Careers in the MILITARY

Black Collegian, Feb 2004

The Army

Twenty or so years ago the job market was competitive and tight at its best. Len and LaCarole began contemplating their carter goals while dating in college. LaCarol's father, a retired senior Army Sergeant, offered her this advice, "Keep a duffle bag of options. The R.O.T.C. program is your opportunity to become an Army office. You should go for it." She took his advice. Len had already joined the R.O.T.C. program. Both found that the professors of Military Science and other staff members were invaluable, comparable to those found at HBCUs. Both completed the R.O.T.C. program, thinking that a strategically, well thought out plan to use both their degrees and the R.O.T.C. program would eventually lead them to self-fulfilling and profitable lifestyles. Their years of service in the United States Army challenged them to adopt the highest standards and values under very adverse situations. Their military environment depended on teamwork and peer socialization that were far greater than those of most fraternities and sororities.

In the Army, they received intense training, discipline, challenging assignments, comradeship, travel, responsibility, and were required to keep physically fit. The pressures to stay physically fit became a way of life. During their travels, both LcCarole and Len, now married, were able to stay together as a family, in assignments in Germany and "stateside." The Army supported their family orientation: Their children were born while they were on active duty.

After 20 years in the Army as personnel officers, both have retired. Len retired to work for a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company. He and LaCarole now run their own business, L&L Associates, on skills they acquired from their years in the military, from combat boots to high heels and coat and tie. The Army taught them persistence, determination, to reach out to others, a sense of hindsight and dependability, all qualities they use as entrepreneurs.

The Air Force

The Air Force is an outstanding career-option for collegians. You get to work in a very diverse work environment. The military bases within the Air Force offer safe, clean communities. The Air Force has a very clear path to promotion and achievement. It uses objective measurements to promote people instead of subjective ones and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment. So it offers a work environment that is respectful of others. It has mandatory physical fitness programs and conducts random drug testing. Therefore, those of you who are already high achievers and who want to come into the United States Air Force will find an environment in which there are high standards and where you will be with other people who are physically fit and drug free.

Pay and Benefits: The Air Force has great pay and benefits, regular pay raises, and bonuses in certain career fields. For those collegians who want to live in those great Air Force base communities, the Air Force has free on-base housing and paid utilities. It offers 30 days vacation with pay a year-a pretty big benefit in and of itself-full medical and dental coverage for Air Force members and their families, as well as free prescription drugs. Members have access to tax-free shopping in shopping centers on Air Force instillations, and tax-free allowances for those in the United States Air Force. To top it all off, the Air Force has an incredible retirement system that has cost-of-living adjustments every year. So collegians have many very, very attractive reasons to come into the Air Force.

Programs in Continuing Education: The Air Force offers programs in continuing education. The education that you come into the United States Air Force with is just a start, never an end. Officers are encouraged to continue their education to the master's or doctorate degree level, and those who come into the enlisted ranks are strongly encouraged to get their associates, their bachelor's, and beyond, degrees as well. In fact, the Air Force does a very fine job of paying your college tuition so that you can continue to increase your education. In addition to education at traditional colleges and universities, the Air Force offers professional military education for both the enlisted and officer ranks. For the enlisted side, it has the Community College of the Air Force. Of all the services, the United States Air Force has the only accredited community college. If you go into basic training and into their technical training, you immediately earn college credits for that training. These credits apply toward an associate's degree.

Public Trust: Another reason you should come into the United States Air Force is that the American public has great trust and confidence in its personnel in the United States military. Take a look at the USA Today/CNN/Gallop Poll, their "Confidence in Institutions" poll. The military is consistently the only institution that ranks number one of all the institutions polled. Members of the military are very proud of the fact that they rank number one in the eyes of the American public in reference to their confidence in our institution. Time Magazine named all members of the armed forces as its person of the year, a tremendous award for members in uniform.