Attending college or enlisting in the military is no small feat, and managing both responsibilities can be strenuous. Fifty-three percent of respondents from a survey conducted by Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families declared that they joined the military for educational benefits. Before joining the military for solely educational purposes, students should be aware of the true responsibilities and challenges of being a soldier.
The reality of falling into debt after college is a key concern for individuals joining the military. Benefits of enlisting include the GI Bill, housing, health care, training and certificates. Individuals from low-income backgrounds are especially receptive to these perks.
The commitments and sacrifices made when joining the military can change the trajectory of your entire life. While some can make the most out of their experiences in the military, others may feel the challenges outweigh the benefits, such as rigid structure, time commitments, delaying educational or personal goals, physical injuries and mental health.
“Recruiters themselves push the benefits the military offers with education when they first speak to people they’re trying to get enlisted, and sometimes that’s a selling point,” said Julian Gonzales, an E4 Specialist and Med Ops Team Chief.
According to Inequality.org, military recruiters glamorize life in the military, especially in high schools where students are vulnerable to financial and social insecurities.
“I am part of the Naval ROTC, and there’s a lot of events and responsibilities, and trying to balance being a full-time student and your military obligations has been really hard,” said Sabrena Norris, a communications and leadership senior and an E6 Marine Corp Staff Sergeant.
While being active in the military and a full-time student can be beneficial, juggling both can be time-consuming and draining. While joining the military and completing your education simultaneously sounds ideal, it is challenging to manage responsibilities from both.
“(The newer soldiers) have standards and discipline instilled in them from the day that they step in,” Gonzales said.
He said these expectations evoke a fearful environment, preventing positive discourse.
On the other hand, military leaders on campus help support those facing difficulty managing academic and military obligations.
“Here at UT, our military leaders do a great job,” Norris said. “They allow us to take time off if we have a big test coming up or an academic requirement we can’t miss. … They remind us every day that academics come first.”
UT faculty do take steps to help ease the challenges of balancing responsibilities. Soldiers realize too late that they have support — sometimes even three years into a four-year contract. For those who enlisted intending to receive educational benefits, they are left feeling disappointed because their expectations aren’t fulfilled.
Joining the military offers rewards, but one must be confident in their ability to balance that with other goals and personal matters to maximize opportunities and ensure it’s a decision worth making.
Understanding the sacrifices made when enlisting is vital for students to make informed decisions that impact where they live and how much time they’ll be able to dedicate to friends, family and personal goals. It is important to consider all the ways one ends up paying for a degree, whether financially or through other means.
Sheikh is a communications and leadership senior from Dallas, Texas.
