When you’re a high school senior, you have to face an overwhelming amount of choices that will dictate the course of your life. One of these choices is whether or not to join the military.

Around graduation time every year, military recruiters travel to high schools across the U.S. to convince students to pursue a career in military service. Milton High is not free from this phenomenon; this year, like every year, military recruiters have set up a booth right outside the cafeteria. The program has been successful in recruiting several seniors, including Mickey Paquette and Andrew Miskell.

When asked why he decided to join the military, Paquette responded, “I’m a very patriotic person, I love America. It’s a great country, and I’d do anything to protect it.”

Miskell added, “I joined the military because I didn’t know what I wanted to do in college.” Hewent on to describe the benefits of being paid while figuring out his future instead of going into a major he may not want to pursue.

As of 2024, American military service is at its all time low. According to a survey conducted

by the Defense Department, more than half of young Americans believe they would develop health problems as a result of joining the military (57%).

These concerns are not unfounded. According to a report by Pew Research Center, veterans typically have a difficult time adjusting to life after their service, and the rate of injury during service is alarming–one out of ten veterans alive today got seriously injured during their service.

When asked about what he thought about these statistics, Miskell said, “They make it very clear that when you join, you’re putting your life at risk.”

Paquette will be working as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and said he is “looking forward to working on all sorts of diesel vehicles, discipline structure, just common life skills that you should know and practice.”

Miskell has yet to decide on his job but is planning on going to basic training in Texas.

Military recruiters point to the life skills you learn as part of the military, which was something that both Miskell and Paquette emphasized quite a bit. Recruiters also highlight the benefits the US gives to veterans who have served a certain number of years as a result of the G.I Bill.

Seniors certainly have a lot to consider before they leave Milton High, although joining the military is an increasingly less popular option. However, it is still a viable career for those who

don’t seek to follow the traditional

path.

Miskell made one thing clear: “I think that the idea of college is that if you really know what you want to do, then it’s a place you can be.” He continued, “There’s options out there. I mean, you can join the trades if you don’t want to join the military. There’s just many ways to go about life. We’re told societally that college is what you do, but there’s just other ways to go about it. So think about your options.”