thing, I got a similar experience of military bearing understanding.”
By joining the Military, people join a team. On the team, Young plans on being an Army Engineer for the next five years. As an Engineer, he will work on planes, cars and the development of technology.
“My grandfather was in the Marines for 20 years, and my father went there for five,” Young said. “I just figured it’s not a bad idea.”
Young has yet to attend the training camp because it consists of four phases over the course of three months. Each phase aims to grow and develop martial and survival skills, most notably known for rifle training.
“Every person that goes through replaces a person that comes out,” Young said. “I am just one cog in the machine. I’ll be the replacement for the guy that comes out.”
Young views his unique opportunity to develop his discipline levels through the intense rules they’ll live by. He will also gain the opportunity to travel to countries such as South Korea.
By signing up to join the military a person has the opportunity to work with those who aim toward success and the protection of the nation. A person has to remember they are on a team working toward one common goal. While in the program, people will have the ability to receive college tuition aid and housing by completing a certain number of active years. For more information about the United States defense system and ways to get involved, visit https://www.defense.gov/.
