Students have different career choices as they prepare to leave high school but a group of S.H.S. students have decided to pursue a career in the armed forces. I have talked to the students to see what steps they need to take to pursue their military career.
Jared Schneider is a senior at S.H.S. who has joined the Marines. He has enlisted for four years and met his recruiter when the recruiter came to S.H.S. and brought the pull up bar and table during lunch.
When asked what made him want to join the Marines, Schneider said, “for the challenge.” He is doing exercises like pull ups and running to prepare for boot camp. He will be shipping out June 24, 2024 to San Diego for boot camp.
Senior Julien Ramos has joined the Army National Guard. He enlisted for four years as an 88 Mike, which is a truck driver. He joined for the college benefits and the idea of helping others. He got into contact with his recruiter Staff Sergeant Mays when he came to S.H.S. in his culinary class.
When asked on how he is preparing for basic training, Ramos said, “stuff we learn at drill…It is for soldiers that haven’t gone to basic training yet to train them so they know what basic is going to be like. And even helps soldiers that have been to basic keep their skills and continue to train them.” He is also preparing by exercising with his new Westwood membership. We will wish him well as he ships out to basic June 30 to Fort Jackson.
Senior Gattlin Trobaugh decided to join the military because he has family who influenced him: his parents. He said, “The reason I decided to join the military was the huge influence of my mom and dad who both served in the U.S. Army. The biggest influence was my dad who served 17 years and did four tours, two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan.”
Trobaugh got in contact with his recruiter by looking up the office number and setting up a meeting with his recruiter. He is preparing for basic by discussing with his recruiter and doing physical training (PT) and doing workouts. When he is done with military service, he would like to join the police force in Sterling, Illinois. We wish him luck when he leaves for basic September 2024.
These seniors are focused and ready for their future careers in the military services. We wish them all luck as they serve their time.
