Becoming a Soldier

The Process of Becoming a Soldier To become a soldier in the military requires a certain personality, one that enjoys a challenge, possesses a stronger than average work ethic and has a desire to conquer and master new aspects. However, becoming a combat soldier requires advanced training that covers the operation of specific weapons, furthering training with explosives, combat first aid and advanced operational tactics with each soldier field. The process of becoming a soldier can be interesting to some, but challenging to others. The long journey can be summed up in three steps, which are recruitment, learning valuable job skills at Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and being shipped to your duty of operation. Beginning this journey there must be a diploma or equivalent education on hand. The recruiter will arrange for medical and psychological testing then a potential recruit will be scheduled to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Test. The ASVAB test determines intelligence aspects and will let a recruit know what career fields are open to them should they decide to become a soldier. Once qualified and given an oath of loyalty, it’s off to basic military training (boot camp). Putting in 6 to 8 weeks of physical training, strengthening the body and turning once a civilian into a combat ready soldier. Spending days building muscles to running obstacle courses which affects many because of health issues, or just not being in shape before joining this training. Learning to repel from a helicopter and how to use a gas mask on how to retreat one self in chemical and biological warfare required upper body strength and also a strong mind. Learning and having the ability to use basic weapons or combat weapons such as pistols, grenades, anti-tank weapons, and also belt fed machine guns are all required to know. Although they have to