Life after Mesa Vista: Think Ahead The Spectacle FEATURE INSERT Dec. 15, 2010

By LiLy GreenmanRepoRteR

Military Option

When students reach middle school, the idea is often that life after high school is far off and they don’t need to worry about it just yet. But, the earlier students begin planning and preparing for adult life, the better off they’ll be. The truth is senior year and the many responsi-bilities that follow arrive all too fast.

While state standards, benchmarks and other requirements can change and, most scholarships are just for seniors, it’s best to get familiar with some key concepts before senioritis hits. The path most aim for is to prepare for college. This means the obvious like getting good grades, taking the ACT, staying involved in school activities and writing those college and scholarship application essays. Seniors need 32 hours of community service to be able to graduate. Currently they also need four math credits, four English credits, three Science credits, .5 New Mexico history credit, one World History credit, one Civics credit, one Spanish, one physical education and 6.5 elective credits. In addition to getting the credits and good grades in general, most colleges require students’ ACT scores. Guidance office secretary Georgia Kuykendall recommends students take the earliest test available. For example, students can start taking the ACT in their junior or even sophomore years. It doesn’t matter if you’ve taken the test three times and your first time you got the highest score, what ACT sends your highest score to colleges.

ACT tips:-take earliest test available-use your highest score

-See counselor for advice

“Always strive to achieve the highest goal that you can,” Kuykendall said. Colleges also look at grades and what type of classes students take. Students with a 4.0 gpa, for example, who have only taken easy electives may not be as impressive as someone else with a 3.5 gpa who has taken Chemistry, college credit classes and higher level math. College Prep teacher Bernadette Galvez also recommends students apply for as many scholarships as possible. “It’s better to apply and get a letter stating that you didn’t receive (the scholarship) instead of not applying at all,” Galvez said. Some annual scholarships include the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship, AXA Achievement, Ronald McDonald House Scholars, KFC Colonel’s Scholars Program, and Senator Pete Domenici Endowed Scholarship Fund (LANL), Galvez said. Students may also follow websites like Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com, sites which send out emails on new scholarships daily. Most who apply through these sites don’t get the scholarships, though there are some exceptions. Also, be wary of scams and any “scholarship help” groups that ask for payment.

College isn’t for everyone, however,

and some students each year decide to join the military whether that be the Army Reserves, National Guard, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or the Air Force. There are some important factors to consider before deciding what the best path is for you. The Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery or ASVAB is one requirement needed to join the military. The ASVAB is the military’s entrance exam and a placement test all rolled into one. You have to have a certain score to simply to join the military, but the information gathered from all of the subtests gives an idea as to what field you would do best in.

The subtests within the ASVAB are:1. General Science (GS) 2. Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) 3. Word Knowledge (WK) 4. Paragraph Comprehension (PC) 5. Mathematics Knowledge (MK) 6. Electronics Information (EI) 7. Auto Information (AI) 8. Shop Information (SI) 9. Mechanical Comprehension (MC) 10. Assembling Objects (AO)

The Armed Forces Qualification Test, or AFQT, is calculated from subtests AR, MK, PC, and WK. An AFQT score of 50% or higher is needed to be able to join the Army, but each branch of the military requires different scores in different subjects. If you have your heart set on a specific branch of the military, it’s best if you find out what kind of scores you need to be in that branch, according to Rod Powers on About.com. After students get the results of the ASVAB test, recruiters may call in hopes of using their high aptitude in the military. There are some complaints that these calls may be annoying, unwanted or simply too aggressive. However, continued on reverse side of insert

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The Spectacle FEATURE INSERT Dec. 15, 2010

Staff Sergeant Richard Romero, a local recruiter, said that it depends on who is overseeing the test. Some branches of the military are more demanding and may be more persistent when it comes to recruiting. “I can’t speak for everyone else, but I don’t go after students if they show no interest in the military,” Romero said. The Center on Conscience & War has multiple brochures, including one called “Do you know enough to enlist?” It gives advice to those who are thinking about joining the military, including telling potential recruits not sign any papers until they and someone they trust have reviewed them and to make sure to get all of the recruiter’s promises in writing. “Don’t rely only on the recruiter. Military recruiters are salespeople: their job is to ‘sell’ you on enlistment. To keep their jobs and advance their careers, most recruiters must sign up a specific number of people each month. They stress the benefits of the military, not the problems,” the brochure said. Romero, on the other hand, said that he and most other recruiters work hard to keep a good, honest reputation. In fact, Romero said he was required to go t o school t o l e a r n h o w to be a recruiter.

“I’m your National Guard representative. I serve all of northern New Mexico. My credibility, my character is on the line. I’m here to serve you. I’m here to serve your school, your community and the state,” Romero said. Romero went on to describe the enlistment options for the National Guard. The options for enlistment are separated into two basic chunks. One portion of your years in service is obligational, meaning that you would be serving in active duty. The other part is statutory, meaning that you are only called in the event of a natural disaster or federal emergency. The options are, Romero said, four years obligatory and four statutory, six by two, or three by five. “What it means if that you join for five years, and three you won’t get as many incentives. If you join for six years, you’ll get basically every incentive,” Romero said. “If those two years (of statutory enlistment) pass, and you have completed your eight year commitment, then guess what? You’re done with the military career. No longer have to serve unless you reenlist.”

Romero said sometimes the decision to enlist for college money

is one that takes two or three days to even process. Others, say it is important to weigh your options

and give yourself even more time to think before enlisting. Once you sign the enlistment contract, it is not easy to get out of it.

“You can’t just quit, and the military considers it a crime for you to leave your unit or disobey an order,” the brochure said. On the other hand, the G.I. Bill, Romero said, is a good option for some and is a main reason many cite for

joining the military. The G.I. B i l l offers $4,500 a year, and the

maximum for a full-time student is $332 per month, Romero said. “The military’s money for education

plan (new GI bill) is not as easy to

use as it sounds. It is only after you leave the military that you find out whatever you’ve met all of the requirements,” the brochure says. However, Romero said that this information is incorrect. “The Montgomery G.I. Bill is offered to anybody that is elligible and joins the military. Now the Montgomery GI Bill, again, it’s $51,000+…You don’t have to go to college while you’re in the National Guard. You can go after,” Romero said. In ‘What You Should Know Before Joining the Military,’ another publication by the Center on Conscience & War, they advise you ask the recruiter the following questions:-For how long do I have to enlist to get this option?-Are there any extra requirements (schooling, physical standards, security clearance, etc.) that I have to meet to qualify for this option? What happens if I don’t meet them, but I’ve already enlisted?-For options that include assignment to a particular base area: Am I guaranteed this assignment for the entire time I’m in?” It’s not easy to wade through all the information out there about college, graduation and military involvement, but it’s important to do your research and to make up your own mind. Every year, several students from Mesa Vista enlist and there are also veterans that live and work here. In addition to recruiters, this article and information on the Internet, talk to someone you know. Listen to what others have to say, talk to people with a variety of viewpoints – from those who are directly involved to the casual observer – and it will be much easier to make an informed decision about your future. “The military’s not for everybody, but neither is college. If you find it a viable source, then by all means we want to encourage, promote and respect the fact that there’s good options offered in the military,” Romero said.

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