The only way to do great work is to love what you do. So said Steve Jobs who clearly knew what he was talking about, passionate and driven as he was in his own field. And of course, finding your ideal role can affect your overall happiness in life. Research shows that for many young people academic success alone isn’t enough to guarantee good employment. Important though education is, the number of university graduates is at odds with the number of employers who say they can’t find people with the skills they need, illustrating the point that further traditional education does not automatically lead to better jobs and better lives.
On the other hand, a career in the Armed Forces provides the opportunity for exactly these things, offering young men and women a route to achieving fulfilment on both a personal and a professional level. At Bury based Evolve Military College, we specialise in preparing young people for a life in the armed forces. We’ve put together our top 6 reasons why joining the armed forces might just be the best thing you ever do!
Train for your ideal job
With a myriad of possible roles available -from Infantry Soldier potentially on the frontline to mechanic to dog handler, there is literally a career option to suit everyone. As in civilian life there are opportunities to work as a chef, nurse or engineer. Equally there are also lots of roles that you’ll only find in the forces, like tank crew or military intelligence specialists.
And one of the fantastic things about the army is that it will train its recruits according to their chosen career pathway. Training leads to a recognised qualification which is equally relevant in or out of the army, helping set you up for life.
Develop New Skills
As well as learning the practical and technical skills associated with your role, the other skills you learn in the armed forces will shape you as a person. So the importance of taking responsibility for your actions and seeing tasks through to completion, which the military teaches, are viewed as desirable qualities in any aspect of life. Clear communication is crucial both in the military and beyond. Honing this skill will improve how well you interact with others and ultimately reduce confusion! Leadership has been defined as showing the way, not just telling people what to do. And leading by example can be done at any level-after all this involves setting a positive standard of behaviour for others to follow.
Be Part of a Team
It’s often highlighted that a career in the military forges bonds that can last a lifetime. The ‘golden thread of belonging’ is central to the ethos of the armed forces meaning that everyone should feel included as part of the team. What’s more, learning to work together and look out for one other depends upon recognising individual strengths and weaknesses.
As Deputy Chief of Staff in the British Army, Lieutenant General Tickell, points out: “The Army’s success depends on its diversity. We want to create teams where everyone feels safe to fail, where your teammates pick you up and your personal achievements are recognised.”
Travel the World!
If you’re prone to itchy feet-metaphorically speaking that is!-you’ll be pleased to hear that travelling the world is all in a day’s work for the Navy, the RAF has bases situated across the globe and the army is currently deployed in over 80 countries. Your career in the forces may well take you to far-flung destinations that you would never see otherwise, literally broadening your horizons!
In the words of one young soldier; “I joined the army as I craved travel and adventure-and my experiences to date have not disappointed.”
Get Military Fit
Keeping fit is part of everyday life in the forces. Remember, you’ll have a physically demanding role so your level of fitness is key to how well you can fulfil it. Physical training mainly takes place not in a well-equipped gym but in the great outdoors, so many of the exercises regularly performed by soldiers use nothing more than bodyweight for resistance. This means that these exercises can be performed anywhere, at any time and, in many cases, on a daily basis. What’s more, you’ll develop habits to help you stay healthy throughout your life.
Make a Difference
One of the most rewarding aspects of any career is the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Aside from potential involvement in combat, our forces carry out vital peace keeping duties and provide humanitarian aid to people enduring the most dire circumstances. Distributing aid is often more of a problem than supplying it in the first place. The ability of the military to act quickly in a coordinated manner, and the access it provides to the kind of equipment needed to deal with adverse conditions, can prove to be invaluable, ultimately saving many lives.
A career in the forces ticks so many boxes when it comes to the things people want from their job and remember, you don’t necessarily need lots of qualifications to be accepted.Wherever you start, you’ll have the chance to build a career, get more qualifications, and move up through the ranks.