GI Joe: Career Guide in Military Service
Memorial Day is observed nationally on the last of Monday of May. A National Holiday, this day commemorates men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who died while in service. Despite its importance, however, some people still forget what this special day is all about. Students, for example, see Memorial Day only as the unofficial start of summer vacation.
But as Army General John Logan suggested in 1868, this holiday should be a yearly day of observance in which Americans ought to “(strew) with flowers or otherwise decorate the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion…” This is to remember “the cost of a free and undivided republic.”
Now for this year, let’s take a step back and give recognition to one of the most vital careers in the country, the military service.
In 2007, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that 2.6 million people served in the Armed Forces. They were active in main segments of the military service: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps. The demand for strong, reliable, and efficient armed forces is needed more than ever now, especially when it comes to protecting our national security.
But with terrorism and other similar crimes constantly in the headlines, you might be asking yourself “why should you risk your life and be a part of the U.S. Armed Forces?” But before you go further into this question, have you thought of the benefits that military service could bring to you? Besides having job security and adequate compensation, there's also the honor of being chosen to serve your country and its people in the bravest way possible.
As reported by the U.S. BLS, career choices for individuals who have met age, educational, aptitude, physical, and character requirements, can apply to numerous jobs in all branches in the Armed Forces. You can be enlisted personnel who will carry out important tasks in a variety of fiends, including combat, administration, construction, engineering, health care, human services, or other areas.
Compensation, on the other hand, is healthier compared to other professions. The earnings of military servicemen are varied, based on the period they became active in the workforce. From the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Finance, and Accounting Service, the monthly earnings of enlisted personnel only working for two months can get $ 1,203. Other personnel who have been active in the Armed Forces for years receive $8,453 monthly.
Aside from the pay, enlisted personnel are given noncash benefits that other careers can't offer, such as medical care, housing, free food, cheaper insurance, and most of all, a sizable pension to give you more security when you reach retirement.
So as you celebrate this year’s Memorial Day holiday, think about choosing a career in military service. Picture yourself as the next GI Joe or GI Jane, protecting your country, its ideals, and your own people. Being a part of the military service is a self-satisfying career- it is an honorable job that gives you the benefits you deserve.
