<p>Hi. I’m currently a junior in high school, and along with ROTC, have been considering applying to a service academy. I have a question that I’m sure most of you have asked yourselves - is the 5 year obligation dangerous?</p>
<p>My parents are generally supportive - but I believe they are still skirting around the question of the obligation and have numerous times hinted at the risk of, you know, dying. I have always dreamed of a military career, and if I was to get accepted to WP or AFA, I would be motivated to go, but the idea of serving 5 years still concerns me. Here are the questions I have.</p>
<li><p>Where do you get deployed? How is it decided?</p></li>
<li><p>Where CAN you get deployed?</p></li>
<li><p>How have you and your parents talked about the 5 year obligation?</p></li>
<li><p>Would serving in the USMC or USAF be “safer”</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I do not want to sound like a wimp or a ■■■■■. I have no problem serving my country, but what bothers me is to think of my parents sitting at home, worrying. I don’t want them worrying themselves sick. For the last question, I do not want to sound too calculating either. I am interested in going to both (if I get accepted) but my parents are more supportive of me going to USAFA because they believe it will be somewhat “safer” (up in the air as opposed on the ground). How credible is this?</p>
<p>As an entering USMA cadet I believe I can adequately answer your question. However, I suggest you search your heart to ask yourself if the military is the right decision for you if you are genuinely asking yourself this question.</p>
<p>But to answer your question:</p>
<p>You don’t have to choose combat arms. There are multiple branch selections that do not place you directly on the front lines. </p>
<p>From the USMA website:</p>
<p>After graduating from West Point, you will be commissioned in one of several Army branches. You may want a combat arms branch such as Infantry, Field Artillery, Armor, Air Defense Artillery, Aviation or Combat Engineers. You also may choose a combat support branch such as Signal, Military Police, Chemical or Military Intelligence. You may also want to choose one of the combat service support branches such as Ordnance, Quartermaster, Transportation, Adjutant General or Finance. Opportunities are also available for the Medical Service Corps or the Judge Advocate General Corps later in your service career. You will advance to positions of greater responsibility in each branch based on your abilities.</p>
<p>The bold information are the branches that are not in direct combat.</p>
<p>It’s not a will, it’s a when you will get deployed. It will be to combat, either in Iraq or Afghanistan, or wherever else the leaders of our Nation decide to send you. True, support branches aren’t out in the nitty gritty as much, but there is an inherent risk involved in serving no matter what (even before the war, Soldiers died in training accidents and what not, it is a dangerous profession). I spent 14 months in Baghdad, it worried my mom sick, but this is the job that I want and I could not fathom doing anything else; as I see it, our Soldiers deserve the best leaders they can have and we have an obligation to them. But yes, it is dangerous. In the last 10 months I’ve lost 4 friends, I’ve had one lose a leg, and I’ve seen 6 great Americans from my battalion killed in action, but at the end of the day, that is the stakes we deal in. It’s good you’re asking these questions now, because not thinking of it until after you’re already in is too late. Some people are not cut out for it. You need to look inside and realize that yes, there is danger involved, but there is also danger in driving to work each day, there is danger in swimming, there is danger in all that we do. Nobody said it was easy.</p>
<p>Are you attending the one-week summer session at West Point to get a feel for what it will be like? It’s called Summer Leadership or something like that.</p>
<p>“I have no problem serving my country, but what bothers me is to think of my parents sitting at home, worrying. I don’t want them worrying themselves sick.”</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has a problem serving their country if it doesn’t require any real sacrifice. </p>
<p>I don’t understand why you would consider joining the military if you want to avoid things like this. There are many other options: Peace corps, teaching, community activists, politics.</p>
<p>“I do not want to sound like a wimp or a ■■■■■.” - Noone wants to sound like a wimp, that doesn’t mean you don’t.</p>
<p>USMA2013, exactly where are the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan? I think it would be an interesting conversation if you told the MP’s on patrol or the transpo platoon on a convoy that they won’t see direct combat.</p>
<p>Be aware that by law, USMA is required to commission 80% of their male grads (I’m assuming you’re a guy) into combat arms. </p>
<p>Being a military officer in any service, branch or position carries with it some risk, and (its not my intention to be mean) if you worry about your parents worrying, then maybe you need to take a gut check about your decision. But you’ve still got time, so don’t sweat it until you are debating whether to accept to the academy, or take the ROTC scholarship. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Someone needs to defend our country; the service academy populations are made up of those who are willing to step up and do so. </p>
<p>Why are you considering Service Academies if you are going to go all whinny about the sacrifices involved. The academys are probably not a good fit for you. These people are NOT playing soldier - they are the real thing.</p>
<p>Don’t be so hard on Chockstock. He’s trying to figure things out and he doesn’t have parents who know enough about service academies at this point. They’re worried and he’s worried about them. He’s trying to learn. His questions are really pretty normal for somebody who is just beginning to research the option. Once he has all of his info, he can decide if it’s a good fit for him or not. Or Admissions can.</p>
<p>Chocstock: The first question you have to ask yourself is “do I want to be an officer in the US Army?”. If the answer is yes, then continue looking at USMA as an option with the understanding that as screamingeagle says you will have chosen an inherently dangerous profession. Along with that choice comes a roller coaster ride of emotions for your parents; however, the choice always needs to be yours and not that of your parents. </p>
<p>What exactly is your dream? What do you picture yourself doing in the military? If you know where you want to go in your career it will be easier to figure out how to get there. </p>
<p>One word of caution, and this may not be true for you, but do not choose USMA because it offers “free education”. You may not be charged for tuition etc. - but it is not “'free”.</p>
<p>You should do what you want, not what your parents want.</p>
<p>If you are afraid of a 5 year commitment and aren’t willing to make sacrifices for our country you might want to consider a different career path.</p>
<p>If you decide to enter West Point, expect to serve in combat. Combat now days can be a little different than conflicts of the past but you still have to be prepared to risk your life as required. I am currently in Afghanistan (previously served in Iraq, Balkans, Haiti). Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you can avoid danger by serving in Logistics Branch or joining the Air Force. Most of the enemy caused casualties in my unit over the ten months that I have been here have been support personnel. The last two KIAs we had were Navy. Having said that, the odds are very good (amazingly good by historical standards) that you will go home in the same condition that you arrived. Just go in with a realistic outlook.</p>
<p>If you want to serve but want to be well out of harm’s way, join the Navy (excepting the Marine Corps). Next safest is the Air Force. I’d put the Army and Marine Corps as equals.</p>
<p>If you don’t want your parents to worry, join Teach for America.</p>
<p>For those that want a perspective on this years graduating class, and the future of our “Global Contingency Operations”. Col Gentile is a very impressive man to talk too (and listen too). The interviewed firsties give a good cadet look.</p>
<p>why are you worried about a five year committment??? uhh hello—your going to a military academy. if your goin to just get a good education and then leave the army at first possible time to be a doctor or somethin, dont go! </p>
<p>i want to be at the academy with other men/women who want to be officers in the US army. if thats not your goal, go somewhere else; we dont want you.</p>
<p>i dont want my back protected by someone who’s worried about being deployed. maybe you should be in the state college forum.</p>
<p>Wow, this forum has gotten increasingly hostile in the past 4 years… Current cadets need to chill out a little bit. I remember when you guys were applying and asking questions here, and I know momoftwins and Ann remember when I was too a little longer before that. The kid just wants more info on what he’s getting into…</p>
<p>COL Gentile is actually my teacher right now. He’s extremely interesting to listen to, particularly because of his view on the insurgency and the surge.</p>
<p>Joining the army in any capacity means you are willing to put your life at risk. Military recruiters can talk about opportunities like being in a military band or journalist or whatever, but the fact is, they own you, body and soul for five years. That’s not necessarily a bad thing–I’ve known young men and women who have found their battlefront experiences to be the most exhilarating and compelling memories of their lives. But you have to know that’s why the army is recruiting–because they want soldiers who are willing to risk their lives. That’s why there’s a West Point. If you don’t want to face danger, you really shouldn’t go to West Point. But if that kind of life of service, cameraderie, etc., is for you, go for it!</p>
<p>It was over 4 years ago that you were trying to decide between your options and you decided on West Point. I hope I get the opportunity to see you as a Lt. on May 23. If not, best of everything to you and here’s hoping you get to “roll around in the mud”.</p>