Joining the military is not the wild flight of fancy it used to be for women even 10-15 years ago. More women are joining the army, navy, and air force than ever before, and some are even ending up on the front lines of conflicts. So, if you want to pursue a military career, what can you expect, and how can you prepare yourself for service? We’re going to find out right now in our short guide on joining the military as a woman.
Getting Started
When you first sign up to the armed forces, you will be put through a rigorous testing process. Basic training, boot camp—whatever you want to call it. It’s important to get yourself in good shape beforehand, as you will need to keep up with the fitness side of things if you want to survive until the end. And, if you are under-prepared and unfit, you won’t last a week.
Acing Your Training
You can expect to get some grief from your fellow trainees at boot camp. And it might make you feel like you need to push yourself even harder to prove people wrong. While you should always try your best – and it will stand you in good stead—be careful not to overdo it. An injury or attitude problem could see you off the course, and it might see an early end to your military career.
Fitting In
While a lot of work has been done to encourage women into military careers, the army, navy, and air force are still dominated by men. And that makes fitting in a bit more for the girls than it is for the boys. However, you don’t have to feel like you are ‘one of the lads.’ Far from it, in fact. Instead, be one of the team – it’s the whole point of the armed forces.
Falling Out
You have to be aware that the army takes discipline incredibly seriously. Unless you can show you are capable of towing the line and following orders, you’ll end up with a bad reputation. And, if you end up committing—or are accused of committing—crime, you might need the help of military law specialists to give you a robust defense. You can have a rewarding and long career in any of the armed forces. But if you can’t behave, you could find yourself out on your ear within a week.
Learning
The more qualifications you have when you join the military, the better prospects you will enjoy. Graduates can go through officer training and get started in their careers way up the ladder. However, it’s also possible to learn a lot while on the job. The army, for example, will pay for a lot of your training and civilian qualifications. And if you are looking to become an officer from the ground up, it’s possible, too. Be motivated, show interest, and be great at your job and the officers in charge will notice.
Photo by Benjamin Faust
Mia Guerra
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