CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
If you surveyed your co-workers and friends, you'll discover there are a multitude of reasons for why people join the military.
Some join because they are patriotic and want to serve their country, while others join to travel the world or complete their education. Regardless of why they joined and the length of their service, they all have the opportunity to accomplish at least three things during the time they serve: improve fitness, complete educational goals and develop financial independence.
To be an effective combat warrior you must work continuously and stringently at maintaining or improving your fitness level.
During my career, I've watched the fitness testing evolve from running one-and-a-half miles in about 15 minutes, to the controversial cycle ergometric test and finally to the current fitness program. I believe the change in the fitness culture is vital to being successful in the new role as combat warriors.
If you plan to have longevity with the military, you must be fit. Maintaining a healthy weight and waist circumference minimizes chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and other health issues attributed to obesity. Being fit is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity to perform and survive in a combat environment.
Regardless of whether you serve four years or more than 20 years, you need to develop a plan to complete your educational goals. You can use tuition assistance and Top Up, if you have the Montgomery G.I. Bill, to cover the cost of tuition and books. There are so many choices for a completing degree or certification program that, regardless of your work schedule and deployment rotation, there's a program to meet your needs.
You can take a class during your lunch hour, during class one night a week, only on weekends or online just to name a few options. Focus on taking at least one class per semester and you'll knock out your Community College of the Air Force and then a bachelor's or master's degree before you know it.
To continue to be competitive in the Air Force, education is imperative. Taking courses keeps you mentally active and benefits you in many ways. In fact, Airmen who take college courses usually score well during Weighted Airman Promotion System testing.
Finally, you need to spend your time in the military by becoming financially secure. We can use the many resources at the Airman and Family Readiness Flight to accomplish this. Counselors there can teach you how to balance your checkbook, implement a budget and use software to calculate the quickest way to pay off debts. They also offer seminars on purchasing cars and homes or investing in stocks and bonds.
I can't stress enough how important it is to save money consistently. Make a conscious effort to pay yourself either by regularly placing money monthly into savings or investing through the Thrift Savings Plan. Combine savings with buying only what you can afford and you'll be well on your way to being financially independent.
As you continue your life after serving in the military, you may notice memories of the people you've met, the places you traveled and the tasks you accomplished may begin to fade. However, exercising discipline to maintain your fitness level, complete educational goals and minimize financial debt are accomplishments that will have long-term benefits and will impact the rest of your life.