20

09

your roadmap for success

TODAY’s military
Extraordinary People.
Extraordinary Opportunities.

A r m y / / / Ma r i n e c o r p s / / / Na v y
Air Force /// Coast Guard
Active • Guard • Reserve
 your roadmap for success

4 Proud to Be Army Strong

Profile of Staff Sgt. William Alston

7 Inside West Point

As told by Cadet Zach Coutreau

8 Army Reserve Civil Affairs: Making a Difference

One Soldier’s mission to Afghanistan

10 Experiences of a Lifetime
One National Guardsman’s tribute to his friends

12 Making Marines, Winning Battles, Developing Quality Citizens

by Sgt. Guillermo Vargas

16 Lieutenant Junior Grade Andrew Bonderud

todaysmilitary.com Life on board the USS John L. Hall

19 Navigate Your Road to Success

Find out if the Military is right for you

20 What’s Your Roadmap for Success?

These websites can help you find the information you need

22 Benefits
The Military offers much more than a paycheck

24 Striding Toward Success

How a high school track star built her Navy career and beyond

26 Air Force Elite: Taking the leap!

Pararescuemen save lives

29 Air Guard: PART-TIME BLUE, FULL-TIME YOU

These well-trained units are ready for mobilization

30 Air Force Reserve: Stationed Locally, Serving Globally

How one Citizen Airman serves his country

33 Selective Service
What everyone should know about registering

34 Always Ready
Meet the Coast Guard’s first female African-American pilot

37 From Engine Repairs to Public Affairs

What it’s like to be enlisted in the Coast Guard

Futures is a product of Today’s Military. To request additional copies of Futures, please visit todaysmilitary.com/futures. Futures is an authorized publication of the
Department of Defense. However, contents are unofficial and not to be considered the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, including DoD. The
appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Futures is not a Stars and
Stripes editorial product and was prepared by the Stars and Stripes Business Department with content provided by DoD’s Joint Advertising, Market Research & Studies
program office. All articles contained in this publication, including all military titles mentioned, follow the style guidelines set forth by the Associated Press.
 FASTfact
The Patriot system is the air and missile defense system of the U.S. Army and for
many other countries as well, including Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands and Spain.

S ta f f S e r g e a n t

U n i t e d S tat e s A r m y

Staff Sgt. William Alston never backs down from a

challenge. He credits his persistence and work ethic
for having helped him advance in his Army career.

“I’ve been fortunate to have done well in the Military,”

says Alston. “I have advanced because I’ve applied
myself. My best day in the Military was the day I
was promoted to sergeant.”

Five years ago, Alston left his civilian job doing sheet
metal work to enlist in the Army. Today, he is a staff
sergeant for the launch platoon in a Patriot missile
battery. He’s responsible for 27 fellow Soldiers and
millions of dollars worth of sophisticated missile-
launching equipment. The Patriot missile protects
against enemy tactical ballistic missiles, cruise
missiles and aircraft by shooting them out of the sky.
“Our platoon’s mission is to get six launching stations
and a Guided Missile Transporter out to a specific
location, get it deployed and get ready to shoot at a
moment’s notice,” says Alston. “It’s my job to make
sure all the training is being conducted, there’s a
good working environment and that my Soldiers are
happy – most of the time.”
Mentorship appeals to Alston. “I’ve
always liked the idea of teaching
people,” he says. “To go out every
day and constantly get new Soldiers
in and to teach them how to do
their job, that is one of the most
rewarding things.”
“Living in Korea was definitely a culture change,”
says Alston. “It was a fabulous time living there
and learning about a completely different culture.
The only tough thing was being away from family,
especially during the holidays.”
However, Alston found that his fellow Soldiers made
being away from home bearable.
“You’re with these guys 24/7, 365 days a year during
deployment,” he says. “They’re like a family. If
there’s a plus side to deployment, it’s knowing that
you’re not alone.”
Alston and his platoon will soon leave for a yearlong
deployment in Qatar near the Persian Gulf. Although
his job can be difficult, Alston finds it motivating to
TodaysMilitary.com

serve a greater cause.

Alston has spent most of his time in the Army
stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, but he has
also traveled all over the world – including a year
in South Korea.
“To walk around every day in that uniform and know
that the United States has the freedoms that we
have because young women and men like me serve –
it’s an incredible feeling.”

For more information, visit

page
www.goarmy.com 05
 Inside West Point
By Zach Coutreau

The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is both an Army post and
the country’s oldest military and service academy. Cadet Zach Coutreau, a junior, offers a
first-hand account of what it is like to attend the prestigious institution.

Going to school at West Point, I am constantly reminded
of the people who came before me. Walking to class and
passing the statues of American heroes such as General(s)
Patton, Eisenhower and McArthur, the history and tradi-
tion of West Point is always around us. I feel proud and
also humbled to follow in the footsteps of these renowned
individuals. It motivates me knowing that they, too, have
endured the same things I have at West Point and have
gone on to lead incredibly successful lives.
Once a candidate has been offered and accepts admission
to West Point, Cadet Basic Training (CBT) is his or her
next hurdle. CBT takes place the summer before freshman
year, when new cadets learn how to perfect the simple
things, like keeping a proper room and adapting to West
Point and its military culture.
An Average Day
At West Point, an academic day begins with the first class
at 7:30 a.m., and the last classes of the day
conclude by 4 p.m. While some may think
we spend all day studying military
tactics, this is not true. An
important part of the West
Point academic experience
– just like at any other
college or university – is the
selection of a major. There
are 45 majors to choose
from, ranging from mechani-
cal engineering to philosophy
to anti-terrorism to my chosen
major, business management.
Once the academic day is over, each cadet
must participate in a varsity, junior varsity or
intramural sport from 4 to 6 p.m. Most cadets
participate in intramurals, which include
football, soccer, biathlon, street hockey, wres-
tling and grappling. I participate in intramural
orienteering and biathlon – sports that comple-
ment my love of running and keep me active
and in shape while also building camaraderie
with my classmates. Following sports, cadets
have free time until lights-out at midnight.
Branch and Post
In my senior year at West Point, I will choose
my branch and post. Branch is the field in the
Army I will be involved with once I graduate.
Choices include infantry, armor, aviation, field
artillery, military intelligence, engineering, air
defense artillery, adjutant general, chemical
corps, finance, medical corps, military police, ordnance,
quartermaster, signal corps and transportation corps.
Post is where I will be stationed after I graduate. The
Army has posts all over the United States and in Germany,
Italy, Korea and Japan to choose from. Class rank at West
Point helps to determine which branch and which post I
am assigned to once I graduate.
West Point, thus far, has been a unique and wonderful
experience. I have already made friendships that should
last a lifetime. Whether it’s completing a 12-mile march
or passing math class, I need the help of my friends every
step of the way. Through those struggles, bonds are
formed that are shared only by cadets.

For more information, visit

www.usma.edu
Army ROTC: Another Path to Leadership
TodaysMilitary.com

West Point is not the only commissioning source for the Army. The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program
produces nearly 60 percent of Army Officers currently serving in the Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard.

ROTC is offered at more than 1,100 traditional colleges or universities, including 11 junior and senior military colleges.
It offers students the option to pursue an undergraduate degree in nearly any major while also becoming cadets who
learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, manage an organization and conduct missions.

Upon completion of the Army ROTC program and graduation from college, cadets earn the bar of a second lieutenant as
a commissioned officer in the Active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.
page

FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit www.goarmy.com/rotc 07

Army Reserve
Civil Affairs:
Making a
Difference
“There’s this human need to make a difference in
the world,” says Sgt. Jesse Reder of the Army Reserve.
“I know I’ve made an impact, instead of just sitting on
the sidelines.”

Reder deployed to Afghanistan with the 405th Civil

Affairs Battalion for a year starting in March 2006. As
part of a civil affairs unit, Reder and his team acted
as liaisons between local civilians and the Military.

“Our goal is to help restore their

government to as good as it
was or better,” he says. “We
want to develop their econo-
my, and it’s important that made
they’re able to maintain a it a priority
proper government.” to interact with local
citizens whenever possible and
Reder’s unit worked with six especially enjoyed the time he
displaced-persons camps, spent with children.
helping individuals and families
who had returned to re-settle in “We went and plowed out a little
their country after soccer field on our base,” remem-
being displaced bers Reder. "We even built
initially by the soccer goals with camouflage
Russian invasion and netting. Then we invited some of
fleeing to Pakistan. the boys to play soccer.”

“We built roads However, Reder noticed that the girls were
connecting those left out, since they weren’t allowed to play
camps to the main “boy” sports.
city, and the city
provided a bus “So, I bought a whole bag full of jump
system so people ropes … for the little girls,” he says. “I soon
could get into realized that I didn’t have enough, so I
Jalalabad (Af- started a competition: Whoever could last
ghanistan) to find longer than me could keep the jump rope. I
work,” says even taught them Double Dutch! That was a
Reder. “By really fun day.”
placing roads, property values go
TodaysMilitary.com

up, death rates go down … It makes a difference in peo-
ple’s lives. We did everything we could to help make those
groups self-sufficient.”
One of the primary tenants of the Army mission in Afghani-
stan is the ability to protect the civilian populace and to
understand their needs. With that mission in mind, Reder
Reder says nothing could describe the feeling
of accomplishment he felt when he returned
home. He’s looking forward to his next mission
and a new opportunity to make a difference.
For more information, visit
www.goarmyreserve.com

The Army Reserve Employer Partnership Initiative (EPI) links civilian employers with
qualified Army Reserve Soldiers and affords these Soldiers access to highly sought-after
FASTfact
page

08 civilian career opportunities in more than 200 corporations across the country.
 A r m y N at i o n a l G u a r d

“I came from a small town with only one stop sign,” journalists as one of the
says Sgt. Nic Ashby, an Army National Guard member hottest car designers in
with the 579th Engineer Battalion in Santa Rosa, Calif. the nation and continues
“I felt the Military was the way I could get out there and to build cars in support
experience life.” of the National Guard.

Experience it he did. Ashby deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a Ashby feels his service
demolitions expert. in the National Guard
has helped him as a
“I could run any weapons system that we had in our framing division
arsenal,” he says. “I was a gun truck driver, a gunner manager at an
mounted and dismounted, a grenadier, a demolitions engineering
expert … worked with Special Forces, and I was even company, where
part of the security detail in the elections in Mosul.” he leads 80
employees. His
Though Ashby is a combat engineer, he emphasizes that self-discipline, leadership,
some of the most important things Soldiers are doing in confidence and attention to detail are character
Iraq have nothing to do with combat. traits Ashby believes help him succeed in both his
military and civilian careers.
“A lot of (Iraqi) kids didn’t have clothes or shoes. Soldiers
started writing to companies back home and had our When asked to sum up his experiences, Ashby says
families and other(s) send us clothes so we could … simply, “At 27, I already have three careers: my civilian
distribute them in our free time,” he says. career, my military career as a demolitions expert and my
role as the (Army) National Guard’s official car-builder.
“Iraq was the best experience of my life,” adds Ashby. Not a lot of people can say that.”
“What I miss is how much you actually accomplish in a
day compared to being here in the U.S. Every minute of
every day you are productive. People don’t realize how For more information, visit
much time they lose by not living life, watching TV, etc.” www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com

However, Ashby’s deployment also proved

to be among the most difficult of times
when his battalion lost three Soldiers.
Upon returning home, he was determined
to honor his friends in a meaningful way.

In his free time, Ashby is a “tuner,” an

automotive enthusiast who mechanically
and cosmetically alters cars. He
TodaysMilitary.com

decided to customize an Infinity 345

with images of his three fallen friends.
He then took the car, known as the
“The Fallen Heroes Car,” on a national
tour and received acclaim on the tuner
circuit and within the National Guard
for the patriotism he inspired. He has
since built the “Citizen Soldier Car,”
which is also on tour. He is
recognized by “tuner media”
page

10
B y Sg t . G u i l l e r m o Va r g a s
Marine Corps Recruiting Command

The Marine Corps makes Marines, wins battles and develops quality citizens; yet Marines share three
hallmarks that define their fabric as a warrior-family: honor, courage and commitment.

Marines are made, not born. Twelve weeks of the toughest training in
the world transforms civilians into members of the United States’ most
noble fighting force.

A person must have the desire to become a Marine regardless of

adversity, said Gunnery Sgt. Lysa Packard, a former drill instructor
currently stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

“Being one of the few and the proud and to be a female in the
Marine Corps just makes it even more of a challenge. If I was a
woman in the Military, in the Marine Corps, I thought that I could
accomplish anything. So I was like, ‘I might as well go for it and
see what I can do,’ ” Packard said.

“Anything” was a small understatement. Packard decided she

wanted to make Marines – a prestigious position held by a few.

“My best moment was … probably graduating my very first platoon

as a drill instructor,” she said. “It’s a thankless job until you get
to the end, when you see the faces of those recruits who finally
become Marines and you see the faces of their parents. The expres-
sions alone are enough for me to say, ‘This is why I do what I do.’ ”

Gunnery Sgt. Jorge Castillon, a drill instructor stationed at Marine

Corps Headquarters in Quantico, Va., has enjoyed every day of his
Marine Corps career, he said.

“It was a different experience. All the structure took a lot of

adjusting to,” he added. “My biggest misconception was that
everything was going to be about combat. It was more academic
than I thought it would be. Every day was an accomplishment,
and it built my confidence up.”

Castillon’s favorite moments were when he spoke to the families

of new Marines.
“It definitely made me a lot more responsible.
Now, everything I do, I always have the
Marine Corps in the back of my mind.”
“I’ve had parents come up (at Basic Training graduation) and
ask me who their son is because they don’t recognize them,”
Castillon said. “(It’s because) they stand a little bit taller. It’s
just that the aura … (Marines) give off is different.”
Castillon currently trains officer candidates and is proud he is
part of putting Marine leaders into the Corps.
“We’re here to train, screen and evaluate for leadership po-
tential,” Castillon said.
Marine Basic Training challenges young people both physi-
cally and mentally.
“One of the reasons drill instructors scream all the time is
because one of the stresses a Marine will face in combat is a
lot of unnerving sounds. If we get Marines used to being able
to … concentrate with controlled chaos in the background,
we know we’re setting them up for success, and they’ll come
back safely.”
But that is only the beginning of becoming a Marine. Marines
are taught in Basic Training that mission accomplishment
is the most important part of becoming a Marine. Winning
battles is top priority for Marines.
The Marine Corps is America’s
premier expeditionary force, ready to protect our nation’s interests
on the battlefield and beyond.
On August 2, 2007, Cpl. Moses Cardenas, 20 years
old and a lance corporal at the time, was doing a zone
reconnaissance mission while deployed to Anbar province,
Iraq, when he found his platoon barraged by an insurgent
suicide bomb, numerous rocket-propelled grenades and
heavy machine-gun fire.
“First thing in the morning we had two vehicles come
in. They were just flying through the desert. We started
chasing them,” recalled Cardenas. “We pulled them over,
and the driver and the passenger … went behind the
tanker truck, and I’m yelling at them ‘come here, come
here!’ And they’re not listening. Not even a second later
TodaysMilitary.com
three guys pop up from the top of the truck, and we started
engaging in the firefight.”
In the heat of the moment, Cardenas received an order.
“My chief scout (Sgt. Randy Roedema) gives the command
to fall back to the vehicles for cover, and as we’re bounding
back, that’s when my sergeant got shot. He went down right
away,” Cardenas said.
page
13
His order was to fall back to the vehicle, but Cardenas couldn’t
complete that order without his sergeant.

“I got shot twice. The second bullet brought me down. I looked
Marines live the American way of life they protect. They are
over and saw my sergeant, and I couldn’t keep going without
leaders at home and in their communities.
him. I said, ‘Not today.’ So I run to him; my friend is providing
cover for me. I pick him up; I tell him you’re going to see your Once a Marine always a Marine is a common saying
daughter.” (Roedema’s wife was expecting a baby girl.) among Marines.

Marines are people who not only risk their lives for a comrade; they “The Marine Corps is not just something you join for four
also are willing to risk their lives for the innocent and their freedom. years,” Castillon said. “It’s a way of life, and it changes

Sgt. Ofman Gomez is a Marine aircraft firefighter who manned your life. You’ll always be a Marine and think like a
a 24-hour airfield in Iraq, and his mission was to prevent fires Marine. The Marine Corps is something you become.The
from escalating. Corps gives you a lot of qualities that the civilian world
looks for: the ability to lead, the ability to supervise and
“Once, we had a C-130 come in with a wheel fire, and we were train people and get the task done. If someone is able to
able to respond and put out that fire with minimum damage to succeed in the Marine Corps, there’s no reason why they
(the aircraft and the people in) it,” Gomez said. shouldn’t succeed in the civilian world.”

Putting that fire out was his job, he said. But helping the Iraqis be Not all Marines stay in the Marine Corps for 20 years, but
free was his commitment. they will develop skills that will help them in the future.

“One of my proudest moments that stands out in Iraq is that they
had voting ballots, and women were allowed to vote for the first
time. We were there for that, and that was pretty great,” Gomez
said. “Giving seven months, every single day giving my best, I was
able to see what the war efforts are doing in Iraq, whether it was
opening schools or opening up the voting process.”

Marines are trained to win battles, but not even all the training
in the world could teach a person to risk his or her life to save
someone else. Those are the types of people that have the
opportunity to call themselves Marines. For some, the Marine
Corps is a lifetime commitment.

“I’m getting out (of the Marine Corps), when they kick me out,”
Cardenas said.

SGT. micha
el wulf
The Marine Corps is an organization that encourages
people to continue learning. Personal achievement is
highly looked upon in the Marine Corps. That is why the
Marine Corps offers higher education programs such as
Tuition Assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill and the Marine
Corps College Fund.
Staff Sgt. Michael Wulf, who is currently serving at Quantico,
joined the Marine Corps because he hopes to become a law
enforcement officer in the civilian world and wanted to gain
military experience.
“There are many education benefits you can take advantage
of in the Marine Corps,” Wulf said. “I looked up the GI Bill
and Tuition Assistance and managed to do distance learning
and completed my graduate program. I got my master’s in
criminal justice 100 percent paid for. I know that if I decide
to get out of the Marine Corps, I have something to fall back
on for my resume.”
Marines also try to improve the community around them
through volunteering.
“(As a Marine) I’ve done a lot of community service
events around San Diego,” said Sgt. James Weygandt.
“We’ve done everything from picking up trash around
the beach to planting trees and doing different landscape
work at parks. You can … coach kids’ baseball teams
and stuff like that – anything you can do to help out
around the area.”
Weygandt added, “Serving your country is one of the
best things you can do. I haven’t decided whether I’m
going to make a career of it or go to college and find a
different career. My options are still open. So far, I’ve
taken general education classes so I can begin to find
my course. I’m interested in physical therapy and the
medical field in general.”
Navy Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz said, “Of the Marines
on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Some of those Marines have passed away, yet their
legacy is perpetual. It starts with ordinary citizens who
challenge themselves to do extraordinary things for
the good of all that we cherish and hold dear as
Americans. They still come today, and they are proud
to call themselves Marines.

For more information, visit

www.marines.com

The sword carried by Marines Corps non-commissioned officers was introduced

FASTfact in 1859 and is the oldest weapon in continuous use in the U.S. Military arsenal.

u n i t e d s t a t e s n av y
“
One day on the USS
Gettysburg, we stopped a
drug boat in the Caribbean
that was carrying 10 metric
”
tons of pure cocaine.
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Andrew Bonderud
“With the Navy, it’s not just going out and fighting wars.
There are other things we do for national security. That
day, we prevented someone from taking a billion dollars’
worth of cocaine onto the streets of the United States,”
says Lt. j.g. Andrew Bonderud.
For Bonderud, the drug seizure was just another
exciting day on the job. He has also deployed with
the USS Gettysburg to the Arabian Sea to support
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to the Arabian Gulf to
support Operation Enduring Freedom with the
Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. During his Arabian
Gulf deployment, Bonderud served as a surface
warfare officer responsible for a department of 70
Sailors and the maintenance and deployment of all
of the ship’s weapons and combat systems.
TodaysMilitary.com
“When we deployed to the Arabian Gulf, we supported
ground operations in Iraq to help ensure the security
of troops on the ground and maintained security in the
Gulf,” says Bonderud. “It was very gratifying to help
those operations in a tangible way. One thing about being
a surface warfare officer in the Navy is that it comes with
page
16
a lot of responsibilities. There’s never a moment when I
can’t perform. With these moments of stress come
anxiety, but at the same time I know I’m contributing to
something that’s greater than me.”
Today, Bonderud is the damage control assistant on the
USS John L. Hall based in Mayport, Fla., on a guided
missile frigate – an anti-submarine warfare combatant
that has an anti-air warfare capability. Bonderud is
responsible for training and directing the entire crew in
controlling an emergency – like flooding or a fire – that
may put the ship in hazard of sinking.
In addition to his deployment in the Arabian Gulf and
counter-narcotics work in the Caribbean, Bonderud has
used the Spanish language skills he picked up as a
student in the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
(ROTC) program at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to travel through the
Mediterranean on several occasions,” says Bonderud.
“While I was deployed in the Mediterranean, I’ve
stopped in Spain, Malta and Crete and have experienced
a few diplomatic engagements. I was my commanding
officer’s translator, while we paid a visit to the local
senior naval officer in Spain.”
When Bonderud joined the Navy, he was initially
surprised to see the extent of his responsibilities as an
officer. “When I was commissioned, I was entrusted
with a division of 10 enlisted Sailors, including one chief
petty officer with 15 years of experience. As a 22-year-
old ensign, I was responsible for leading them and
managing their work.”
These days, he is used to being responsible for the
people around him. Bonderud is not sure where the
future will take him, but he feels that his Navy training
has prepared him for anything.
The Military offers a variety of education benefits,
from technical training to full-tuition coverage for
advanced degrees.
“There are a lot of options for my future both in the Navy
and outside. Right now all options are on the table,”
Bonderud says. “Fortunately, because of my training and
because of the education the Navy has provided me, I
have many opportunities – whether I stay in the Navy or
leave to pursue other avenues.”
For more information, visit
www.navy.com
 The height and width of modern American battleships were originally determined
FASTfact by the need to fit beneath the Brooklyn Bridge and through the Panama Canal.
NAVIGATE YOUR ROAD TO SUCCESS
Think the Military is right for you? Find out with these simple steps.

Take the ASVAB Test Developed by the Department of Defense, this test is usually
taken by students in grades 10-12. Designed to discover skills and interests, it helps
students explore careers available in both the civilian and military sector.

Do Your Research Visit Service websites (on next page) to read up on general
prerequisites such as health, education and citizenship, and to learn about benefits.

Talk About It Discussion with family, friends, teachers and military recruiters can help you
with your decision. Visit todaysmilitary.com for help initiating a thoughtful discussion
about military service with your family.

Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Here you’ll take a physical exam, meet
with a counselor to select your job and take the oath of enlistment. Most recruits head to Basic
Training shortly after MEPS. However, if you enlist through the Delayed Entry Program (DEP),
you can agree to enlist at a specific time up to a year in the future.

Basic Training This will mark your transition from civilian life to military life. Basic
Training (also known as boot camp or recruit training) varies from 8.5 weeks to 13 weeks
depending on the Service branch.

You’re now ready to begin advanced training for your new job in the Military. Way to go!

Navigate your way to success at todaysmilitary.com.

Ace Your PFT!

The Physical Fitness Test is the
first step to success in Basic
Training. Here are some tips on
the different components of the
test, all of which are timed:
This is part of every physical fitness test and varies
Timed from 1.5 miles to three miles, depending on which
Service you’re joining.
Run
Most Services test push-ups. The exception is the
Marine Corps, which tests pull-ups. Check Service
push-ups websites to find out how many you will need to do
pull-ups and in what amount of time.
All of the Services test sit-ups, although the amount
required and time constraint vary. Practice pacing
your sit-ups so you don’t burn out too early in this
sit-ups timed test.

Whether it’s off to college, straight to work or something in between, the Military may be
right for you. The following websites can help you find the information you need. In addition
to active-duty, full-time service opportunities, these websites also provide information on
opportunities to serve while enrolled in college, as well as part-time military service options
such as the Guard and Reserve.
Today’s Military Todaysmilitary.com’s
primary mission is education. This site is intended to inform
students, parents and educators as they discuss the Military
as a career option.
www.todaysmilitary.com/futures
navy The Navy trains its personnel for hundreds of high-
growth positions in more than 60 career fields, which you can
explore on these websites. It doesn’t matter if you’re college-
bound, prefer to take college courses at your own pace or are
still in high school – the Navy can create and customize
a career path for you.

army You can find jobs that are available to you and Active Duty www.navy.com
apply online using the Army Career Explorer. If you choose
United States naval Academy www.usna.edu
to apply online, an Army recruiter will contact you to
naval reserve officers’ training corps
determine if you have the necessary qualifications and will
www.nrotc.navy.com
also provide guidance as you begin to navigate your military
future. (These sites also provide you with a list of sample navY reserve www.navyreserve.com
questions that you can ask your recruiter to make sure the
Army is right for you.)
air force Start with these websites for information
on Air Force careers, financial aid, scholarships and college
Active Duty www.goarmy.com
tuition for your future. They will help you find out if you are
United States Military Academy AT eligible to join, provide an overview of available careers and
West Point www.usma.edu benefits and can help answer your questions about Air Force
culture, Basic Training and what you can expect when you join.
Army Reserve Officers Training Corps
www.goarmy.com/rotc
Active Duty www.airforce.com
National Guard www.1-800-GO-GUARD.com
United States air force Academy
ARMY RESERVE www.goarmyreserve.com
www.academyadmissions.com
Chaplain www.goarmy.com/chaplain
air force reserve officers’ training corps
Band www.goarmy.com/band www.afrotc.com

air GUARD www.GoANG.com

marine corps Every Marine is a rifleman, but
every Marine is also trained in a specific military occupa-
tional specialty (MOS). Marine Corps training will make you
quickly adaptable to any duty assignment while your MOS will
define your area of expertise. These websites will help you
understand the physical and mental preparedness required to
become a Marine.
air force reserve www.AFReserve.com
coast guard The Coast Guard will help you
choose your career path based on your aptitude, physical
abilities, security clearance, motivation and determination.
The Coast Guard offers all specialties to both men and
women equally – including combat roles.

Active Duty www.marines.com

Active Duty and coast guard reserve
United States naval Academy
www.GoCoastGuard.com
www.usna.edu
United States coast guard Academy
marine corps Officer candidate’s guide
www.uscga.edu
www.marineofficer.com

marine corps reserve www.marines.com

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

www.parents.marines.com

INFORMATION AND STORIES ABOUT MARINES

www.our.marines.com
 Military Benefits
The Military offers benefits that go way beyond a paycheck, including health
care, money for education, free travel, discounts and much more. For more
information, visit todaysmilitary.com or talk with a recruiter.

Education The Military can pay for education during service or afterwards.
Programs include the GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, College Fund Programs, Loan
Repayment Programs, Servicemember Opportunity Colleges and even
On-the-Job Training.

Health Care In the Military, there’s no need to worry about paying for health
or dental care. Health care for family members is available at low or no cost.

Travel With 30 days vacation per year with pay for those on active duty, the
Military offers great opportunities for those who like to travel. These include
Space Available travel — free flights between military bases on a space-available
basis — and discounts at military vacation resorts.

Financial The Military offers good pay and has programs and benefits to make
it easy to save money. Programs include:
• Incentive pay and bonuses for signing up and re-enlisting
(for select jobs/Services)
• Tax-free housing and food allowances, or free room and board
for active duty
• Substantial discounts and deals throughout the private sector
• Special duty allowances — family separation, overseas and
special duty pay
• Thrift savings plan investment opportunity
• Free counseling and assistance programs
• Special deals on home loans
• Discounted shopping at on-base grocery and department stores

Intangible Rewards Above all other things, the Military offers intangible
rewards like self-discipline, leadership skills, respect, honor and devotion to duty.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill boasts the most comprehensive education

benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944.
The new bill goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition. Many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001,
will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend and a $1,000-a-year stipend for books and supplies.
The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since
9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefits.

For more information, visit: www.gibill.va.gov

 Striding Toward Success:
Former Lieutenant Jocelyn Butcher
u n i t e d s t a t e s n av y

As a high school track star, Jocelyn Butcher recognized at an early age that she enjoyed being ahead of
everyone else.

“I always had ambitious ideas for my future,” she says. “I always wanted to do something unique and
separate myself from other people.”

That opportunity presented itself when the United States Naval Academy recruited her to run
track. “My family didn’t have a lot of money for college, so I was already looking for scholar-
ships,” says Butcher. “But I had never heard of the Naval Academy, so I had to do some
research. My mother thought it was a great opportunity and something not everyone can do. You
have to be smart and a great athlete. People go on from there and do great things, so I took a
closer look.”

After considering several prestigious universities, Butcher chose the Naval Academy because
the opportunity to travel and the unique experience appealed to her.

“The process is pretty similar to applying to any regular college,” she says. “You need to have
good SAT scores, etcetera. But you also have to be nominated by a member of Congress or the
vice president. Even after nomination, you still have to be accepted by the school.”

Butcher entered the Naval Academy as a plebe (a

member of the freshman class) in 1997 and began
the four-year program with Plebe Summer, an indoctrination program
designed to turn civilians into midshipmen. Midshipmen are students in
training for a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps.

“Getting used to the military regiment combined with school was a chal-
lenge,” says Butcher. “Going through freshman year with 21 credits of
classes while also having to be up at 5:30 each morning and marching at
lunchtime … It was such an accomplishment just to learn how to manage
my time and energy. After that, everything else seems easy!”

All Naval Academy graduates are required to serve for eight years – part of
which can be served on inactive-reserve status – and for at least five of
those years, they must serve on active duty in the Navy or Marine Corps.
When Butcher graduated in 2001, she was commissioned as an ensign in
the Navy and was selected as a surface warfare officer – her first choice.

During her six-year active-duty military career, Butcher traveled with her
ship to more than 14 countries and led 14 to 70 enlisted personnel,
depending on her level of responsibility.
TodaysMilitary.com

“The Navy gives you increasing responsibility fairly quickly,” Butcher says.
“You have so much training to be a leader and learn how to manage people. It’s a great experience!”

Today, Butcher is on inactive-reserve status as she completes her MBA at the University of Michigan. Always one
step ahead, she already has a job lined up after graduation working for a major food company doing marketing and
brand management. Butcher feels more than prepared for the responsibility. “It would be difficult for my civilian
peers to compete with all the managerial experience I’ve already had so early in my career.”

For more information, visit

page

24 www.usna.edu
u n i t e d s tat e s a i r f o r c e

tHE
Physical
Ability
Stamina

Air Forc
Test

PAST may sound like just another

military acronym to the average

person, but those four letters stand

for a test that helps determine your

physical aptitude and future in the
Air Force pararescue program.
The Physical Ability Stamina
Test is designed to evaluate a
minimum fitness level for entry
into the Air Force pararescue
training pipeline and includes
swimming, running and other
calisthenics. However, even
TodaysMilitary.com
In the Air, On Land, Underwater —
Pararescuemen Save Lives
How many people can say that they get paid to jump out of
planes? Not as a bet or a dare with friends, but as their honest,
everyday job? Airmen 1st Class Lucas Ferrari and Dana Wright
can! Both are stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in
Albuquerque, N.M., training to become pararescuemen.
Pararescuemen are tasked with recovery and medical
treatment of personnel in humanitarian and combat
environments and serve alongside the other Services’
Special Operations Forces, to include Army Green Berets
and Navy SEALs. They may serve domestically in situations

after passing the test, it is like Hurricane Katrina or the California wildfires. During
critical that Airmen continue to times of war, they can deploy to overseas locations such
train in order to enhance their as Afghanistan and Iraq.
chances of overall success.

For more information on specific

test criteria, please visit:
page http://www.afsoc.af.mil/
26
specialtactics/pastcriteria.asp.
 The United States Air Force became a separate branch of the Military on
FASTfact Sept. 18, 1947. The Air Force was previously a part of the United States Army.
le ap!
Airman 1st Class
ng th e
Lucas Ferrari
Taki
ce Elite:
Training, Education and
Life on Base
The training pipeline to become one of the Air Force’s elite
takes about 2.5 years to complete and features great
adventure. Imagine swimming out in the ocean, surrounded
by phytoplankton that glows every time you move! Picture
flying out near the U.S. border of Tijuana, Mexico, learning
to jump out of a plane in the middle of the night!
When asked if he was scared to jump out of a plane for the
first time, Wright says, “No. The feeling is kind of like
when you drive down the highway with your window down,
and you stick your arm out and feel the pressure of the air
flying by. It’s cool.”
Aside from the adrenaline rush, one of the major benefits
of pararescue training is that pararescuemen earn 38
semester hours toward an associate degree in survival and
rescue through the Community College of the Air Force.
They are also eligible for other educational benefits such
as full tuition assistance while on active duty or the Post
9/11 GI Bill after completing military service (see Military
Benefits on page 22 for more information).
Airman 1st class
dana wright
A Childhood Experience and
a Family Tradition
Despite a shared love of outdoor activities and an
interest in medicine, both men cite very different
reasons for joining the Air Force. Wright remembers a
childhood experience in which he struggled to save a
drowning friend but was unsuccessful. That memory
has long driven him to be better trained to serve in
emergency situations and save others’ lives – to the
point that he turned down college wrestling
scholarships to join the Military.
Ferrari comes from a family steeped in military
tradition. When considering the Air Force, Ferrari
spoke to his father first because he, too, had served
in that branch. They agreed the Air Force offered the
best opportunities to match the type of experience he
was looking for.
Both Airmen recommend service to those considering
it but stress the importance of doing the legwork first.
“Really take the time to understand the goals you want
to achieve by enlisting in the Military,” recommends
Wright, to which Ferrari strongly agrees.
For more information, visit
www.airforce.com
 Part-time Blue,
Full-Time You
Trained for the Challenge
Most days you’ll find Erik Reichenbach working at his full-time
civilian job in the film industry handling television production
equipment. But for one weekend each month, you can find him
serving as an Airman at Warfield Air Guard Base in Essex, Md.

“I work in the munitions flight. That involves everything from

storing and handling to loading munitions for the aircraft and
includes fusing the bombs, maintenance on the bombs, missiles,
flares, countermeasures … things like that,” says Staff Sgt. Erik
Reichenbach.

“My civilian co-workers are pretty impressed that I (am) in the

Military,” he says. “They were totally supportive of me when I was
deployed to Iraq.”

Reichenbach’s unit deployed to Iraq in September 2007 and served

there for three months. He says, “It wasn’t as challenging as I built
it up to be, because you quickly realize that you’ve been trained for
everything you’re tasked to do.”

A Full-Time Career
Not every career in the Air Guard is part time. Following a decade-
long career in the active-duty Air Force, Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Rogers
now serves full time in the Air Guard, performing training on week-
ends and taking care of day-to-day management, administration and
equipment maintenance that is required during the week.

“The Air Guard deploys just the same as the active-duty Air Force. The
training is the same. Our scheduling may be different, but (in essence)
we are one and the same,” says Rogers.

As a load standardization crew chief, Rogers trains every load crew to

complete an exact sequence of steps as they load and pre-flight-check
munitions onto military aircraft.

“Everything we do is on a time stamp, because pilots have to get out,”

says Rogers. “We have to train all of our crews, and we only get them for
TodaysMilitary.com

20 days each year. So it’s important to make sure our crews are trained
well … before they head back to their (full-time civilian) jobs.”

The Air Guard’s federal mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization
during war and to provide assistance during national emergencies. When Air Guard units are not mobilized or under
federal control, they provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety.

For more information, visit

page
www.GoANG.com 29
 Stationed Locally, Serving Globally

The Air Force Reserve’s main mission is to provide Citizen Airmen to defend
the United States and protect its interests through air and space power.

One such Citizen Airman is Capt. Dennis Castro, a flight nurse for the 514th
Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. As a flight nurse,
Castro’s skills are in especially high demand. Knowing he is needed, Castro
has volunteered to deploy on more than one occasion, giving up his personal
time and taking time away from his civilian career so he can help others.

“In my civilian career, I’m a trauma program manager in the emergency

department at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, N.J.,”
says Castro. “I’ve been deployed four times throughout my military career
and have returned to St. Joseph’s after each time. It does get to be a
struggle to transition back and forth from my military career to my civilian
career, but my civilian employers are very supportive of what I do.”

Castro says his favorite thing about being in the Air Force Reserve is
getting experience with the Military’s medical technology that isn’t yet
available in the civilian world. He also considers it an honor to assist on a
C-17 aircraft to carry the most precious cargo of all: America’s warriors.

“We use a C-17 aircraft, which is primarily a cargo aircraft

that we convert to a flying hospital,” says Castro. “We take
care of wounded servicemembers and air-evacuate them from
around the world to bring them to various medical treatment
facilities either abroad or throughout the United States.”

As a flight nurse, Castro is part of a highly trained aeromedi-

cal evacuation team ready to handle any type of patient
concerns while aboard the aircraft, from treating a heart
attack to performing in-flight surgical procedures. The
medical team cares for patients on the plane just as if they
are in a hospital.

At the time of this interview, Castro was training for his

fifth deployment to Iraq.
TodaysMilitary.com

“Putting on this uniform, I feel proud to be a Citizen

Airman and know I am serving my country,” he says.

For more information, visit

www.AFReserve.com

On any given day, 99 percent of the 447 aircraft assigned to the Air
page

30
FASTfact Force Reserve are mission-ready and able to deploy within 72 hours.
 ne should
What everyo
registering
know about
e service
with selectiv
Q: What is Selective Service?
A: The Selective Service System is a government
agency whose job is to provide untrained
manpower for the Armed Forces in the event of
a national emergency.
Q: What is Selective Service registration?
A: By registering, you add your name to a list of all
the men in the nation, ages 18 through 25. This
list would be used to identify men for possible
military service in case of a national emergency.
Q: What happens if there is a draft?
A: There has not been a draft since 1973. If there
were an emergency sufficient for Congress and the
President to order another draft, Selective Service
would conduct a birth date lottery to decide the
order in which to call men. Those who turn 20
during that calendar year would be called first
in a sequence determined by the lottery. If more
men were needed, those who are 21 to 25 years
old would be called first, beginning with the
21-year-olds.
Q: Who is required to register?
A: The law says all 18-year-old men, including U.S.
citizens living abroad and noncitizen immigrant
males 18–25 residing in the U.S., must register.
The only young men exempt from registration are
noncitizen males who are in the U.S. temporarily
as tourists, diplomats and their family members,
foreign exchange students, incarcerated or
institutionalized men, men on active duty in
the Armed Forces and students at U.S. military
academies.
Q: Why don’t women have to register?
A: Our nation only registers men. This has always
been the case. Selective Service law as it is
presently written refers specifically to “male
persons” in stating who must register and who
could be subject to a draft. Therefore, Selective
Service procedures don’t apply to women. In
order for women to be required to register with
Selective Service, Congress would have to change
the wording of the law.
Register online: www.sss.gov
Q: What if I don’t register?
A: You’re breaking the law. If prosecuted, you could
be sent to prison for up to five years and fined up
to $250,000. In addition, if you fail to register,
you can’t qualify for federal student grants or
loans for college, job training benefits, and many
state and federal jobs.
Q: Is registration hard?
A: No. In fact, it’s never been easier. A young man
can register with Selective Service in less than
two minutes online at www.sss.gov. You can also
register by going to your local post office and
completing a registration form. It’s as simple as
filling in your name, address, telephone number,
date of birth and Social Security number.
Registration forms should be available in your
local recreation or social service center school’s
guidance or registrar office, or you may receive a
form in the mail. Simply complete the form and
mail it to Selective Service.
Q: When should I register?
A: Within 30 days of your 18th birthday. If
you can’t register on time because you’re
hospitalized or in prison, you have 30 days in
which to register after you are released. If 30 days
have already passed since your 18th birthday,
register immediately, either online or at your post
office. Although Selective Service will accept a
late registration, the longer you wait, the longer
you’re breaking the law and jeopardizing your
future benefits.
Q: How do I prove I registered?
A: When registering online, you will receive
your Selective Service number immediately.
That number is your proof of registration. For
safekeeping, jot down that number. You’ll
receive a Selective Service card in the mail
TodaysMilitary.com
confirming that number. If you don’t get your
card in the mail within 90 days, write to:
Selective Service System
Registration Information Office
P.O. Box 94638
Palatine, IL 60094-4638
or call 1-847-688-6888
page
33
u n i t e d s tat e s c o a s t gu a r d

Lieutenant Jeanine McIntosh Menze

Lieutenant Jeanine McIntosh Menze is many things: X

a native of Jamaica, a college graduate, a daughter,
a sister and a wife. She’s someone who has camped
on glaciers in Alaska in her free time and, as the first
female African-American pilot in the United States
Coast Guard, she is also always ready to embark on
lifesaving rescue missions at a moment’s notice.

Born in Jamaica, Menze’s house sat under the final

approach path for Kingston International Airport.
She can remember feeling a sense of fascination as
she watched the aircraft slowly descend toward their
destination — a fascination that remained with her
through her family’s immigration first to Canada,
and later to Miami, Fla. However, it was not until
she enrolled at Florida International University to
study for an international business degree that
Menze decided to pursue her dream of flying.
She learned to pilot commercial aircraft and also
became a flight instructor, all while earning her
bachelor’s degree and joining her family in earning
their United States citizenship.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Menze was sitting in a college

classroom when she heard the news of the terror-
ist attacks. It was at that moment she decided to
change the course of her career. “That day moved
the whole country and really made me stop and think
about how I wanted to carry out my life. I knew then
that I really wanted it to be through some type of
service to the country. So I signed up for the Coast
Guard’s Officer Candidate School (OCS).”
 Sink or Swim

Menze’s desire to give back to her adopted country did not

come without its own unique set of challenges. Many of
the Coast Guard’s missions are executed on the water, and
yet Menze joined without knowing how to swim!

“I had a fear of the water that I had been nursing since I

was a little girl. There was this incident where I had been
XX sitting on the shoulders of a cousin and fell off into some
deep water, and that is probably where it began,” explains
Menze. “When I signed up for the Coast Guard, I knew I
would finally have to overcome my childhood fears and
learn how to swim. I went to Barnes & Noble and bought a
book about how to swim and brought it to the pool. I also
tried enrolling in a class at the local YMCA and, while that
helped me a lot in conquering my fear, where I really learned
to swim was actually in a program offered through OCS.”
On Being the First
Search and Rescue When asked how she feels about serving as the first
female African-American pilot in the Coast Guard, Menze
Today, Menze is a C-130 Hercules aircraft commander
says, “It is something that I feel very excited about. I am
stationed in Florida. She is in charge of signing out the
definitely motivated and honored to hold that title. I say
aircraft and is responsible for the safety of her crew, which
motivated because I hope, in the future, other people
usually includes seven other members of the Coast Guard.
will look at me and realize we can continue to evolve the
Working as a team, the crew is responsible for executing
face of all Military Services with diversity.” Perhaps just
missions that fall into any one of three different categories:
as amazing is the fact that Menze has accomplished all
search and rescue, law enforcement and humanitarian
of this, and she is only 28!
cargo transportation. They have saved the lives of those
lost out at sea, enforced fishery laws and transported
endangered seals to safer waters. For more information, visit
www.GoCoastGuard.com
“When I was in OCS, it was one big leadership test. It is
a tough job to be in charge,” says Menze. “When you are
in the 11th hour of a search-and-rescue mission, you really
want to find the missing person. Your heart and endurance
are on the line to find someone’s family member, and it is
hard not to feel attached. But as the person in charge,
I need to make the judgment call about staying out there
on the scene longer, and whether or not I can run the risk
of fatiguing the crew or pushing the limits of the aircraft.”
TodaysMilitary.com

The U.S. Coast Guard seizes one drug

FASTfact smuggling vessel every five days. page

35
 From Engine repairs to public affairs—

Coast Guard Fireman Whitney Bell attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s School of Business for three years before realizing she
was looking for something more in her life. She had grown bored with classrooms full of books and wanted a thrill. So she spoke with her sister,
who is in the Air Force, and a brother in the Marine Corps, before finally deciding the Coast Guard was right for her.

“After seeing my sister and brother sign up for the Military, I had a really high expectation of what serving would be like,” explains Bell. “I always
looked up to both of them as such strong people and never thought that I could follow in their paths. But as my life moved along, the Military
seemed more and more like the best fit for me. After
enlisting, I discovered that there was never anything I
couldn’t handle. The Coast Guard is great about always
giving you all of the tools you need to succeed.”

Today, Bell is stationed in Florida and loves her job.

“Every day, I can look out the window at work and see the
ocean and the swaying palm trees. Some people dream
of a warm getaway to a place like this, but this is where I
actually get to live and work. It is pretty amazing!”

career options
Bell explains there are a variety of roles Coast Guardsmen
can fill when they first enlist, especially if they don’t know
exactly what they want to do when they leave for boot camp.

“The Coast Guard will let you go into the field to check out what
everyone else does and then decide,” Bell says. “That’s what
I did and how I figured out that I want to become a public
affairs specialist.”
“Right now, I work on boats,” she explains. “As a fireman, that
means I work below deck with the engines and am responsible
for the integrity of the systems. Seamen work above deck.
And now that I’ve decided I’d like to pursue public affairs,
I’m in the middle of the interview process for that job.”

Public Affairs Specialist

Bell explains she felt the public affairs role would be a perfect fit for her
because, in her three years of college, English was always her favorite subject,
and she loves to write. Photography also happens to be a personal hobby of hers,
and in combining the two, Bell thinks she will be well-prepared to help tell the
TodaysMilitary.com

Coast Guard story.

“Overall, the Coast Guard was definitely the right choice for me. Knowing that I can
do the same job the guys do – and sometimes even better – that makes me walk
around with my head held high!”

FASTfact Prior to schooling or on-the-job training for a particular

rating, Coast Guard and Navy enlisted members in the
engineering and hull community are called firemen.
page
Afterward, they become petty officers.
37
YO U CA N R U N . BU T T HAT ’ S A BO U T I T.

To say we have the highest applied technology on the planet is perhaps an understatement of gargantuan
proportions. More accurately, we have the highest applied technology on earth, in the air and throughout
the solar system. Our manned and unmanned aircraft, spacecraft and satellites work 24/7, gathering
'#.&&#+..#+(,&š7?H<EH9;$9EC%>;7BJ>97H;
and sending information in real-time situations. That’s why there’s no place to hide when you’re being
tracked by the United States Air Force. '#.&&#*()#KI7<š7?H<EH9;$9EC