| There are as many reasons to join the army as | | | | or command. Depending on the exact circumstances, |
| there are recruits, but there are some common | | | | this can vary from quite easy to essentially |
| themes. Some join for a taste of adventure before a | | | | impossible. Such soldiers will probably have access to |
| relatively normal life. Some join to get technical | | | | more of the information needed, for instance, to deal |
| training for a planned career of some sort. Some plan | | | | with a family tradition in the SF or at a specific fort. |
| a career in the Army itself. | | | | There are many families, including mine, with traditions |
| It is certainly possible to change your mind after you | | | | of military service older than the US and a larger |
| join, as to what you desire out of the experience. | | | | number that is merely several generations long. This |
| We can merely plan as best we are able. Once you | | | | can be especially strong in the National Guard, where |
| know what you want out of the experience, you | | | | families can have two generations in a unit easily. |
| can attempt to make that happen. | | | | Naturally, while you may have things you intend to |
| If you are seeking a specific technical skill, | | | | get out of the Army, this is only part of what you |
| determining which MOS, or Military Occupational | | | | will actually get from the experience. You will see |
| Specialty, provides that training is the first step. This | | | | heroism of several types, camaraderie of a type |
| might be a helpful veteran or recruiter, or it might be | | | | which most will never experience, you will endure the |
| the result of a search at a library or on the internet. | | | | dreaded hurry up and wait and wade through enough |
| [ is an excellent source of information about the | | | | paperwork to bury an elephant. You will face and |
| military versions of civilian skills and credentials. | | | | overcome challenges and this will alter what you think |
| Whether you desire to be trained as a French horn | | | | of as a crisis when you get back to civilian life. When |
| player or fuel technician, this can tell you which MOS | | | | the weather gets bad, you’ll find yourself |
| will provide you those skills. | | | | telling war stories about snowstorms, sandstorms, |
| Adventure is easier to find. There are many methods | | | | tornadoes and bright sunshine. You’ll discover |
| that can be employed to maximize adventure, but a | | | | how long you can function without sleep, what you |
| veteran or recruiter can present those options. This | | | | can eat and the power of a leader saying |
| can be pursuit of a combat arms MOS, airborne | | | | “Follow me.” You might even be that |
| training, a track to membership in Special Operations | | | | leader. These things will stay with you even if you |
| Forces or even volunteering for assignment to a | | | | have only done one tour of duty before returning to |
| combat zone. | | | | civilian life, and the growth you’ve experienced |
| Sometimes there will be a family tradition. This might | | | | will color your life from that point on. |
| encourage you to seek assignment to a specific unit | | | | |