Ask Stew: What to Do if You Have Doubts About Joining the Military

It's common to have doubts about joining the service and selecting what service is best for you, especially after coming straight from a life at home while attending high school. But there comes a time when you have to put in the work to look into the details of your future career choice. 

Do not just blindly sign with any branch of service that opens their doors. Do your homework and find what works best for you. Here is an email from a rather stressed and somewhat confused teen with the goal to serve, but who doubts his abilities and what service to select.

I began to think about enlisting in the military in the 11th grade when an Army recruiter came to my school. He shot me down for some reason. I began to look at other options. First, I looked at the National Guard but did not enlist. Then I looked at the Marines but told my recruiter that I didn't think I was right for the Marines and he let me go, but not without putting up a fight. 

Today, I am again thinking about joining the military, but this time the Air Force. The reason for writing this is because I'm looking for advice. Is the overwhelming/anxious feeling normal? Is it typical for a possible recruit to be intimidated by the process? I continue to toss it back and forth in my mind and I just can't decide. Is the military for me or not?

First of all, yes. Absolutely. You are getting ready to leave home for the first time. Whether you are going to college, a job or the military, leaving home and high school is tough and causes doubts and anxiety. 

But it is time to grow up and make a decision. It sounds like you need to do more research on the branch of service you are going to join. Knowledge helps. Right now, you are going into the unknown and need to educate yourself on the decision to serve. There is a lot of information about the Air Force life at the official Air Force website.

This is your future; you should know everything about it. Look through the official website and find out about your future job in the military, where you could be living, where you will deploy, how much school you have to do, how much money you will make, etc. If you do not know any or all of these, that could be the cause of your anxiety and doubt. 

The more you know, the less you will doubt. Here are the Top Ten Things You Should Know Before You Join the Military.

Also, do not neglect your fitness. Do not go into boot camp or basic training thinking that it is their job to get you into shape. It is not. It is your job to come prepared, both physically and mentally. See ideas for workouts:

Practicing push-ups, sit-ups and 1.5-mile runs is going to be in your future. Get used to these events at a minimum. By the way, I tell people all the time that serving in the military is a calling, not just a job you do. It is a profession that you have to be motivated to do. It is not my job to motivate you to serve. It is yours.

Stew

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.com.

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