Military Service

Sometimes, school of any kind isn’t something we’re ready for after spending so much of our lives doing nothing else. Not everybody is cut out to transition directly into a job, either. One option that opens up later opportunities while not being quite so confining is military service.

This might seem like a daunting option, but it holds several short-term and long-term benefits. It offers everything from a paycheck to an opportunity to travel to a way to develop leadership skills. The opportunity to meet new people isn’t something to be overlooked, either.

“Like with any organization, the best thing is the people,” naval science instructor Chief Matthew Spears said. “I have a group of friends that I served with in 2012 who I still keep in touch with.”

Of course, there are many variables to consider before deciding on the military. Spears acknowledges that reflecting on personal commitments, goals, and motivation is a necessary step.

“You have to have some self-discipline; you have to not panic and not freak out when somebody gets in your face,” Spears said. “There is a lesson behind everything that happens, and you have to be able to withstand and deal with certain things. If you can’t, the military is not for you—and that’s okay!”

If military service is a point of interest, there are lots of ways to get more information. Getting educated is important when it comes to such a heavy choice.

“Captain Deehr and I are available if any Liberty students have questions about joining the military that they can’t find the answer to,” Spears said. “Be willing to ask. You have two people in school who can help with this process.”

As with any other post-high school option, flexibility is key. Spears emphasizes patience and that just because you want to go into a job in a specific branch of the military doesn’t mean a job will be there waiting.

“The military is not for everybody, college is not for everybody, and trade school is not for everybody,” Spears said. “Everybody has to choose their own path and do their own thing.”