For many students at Massapequa High School, much of their Senior year is spent filling out long college applications and eagerly awaiting letters of acceptance. Some students, however, are running miles, doing push-ups and pull-ups, and memorizing their General Orders. These young adults are the few who seek futures within the military, be it as a soldier, a Marine, a sailor, or an airman.
Just like applying to college, it’s a long and difficult road to a life in the military. Instead of studying for their SAT’s and ACT’s, they are studying for the ASVAB. The ASVAB, or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a test that determines how qualified potential enlistees are for certain jobs within the military. The ASVAB tests applicants on a variety of subjects, including reading comprehension, vocabulary, arithmetics, mechanics, engineering, and more. The ASVAB can be just as important as any other test a high school student can take, as it determines their future in the armed services. The higher a person’s score is in these categories, the more jobs that will be open to them. After taking the ASVAB, the potential recruit takes the oath of enlistment, and officially becomes a part of the United States Military. After this, a ship-out date is set to leave for basic training.
The test isn’t the only thing that potential recruits must prepare for. Any individual joining the military must be ready to face their physical limits, and work toward getting into top physical shape. Physical endurance, upper body strength, and abdominal strength are some of the most important parts of preparing for a life in the service, and are heavily emphasized even before recruits leave for boot camp. Applicants can expect plenty of running, lots of pull ups and push-ups, and many abdominal crunches in preparation for enlistment. However, as important as physical prowess is, having a strong mind is just as, if not more crucial. It’s one thing to be able to go the distance, but it’s a whole different level to have the willpower and the drive to do it. Joining the military is a difficult decision for many, since it involves signing a very important contract that will essentially determine the next four or more years of a young adult’s life in the Army, the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, or the Coast Guard.
Senior Zach Solomons has already enlisted in the Marine Corps and is set to leave for boot camp soon after graduation. “I can’t wait,” he said. “It’s awesome knowing what you want to do right out of high school, not many people do.” Every week, Zach does physical training with other young men and women who also aspire to become United States Marines, often running up to five miles along with other excruciating exercises. “It’s hard, but it’s all about motivation.”
While it’s an uncommon choice, many high school students consider joining the military as a way to kick-start their lives. The armed services can teach discipline and good work ethics, as well as many other technical and practical skills, all while earning a paycheck.