career

Career soldiers are the mainstay of any army; who are these brave patriots that lay down their lives for a living? And what do they do post-combat life?

What is MEPS like?
So you want to know what it's like going through MEPS? Maybe you're planning on enlisting, or maybe you're reenlisting. Maybe you're at MEPS now, bored out of your mind, so you decided to do some reading. It doesn't make much of a difference to them. MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. MEPS is a long and tedious process that everyone enlisting in any branch of the military has to go through. If I had to describe it in three words, I would say "lots of paperwork." I'll be going through each step of the two day process that each enlistee experiences on their way to fighting for freedom.
By Zachary Zendle5 years ago in Serve
Hi! I’m Terry Mansfield and I Specialize in Eclecticism
My name is Terry Mansfield, and I was born in a doctor’s office on June 28th, 1951 in the town of Rolla, Missouri, USA. Not long after my birth, my parents Elvin and Lillian moved to St. Louis, a city that sits next to the Mississippi River, and which is a much larger place than Rolla. I grew up in St. Louis and, as almost all St. Louisans do, became a lifelong fan of the local major league baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. Go Redbirds!
By Terry Mansfield5 years ago in Serve
My Introduction To My Life (Joining The United States ARMY)
Article #1 In this article (My Introduction), I will be writing about my life experiences while serving in the Military (4 Years) and Law Enforcement (10 Years And Counting...). The goal is to be able to help other people who are interested in serving in the Military or Law Enforcement. This is will be a compilation of articles which I will continue to write and publish here on Vocal Media. The point is for you to continue to come back and read more articles about my life experiences and anything that will be able to help you transition into your career, even readers who are already serving, or you as a reader and are just interested in the military/law enforcement life. I will talk about my life in the military first and eventually into my life into law enforcement.
By Veteran / LEO Served5 years ago in Serve
Memoirs from Iraq
Rob called me into the office area of the suite. "Alright brother what's the gig? What will I be doing when I get to Iraq"? I ask.
By Dana Catoe5 years ago in Serve
Tortured Soul
The sun shining through the iron-rimmed glass from the basement window that I could tell from the black sackcloth that covered my head; warmed the iron shackles that bound my wrists. The faint smell of mildew from the corners in this basement filled my nostrils until another bucket of water splashed up against my face.
By Casey Keller5 years ago in Serve
Benefits of Being In the Military
Joining the military is not for everyone. Less than one percent of the United States' population currently serves in the armed forces, yet there are plenty of reasons why many young men and women choose to do so. Here are just a few:
By Paisley Hansen5 years ago in Serve
Pregnancy Separation
Why I Decided to Separate Getting pregnant was not something I had planned (at least for a while). In tech school, I had met someone and we started dating. One thing led to another and two months into seeing each other, I became pregnant. We made the decision to get married because with us both being in the military, we wanted to make sure we’d be able to be together or at the very least stationed in the same state. My husband and I have been through hell and back the past year and a half but we love each other and now have a beautiful baby girl. My husband decided shortly after I left tech school that he was going to transfer in to the Army. He had been trying to retrain but due to policy changes he missed his chance, so after almost five years in the Air Force, he felt the Army was his only chance to pursue his dream job. At the time, I was stationed in Florida and he was in Texas so the long distance thing really sucked (especially being pregnant and hormonal LOL). When he separated from the Air Force he went on terminal leave and moved to FL with me until he left for Army Basic Training (LAME). The Army let him go on leave so he could be with me for the birth of our daughter in December. Fortunately, I was being induced due to my high blood pressure so we had a set date. I had a lot of health issues and scares throughout my pregnancy due to preeclampsia. It was a terrible feeling to not have my husband or family close by and I was constantly worried what if something happens and I have nobody. After having the baby, life was a struggle. Adjusting to a baby is no joke. I struggled so much that I decided to head back home to Massachusetts for 2 of the 3 months of my maternity leave so I could be with my family, as my husband had to return to training. During this time of change, I decided that I needed to research my options. I knew that being stationed with my husband was going to be difficult and I didn’t want to be apart, I needed our family together. I knew that the Air Force had changed their policy so that you could separate either before you have your baby or after (you have 12 months after the baby is born to decide). I really did not want to leave the Air Force. I worked so hard to join and I couldn’t just give it all up. So as many military members do, I went to Reddit for advice. I found out that I could separate and then Palace Front to the Reserves. Palace Front is a little bit different than Palace Chase- Palace Front adds a Guard/Reserves service commitment after you have separated to prevent a break in service. Palace Chase is when you leave your contract early to go to the Guard/Reserves- you are eligible to apply after you have served half of your contract. This ultimately gave me the best of both world; more time to be a mommy and be together with my family, and also still being able to serve part time.
By Nicole 6 years ago in Serve
What Are Military Medals Made Of?
Medals of service are given for numerous reasons including service periods during times of war, particular campaigns or tours, and acts of valor and courage. These medals are typically worn on the service member’s dress uniform and signify that they have been rewarded for their superior service. You may be wondering what military medals are made of. Most medals consist of both a ribbon and a medallion. Each segment of the medal requires special materials and craftsmanship to be completed.
By Krisna Garcia6 years ago in Serve
Why I'm Not Upset
It has been a long road and a short road at the same time. I joined the military in 2016, hoping to acquire a new, independent lifestyle and get out of my parents' house. I got through boot camp, made my way through training for my job and headed out to the Fleet. I was so proud, serving my country, becoming a part of someting greater than myself for once. My ship was in the middle of a deployment, I had never been to the middle east before and I was always up for an adventure.
By Akiah Thomas6 years ago in Serve
At the heart and mind of leadership
Here is the action of what you are about to read. If you are going to take the right step to your next successful adventure, then you need to find a supporting team. A team that values you as a Veteran and values you as a human being. If you feel like you are getting the cold shoulder, start looking for a new job. Don't wait around to be fired. You, as a Veteran, are valued, and people care about you. Your passion is not a disgrace, and your focus is not a problem. I am here to help you grow and realize your own potential. I want the best for you and those that you desire to be close too.
By Ty Zabel6 years ago in Serve
Translating Your Military Career to a Resume
Okay, you’ve made the decision that it’s time to transition from military service and start a new adventure in the “civilian world,” but how do you translate your military career into a language and skill set that is clear and understandable to prospective employers?
By Julia Nex7 years ago in Serve
10 Civilian Jobs Similar to Military Life
When you leave the military, you may be worried about your transition to regular civilian jobs. However, there are civilian jobs similar to military life that won’t be too much of an uprooting for you. Before your job search, you need to know what you’d like to do. Plenty of employers would love to hire men and women who have had military experience because of how disciplined and hardworking they are.
By Patty Ramsen7 years ago in Serve