Senior Jasmine Alderete plans to join the army for the next four years of her life following high school, Alderete said. Alderete has already gone through the paperwork, medical physical, and plans to also attend college during her years in the army.
Alderete is entering the army as a signal systems specialist who works with satellites and communications, Alderete said. She has known that she wanted to join the army since the beginning of senior year, according to Alderete.
“[Going into the army] is more of a family tradition. A lot of my family members went straight into the military after high school and that is how they got their college paid for so I thought it would be a good option for me,” Alderete said. “Seeing a lot of females in my family doing the military pushed me into making this decision and I felt like it was right for me.”
Alderete had no preparation or training during her high school years and is worried about basic training as a female, Alderete said. When she enters the army, she will go through combat training, which will be more physically demanding, according to Alderete.
“I had to meet with my recruiter and get my ASVAB testing and after that I had to go get a full physical at a place called MEPs and they basically check you out, make sure everything is okay with you and then after that you go through the process of swearing in,” according to Alderete. “I’m excited for having a career straight out of high school, being able to pay for my college and not having to worry about money or anything like that.”
Alderete will be attending college and her choice of college will be determined by what the base that she lives on offers, Alderete said. For people interested in joining the army, they just have to meet with their local recruiter, there are usually a couple of recruiters in every state, and the process from that point should be fast and easy, Alderete continued.
“As long as I’m fit I should be okay but I’m worried about the mental part of it where they yell at you and everything,” Alderete said.“Before I go off to basic training, they offer the future soldier program so you basically learn how to march and discipline before you go off so you won’t be as unprepared,” Alderete continued.