With the change to an all volunteer military, the number and roles of women in the military have increased dramatically.

The United States Marine Corps are renowned historically for their dedicated service and intense recruit training. The Marine Corps have a no discrimination rule in their recruitment programs. Women Marines have served the military as Marine Reserves since the 1920’s. Women Marine Reserves carried out shore duties that helped keep trained men free for various combat duties.

Today, there are a huge percentage of women doing various occupational jobs in different departments of the Marine Corps. Ninety three percent of occupational jobs and Sixty Two Percent of all billets have women Marine Corps serving in them.

Women rarely engage in combat roles in the US Marine Corps as is the case in most of the other services. Historically, in industrialized countries, women have been excluded from armed combat roles and significant administrative positions in the military.

However, six percent of the US Marine Corps is made up of women marines. They serve proudly in various roles and capacities in the modern Marine Corps. Currently, there are about eight thousand five hundred active service women marines engaged in different jobs at Marine Military bases.

Unlike way back, today, female marines are not mistreated or given derogatory names while in service. They are simply referred to as marines by their male colleagues.

The Marine Corps service is yet to separate or integrate their first phases of training given to new recruits. In other military forces, basic combat training is routinely segregated according to different individual capabilities, skills and physical conditions. Not so in the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Basic Training is highly regarded due to its inclusiveness, discipline, intensiveness and physical endurance.

The Marine Corps have always been trend setters in the military. The first ever service to have a woman serving as a General was the US Marine Corps. The Marines have therefore become trend setters in many different ways in the military.

The first woman to lose her life in active duty was a crew member of a c-130 marine aircraft in Afghanistan.

Women and men Marines under go the same training at the Recruit Center at Parris Island, South California.  They serve with distinction and honour just like their men counterparts.

This traditional and modern trend has ensured that the Marine Corps remain truly the few, the proud.

Useful links

www.marines.mil/

http://www.usmilitary.com/

http://ann.sagepub.com/content/

Civilian “Boot Camps” are springing up all over the place. The participants are given a serious work out nut they get to go home and shower at the end of the day. This is unlike boot camp. While one is resting, the real military recruit is several hours into his/her day — with several more hours to go.

Currently, over 40 percent of those who enlist in the military do not make it through the first four years. A significant portion of these do not even make it through boot camp. For many, this is because of unrealistic expectations. The military (and especially Boot Camp) is not what they thought it would be.

Regardless of what your recruiter told you, being a member of the United States Armed Forces is not just like having a civilian job. In the military, there will always be someone telling you what to do, when to do it and how to do it — and you’ve got to do it.

Sometimes they’ll tell you to do something that you don’t want to do, or tell you in a way that makes you angry. Failing to do it is not an option. The willful disobeying of a lawful order won’t just get you “fired,” as it would in a civilian occupation, it can get you sent to jail.

In the military, you’ll work the hours you are told to work, you’ll work “overtime” with no additional pay, you’ll do the tasks you’re assigned to do (even if they don’t relate exactly with your “job”), you’ll live where you’re told to live, and you’ll deploy where and when you’re told to deploy.

If you’re not absolutely willing to make these sacrifices, then do you and the government a big favor and don’t join up. However, if you are willing to put the needs of your country and your service ahead of your own, you’ll find several rewards in a military career (or even a short term of service). You’ll also be one of the 60 percent who make it to the end of their service commitment and either reenlist, or walk away contented with an Honorable Discharge.

Military boot camp is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. It’s the job of the Training Instructors (T.I.’s) and Drill Instructors (D.I.’s) to either adjust your attitude to a military way of thinking (self-discipline, sacrifice, loyalty, obedience), or to drum you out before the military spends too much money on your training. They do this by applying significant degrees of physical and mental stress, while at the same time teaching you the fundamentals of military rules; and the policies, etiquette, and customs of your particular military service.

The training programs are scientifically and psychologically designed to tear apart the “civilian” and build from scratch a proud, physically fit, and dedicated member of the United States Armed Forces. You’ll find that boot camp simply gets just a little bit easier each and every day.

Useful Links

http://www.teenscamp.net/Teen/Boot-Camps-For-Teens/index.htm

www.military.com/military-fitness/army-basic-training/getting-prepared-for-bootcamp

http://www.in.gov/idoc/dys/2344.html

A Study into suicides by members of the US military has determined the probable cause. A task force which was assigned to study the mental states of military force members has found that low manning levels and many assignments to multiple wars have led to increasing demands on troops.

Multiple deployments to the various wars being conducted by the US have created unprecedented physical and mental demands, according to the Joint Department of Defence Prevention of Suicide Task Force, with the result being that more people within the military are committing suicide.

A recently released report said the cumulative effects of many factors had contributed significantly to the increase in the incidence of suicide.

After interviewing over two thousand people, including service members, their families, behavioural health professionals and chaplains, the task force has recommended many changes to the way military personnel are deployed, including: Reducing stress on the force; focusing efforts on service member total fitness; developing a comprehensive stigma-reduction campaign to encourage people to seek help; coordinating and leveraging community health services, including off-base programs; standardizing suicide investigations and expanding their focus to learn about the last hours, days and weeks preceding a suicide or attempted suicide; and supporting and funding ongoing Defence Department suicide prevention research to enhance knowledge and inform future suicide prevention efforts.

The problem of suicide in the forces has been growing year by year with nearly 250 soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen committing suicide in 2010.

The other factors recognized by the task force were failed intimate relationships, overwhelming financial indebtedness and legal problems.

Recommendations in the report, some already being put into place, include: beefing up the Army’s suicide prevention program and making behavioral health care more accessible to soldiers in combat and other high-stress environments.

In an address to an audience of more than 1,000 military and other government agency health-care workers and officials gathered for the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Conference sponsored by the Defence and Veterans Affairs departments, Adm. Mike Mullen and his wife, Deborah, shared their thoughts and concerns on the issue.

Admiral Mullen said that while he recognizes the challenge the armed services have had in combating suicide while waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s a challenge that can’t be overlooked.

“The subject of suicide is one of tremendous difficulty and challenge and understanding, and there have been a lot of people who have worked on this diligently for many, many years,” the chairman said. “Certainly, with the rise in the numbers in all the services since these wars, (Defence Department officials have) started to really look at the causes and get to a point where we can prevent this and understand this.”

Useful links

http://www.military.com/news

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38837546/ns/us_news-life/

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-01-30-voa59-68626972.html

Pursuing a career in the military is as challenging and exciting as pursuing a career in any other field. In the US, prospective military students have a wide range of avenues to establish and further their career.

The US Army’s Early Commissioning Program has five junior military colleges for anyone between the ages of 17-45 wishing to pursue a career in the military. This category 2-year program upon which successful students not only become officer but are also awarded an associate degree.

<br>Later, the officers must pursue another 4-year degree at any college of their wish. Other regular program state universities offer the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) which makes qualified military career student become officers in any US armed service.

Pursuing a Military Career as a Lifestyle

There are soldiers who have trained for military careers from a tender age in some of the military academies in the US. In pursing the military career, the students become disciplined and more reliable when called upon for action. Some people also opt to pursue a career in the military as one way of acquiring quality education. However, one does not necessarily have to pursue a military career in order to develop good discipline. Some military schools offer to help the citizens wishing to pursue a military lifestyle in learning for success in other areas other than the military.

There Are Many Careers Military Other Than Fighting

There are some soldiers who, after completing their military studies who choose to pursue other careers other than a career in the military service. Many of them often begin studying for a college degree before opting out of the military. The modern military career acknowledges the fact that there are numerous roles geared towards supporting the soldiers in the battlefield.

Military careers are as diverse as any other careers. The US army has many military personnel working in the area like but not limited to administration, engineering, medicine, mechanics, human resource management, construction, information technology and marketing. Though a military career is not as easy as it might seem, it has so many other opportunities available for those pursuing this career field. Apart from many other benefits, pursuing a military career in the US comes with attractive compensation packages.

The United Kingdom (UK), like its US military counterpart, offers online chat forums for military officials to talk about their military career. This interactive outlet is useful for any prospective military career students to find out more about the field and where they can best suit.

If you are a young U.S. citizen and have always wanted to pursue a career in the military, the government funded Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (J-ROTC) is a program worth pursuing. This high school program is sponsored under the Federal program of the United States Armed Forces and can be undertaken in select military institutions anywhere in the U.S. The program was established after the First World War under the National Defense Act of 1916. It was later expanded in 1964 under the Reserve Officers’ Training Vitalization Act.

Community Success

Many of those who undertake this program often contribute to the success of many young people and different communities in America. Many of the young people who have gone through the training program have received valuable skills such as good patriotic citizenship, vital leadership skills and involvement in community related development projects.

The youths who have often desired to improve on grades and acquire with impressive graduation ratings have taken up this program to help them achieve that. They have also acquired a high level commitment to community services events and activities, with a meaningful contribution to the society than those who have not taken up this program.

The Best For A Parent

Parents who want the best for their kids in terms of good performance at school and at in community activities have also taken cue in enrolling their youngsters for J-ROTC programs. The advantage to the parent is that they do not incur any expenses as this is be catered for by the federal government. The other advantage is that their kids remain preoccupied with the training that will mould them into productive members of the community.

Instilling Responsibility To The Nation

Tens of thousands of American school kids attend to such programs, and this is an acknowledgment of the usefulness of the program in developing leadership, good character and instilling in them, vital civic responsibilities and service to the nation. The training is offered by dedicated staff, instructors, administrators and the communities within which such training programs take place. The instructors are professionally trained to deliver meaningful instructions to the students on this program. The largest J-ROTC program is carried out in Chicago Public Schools although the same programs can be carried out elsewhere in the United States.

Students on this program are involved in an array of personally and socially beneficial events like field trips, summer camp, sporting challenge, leadership camp, national and local drill competitions and many others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Reserve_Officers%27_Training_Corps

www.jrotc.org

https://www.usarmyjrotc.com/

About ROTC programs

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program is a college scholarship program leading to a commission in the United States Army. Generally the mission of the Army ROTC Program is to produce commissioned army officers with the quality, numbers, and educational back ground required to meet Active Army and Reserve Component needs.

History of ROTC programs

The ROTC program is the largest commissioning source for the US army. It was established in 1916 by the government of President Woodrow Wilson. The ROTC has provided vital leadership and military training to more than half a million army officers since its inception.

ROTC Vital Statistics

-          The ROTC embraces diversity and currently has over twenty thousand enrolled cadets.

-          The first batch of women cadets was commissioned way back in 1976. ROTC programs have since grown and currently, twenty percent of cadets are women.

-          More than forty percent of current active duty army officers were commissioned through ROTC programs.

-          Army ROTC program has over two hundred and fifty programs and affiliation with over a thousand schools across the US.

ROTC Organizational Structure

ROTC program usually starts recruiting young adults from high school. There are two levels of training administered:

Military colleges provide degrees to students. To gain the degree, you are required to undergo military training alongside your course work. You should also be physically fit with only a few exceptions.

Military junior colleges provide high school and junior college education alongside military training. They administer both Junior and senior level ROTC programs but do not offer degrees.

Army ROTC Programs

There are three types of ROTC programs on offer to those who are interested:

The first is a Host Battalion unit. It usually entails a formal agreement between the Secretary of the Army (SA) and the academic institution. Host battalions are assigned a Professor of Military Science (PMS) and a small staff charged with instructing and recruiting cadets for ROTC. The program provides for administrative and logistical support to the battalion unit. The PMS and staff are specially selected Army commissioned officers.

Secondly there are ROTC Extension Centers. They exist through a formal agreement between the Army commander of the ROTC program and the university or college. They are normally assigned an assistant PMS or officer in charge. They are also staffed to instruct and recruit cadets.  ROTC Extension centers receive administrative and logistical support from their host ROTC Battalion.

Finally there are cross-enrolled schools which have an agreement (formal or informal) with a host or extension center that allows for the transfer of academic credit. Cross enrolled schools are not assigned instructors or staff members.

The Army ROTC program provides Cadets with the character-building aspects of an assorted, self-disciplined civilian education with tough, centralized leadership development training.

The following links have information pertaining to Army ROTC programs.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/armyrotc.html

http://www.military-resources.com/

http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/courses.jsp

Guys in the military are re-known for their loyalty to one another and to their service. Whether they are marines, navy, air force or infantry, loyalty is the main factor. Friendly inter service rivalries are common in the military. This is mainly displayed by the slang used by military personnel.

Military slang is a set of colloquial terms which are unique to, or originate from military personnel.

Military slang is an unofficial means of communication that used by military personnel. Some of the terms used are also listed in official army jargon records. Military words.com has a list of over fifty thousand military slang words and their meanings on their database.

The importance of military slang cannot be over looked. Secrecy is a key factor in military operations. Use of slang can influence the outcome of such covert operations.

The main importance of military slang is the cohesion it brings to the troops. It is a bonding factor among men in uniform, and it fosters a strong sense of brotherhood.

Not all military slang is of positive nature apparently. Many of the words used are derogatory in nature. Others are down right profane and racially prejudiced.

Attempts have been on going to declassify some of these words. Fines penalties and sentences are handed down to offenders. This deters the use of obscene language in service.

Language is an evolving phenomenon. Slang use is thereby difficult to monitor and control. Words and phrases are normally coined at whim, and differ in meaning depending on the user.

Army slang and jargon is different from marine or air force slang. Different troops and platoons also coin their own verbiage to communicate clandestinely amongst themselves.

Some military slang words have consequently been incorporated in normal English. A.S.A.P. is the most common military word you will hear being used by people.

Others phrases like “on the double ” meaning to hurry up, “AWOL” meaning away on leave “MIA” meaning missing in action and “gang-ho” meaning to be over excited about something ; are other examples of commonly used military phrases.

A comprehensive archive of marine slang words, the good and the not so pleasant ones can be found at 4mermarine.com. The website captures the changing lexicon of the United States Marine Corps through the ages. It is reviewed by a highly decorated ex-marine. The content is informative for those who are interested in military language.

More military slang words can be found at w.w.w.slangsearch.com/military.

Official military jargon can be viewed from militarywords.com.

Links

www.militarywords.com

www.slangsearch.com/military

www.4mermarine.com

Many people fear the idea of joining the military. By military, I mean the army, air-force, navy; or the famous American Marine Corps. Perhaps it is the thought of going to war that makes most people uneasy. However, there are many other career opportunities in the military. These careers can be a stepping stone to the private sector if chosen well. Not all military service will guarantee you employment in the private sector. It all depends on the skills learned during service.

The U.S. Military consists of five active-duty Services and their respective Guard and Reserve units. All military branches are equal parts of the United States Uniformed Services, headed by the President as Commander-in-Chief.

The Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (D.o.D). The U.S Coast Guard is commanded by the Department of Homeland Security in times of peace and the D.o.D (by way of the Navy) in times of war.

National Guard and reserve units perform as active duty service members on a part time basis. These men and women train close to home and are normally deployed when needed for domestic disaster relief or to aid in international crises.

Military service offers top-notch training and many career opportunities. Service members also enjoy a wide range of benefits. In addition to base pay, members get full medical cover, tuition support and discounts on various government services.

Travel is perhaps the most attractive aspect of the military. Military personnel are some of the most widely travelled people crossing from country to country on assignment, training, support or holiday.

Apart from the pay check, skills learned and experience gotten from military service; can launch your career in the private sector.

The Military requires approximately eighty thousand to ninety thousand new recruits every year. They also take up about seven thousand new officers each year. Those who enlist into the Army will find many exciting and challenging career opportunities that can offer security and pride to them and their families.

Military men and women work in many types of jobs, ranging from general administration to the operation and maintenance of the militaries many thousands of weapons, vehicles, aircraft, and highly technical electronic systems.

Soldiers working as a team perform the military’s mission of protecting the security of the United States and its resources and citizens across the globe. The military is constantly ready to defend American interests and the interests of its allies in collaboration with NATO. This is done through land-based operations anywhere in the world.

Today’s “Expeditionary Army” is a modern and powerful military force comprising of 68,500 officers, 12,000 warrant officers, and over 400,000 enlisted soldiers

Links

www.todaysmilitary.com

u.smilitary.com

careersinthemilitary.com

The United States armed forces consist of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marine Corps. America has one of the best military in the world. The American military is also one of the largest in terms of the number of staff. The military has to be organized to be able to carry out its duties of defending the nation.

Military Structure

The American military structure is a result of the 1947 National Security Act. The National Security Act created the United States Air force and the Department of Defense.

Department of Defense

Department of defense is lead by the secretary of defense. The secretary of defense is a civilian and is appointed by the president of the United States. The army, the air force and the Navy is under the leadership of the secretary of defense.

The Army

The army is lead by the secretary of the army who is a civilian. The secretary of the army is assigned the job by the president of the United States. The army commander is a general with four stars called the army chief of staff.

The Air Force

This department is lead by the secretary of the air force who is a civilian and is appointed by the president. The air force commander is a four- star general called the air force chief of staff.

The Navy

This department is lead by the secretary of the navy who is also a civilian and is appointed by the president of the United States. The navy commandant is a four- star admiral called the chief of naval operations. The marines commandant is four-star general called the marines corps commandant. The chief of naval operations and the Marine Corps commandant are under the leader of the navy.

Joint Chiefs of Staff

This group comprises of the marines corps commandant, the chief of naval operations, the army chief of staff, the air force chief of staff, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chairman of the joint chief of staff. The chairman is proposed for election by the president and is approved by the senate.

In times of war or conflict the Joint Chiefs of Staff report directly to the secretary of defense and the president.

The Coast Guard

The coast guard does not fall under the department defense. It falls under the department of homeland defense. The coast guard is lead by a four-star admiral called the coast guard commandant.

Links

www.usmillitary.about.com,

www.army.mil

Discipline can be defined as orderly behavior that is as a result of effective training. Military discipline can be achieved through obedience to orders. Military recruits are encouraged to obey their seniors immediately they enter the boot camps.

Types of Military Discipline

The Air force has published a book called, Air Force standards, in which they explain four types of discipline. These are: task discipline, group discipline, imposed discipline and self discipline.

Task Discipline

This type of military discipline is based on how we handle the tasks or work given to us. Task discipline requires us to be responsible in doing our jobs with excellence. It also entails working overtime to accomplish a mission when the need arises.

Group Discipline

This military discipline emphasizes the importance of team work. It can require that you deny yourself some preferences for the sake of your task team or group or unit.

Imposed Discipline

This military discipline requires that you obey every legal order and regulation. The order does not have to be explained for it to be obeyed. You are expected to obey orders quickly.

Self Discipline

This military discipline is a discipline that will lead us to willingly do whatever needs to be done. Self discipline will ensure that we get to work on time, know all about the tasks we’ve been given, set priorities and deny ourselves some personal preferences. Self discipline can also show our commitment and sense of duty.

Military Indiscipline

Military members who do not obey the lawful orders of their seniors or superiors can face serious consequences. The uniform code of Military Justice states that it is a crime for a military member to willfully disobey a superior warrant officer. It is also a crime to willfully disobey a superior commissioned officer. It is a crime to disobey any lawful order. The military members have to obey lawful orders; if the order is not lawful they do not need to obey it. Obeying an order which is unlawful can lead to criminal persecution. Military members can be held responsible for crimes committed under the pretence of ‘obeying orders’.

There are three approaches in dealing with indiscipline: the punitive approach, the preventive approach and the corrective approach

Preventive approach involves understanding human habits, using effective management and leadership skills, being a role model and imposing the standards.

Corrective approach involves disciplining the people who have not responded well to the preventive approach.

The punitive approach involves some form of punishment as a way of dealing with the indiscipline case.

Links

www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil

www.usmillitary.about.com.