For many Americans, being a part of the military is the only way of life theyve ever known. Generations of male family members, and now female as well, have been a member of the armed forces, living and moving around the globe from base to base. Others have joined for shorter terms; theyve proudly enlisted to protect our country during a time of unrest, enrolled to obtain funding for education or simply wanted to gain experience to utilize in their futures. And although there was recent talk of reinstating the draft, weve avoided it so far. So currently, whatever the individual reason is, the choice to become a member of our prestigious military is a personal and optional one.
Todays military is quite different than that of our fathers, grandfathers and even those who went before them. It still entails a great deal of hard work, dedication and pride, however there are presently greater options for members of todays armed forces. These include advancements in such areas as education, private-sector employment and of course, the decision to allow women to hold combat positions.
Housing has also advanced in leaps and bounds. The familiar barracks of the old days are...