Should I join the military? Might be a question you are asking yourself. And only you can decide if the military is right for you. But hearing the advice of service members can be a useful tool in helping to determine if the military is the right place for you. At the end of each Women of the Military podcast interview, I ask my guest what advice would they tell young women considering military service. I have pulled all their answers together to help you as you answer the question, should I join the military?
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Advice from military women – part 1
Advice to help you answer, should I join the military?
Kerri Jeter – Episode 108
Right now this day and age, you can’t throw a rock without finding some kind of support group on Facebook or in your town, that there is not a woman who served. So find somebody who can lead you well as you’re going into the service.
Danique Masingill Episode 109
Do it. Always show up at the front line.
Sarah Maples Episode 111
I would say it’s going to be the best times and the worst of times, you’re going to do things that are great, and you’re gonna do things that aren’t great. But if I had to look back at my adult life and put my finger on the one thing that’s had the biggest impact on shaping it, it would be the military.
Rear Admiral Melissa Bert – Episode 112
Well, I think it’s always neat to experience service and military service in whatever way you want to perform it. But it does change you. So you’re not going to be the same person afterward. And if you’re doing it because you want to get the GI Bill or any of that good for you think it’s a wonderful way to pay for education but you won’t be the same afterward.
Jasmin Moghbeli – Episode 113
My opinion is you should never do something just because you think it will get you to be an astronaut. You know, if you look at just my class, or even the astronaut office as a whole, so many people took so many different paths to get to this point. And I think every single one of us would be willing to admit, there’s also some luck involved, you know, I could have done everything right, quote, unquote, throughout my life, and still not been picked up for this.
Charlan Rieve Episode 114
Yes, you can. So I mentioned earlier, the size of the employer, right that the US military is a branch, you’re getting diversity, you’re getting a slew of opportunities, and you’re going to learn about different kinds of career fields. So yes, you can do it.
Allie Braza Episode 116
So do it. Definitely go and join the military. It will change your life for sure. But I would say always, always maintain your moral high ground, there’s going to be a lot of temptations out there. And as long as you maintain your moral high ground, you’ll do great.
Annie Brock Episode 117
Number one, do it because the military needs you. Because that is the way we make change. There’s are still big changes that need to be made in the military. And we can’t do it without women. But I think the thing is to go into it with your eyes open to stay hard and fast to your principles.
Elaine Little Episode 118
Well, first, I got to preface this by saying I never listened to any advice I was given. When I was joining the military, no one offered any but if they had I wouldn’t know. But still I’ll put in my two cents. I would say pick a job that you like don’t be enticed by money. Money is meaningless. Okay. It’s not meaningless.
Rojan Robotham Episode 119
I want to encourage everyone to continue to soar, to think about those kinds of things about how you can incorporate into it. And to find a way to keep on keeping on. I know, it sounds like a platitude sounds like oh, you make a counter movie.
Andrea Asendio Episode 121
We are crushing it with breaking barriers it feels like almost every week. So I say get out there, get your get yourself dirty and do it. If you want to be an infantry officer or if you want to drive tanks. I think the sky’s the limit. I said go out there and do it.
Phyllis Wilson Episode 123
I would tell them to do it. You never know until you try it. And I would tell all young women who are looking at joining the military, I would not try to sway you to do a certain job or join a certain branch. Because at the end of the day, it’s all the US military, I would challenge them to do their research to find the branch and the job that fits what their desires and goals are, because their needs can be met in all of the branches.
Crystal McFadden Episode 124
It’s twofold. One is for both sides. One is, know your value. And when you’re joining the military, that part of you is just beginning. But don’t question that you are a woman who was created with beauty from the inside and held a woman is a strong individual who is called to do more things on this planet than most people could ever imagine.
Dr. Anne James Episode 125
The same advice that I gave as a recruiter when I work as ROTC is no, the good and the bad. Do your research before you make a decision. Don’t just look at, oh, it’s a steady paycheck, and I get the travel and benefits. Yes, that’s all part of it. But are you okay with going to war? Are you okay with being separated from your family?
Marissa Rock Episode 126
So I’d be lying if I said, I would wholeheartedly recommend it only because thinking of what I would say to a future daughter, I just want to be clear and say I believe women are fully capable of serving and are valuable to the military. But you know, they have to take some things into consideration that men don’t necessarily have to, such as the prevalence of sexual assault that we talked about, which is powerfully conveyed in the documentary, The Invisible War.
Danielle Kilian Episode 46
There are so many opportunities for women in the military. Encourages everyone to serve in the military for a few years. The Army has changed her as a person in a very good way. The Army built me up into something I woul
Carrie Peterson Episode 48
Do your research. Figure out what jobs are available. Check to see what you can do after you leave the military behind. Embrace it all. Prepare for the ASVAB and always check to make sure the information the recruiter gives you is correct. Stay connected to your family as best you can.
Rachael Cooper Episode 52
I would tell young women that do it, or one because the pros outweigh all the cons, you know, try to go to an academy, if you can’t go to an academy, go to ROTC in a technical degree, because the pay is way better. But specifically in the military, not just career field related, but you know, stick to your principles. I think that that’s really critical.
Janet Apling Episode 5
Military life is challenging. It’s fun. It’s totally different than civilian life. Because when you go into the military, whether you like it or not, you’re being indoctrinated to learn to obey an order immediately without question, because your life may depend upon an easy question later, but not at that moment.
Want to hear more advice from women? Check out these episodes as well
Episode 100 – Advice from military women
Episode 138 – Pros and cons of military service
