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Students interested in military service may consider joining a local chapter of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps — ROTC. The program allows high school and college students to learn from veteran-led classes what it's like to be in the military. ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe High School offers this program.

“I think it’s important to go there because the military offers a lot of education, they offer a lot of careers, and that’s something that you want to be proud of. You get to go to boot camp and basic training. It shows you that it’s not the big things that matter, it’s the tiny things,� said my grandmother, Janet Marquez, who was in ROTC in the 1970s.

Though she wanted to pursue military service, her mother would not sign for her to go — saying it was “no place for a girl.�

My cousin, Stephine Gonzalez, who served in a women-only platoon while in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom, has this advice for young people aspiring to be in the military: “Follow your dream no matter what anyone says. Everyone’s experience is different. It’s best to reach out for it and find out for yourself.�

My godmother, Jessica Gomez, was in the ROTC program at ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe High School from 1999 to 2002 before going on to work for New Mexico Medicaid.

“It’s a good program to become independent and responsible,� she said.

“I learned so much about loyalty and honor. I was an officer when I graduated. I managed my own class and my own drill team. Competitions were always fun, learning a routine and competing as a team,� she added.

While ROTC can provide some insight into what the armed forces could be like, it’s not the same as enrolling in the military and should be treated as a different opportunity. For aspiring service members, the local recruitment offices are at ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe Place mall.

The age a person can join the military depends on the branch, and for many branches, a person can join after they turn 17. But according to my father, James Sandoval, who joined the Army at 26 and spent more than 14 years working maintenance on tanks, it’s important that a person is ready to make a major commitment to a very structured organization.

“To anyone that wants to be in the military, [you] have to be committed,� he told me. “Commitment goes a long way. It's not like something that you one day do, then say, ‘Oh, I didn’t like it; I’m going to leave.’ It’s a lifelong commitment.�

He added that a person needs to be ready to trade in their civilian, or nonmilitary, identity for a very structured lifestyle.

“They strip everything away about your civilian [identity], whether you have short hair, long hair; [are] a party animal, shy wildflower; if you were confused or mixed up,� he said. "The military strips that away from you. This makes you have a military mindset.�

Part of that transition is going to boot camp. All aspiring service members are required to attend boot camp before entering the military. This is to ensure safety and impose basic training to serve in combat and to work in any position in the armed forces.

My cousin, Donnie Jaramillo, an active service staff sergeant in the Army for almost seven years, is from ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe. He said there are different plans for serving, such part time or full time.

“I wanted to go to college. I knew the military had great ways for me to do that and stuff like that. But when I got back from training, I decided I want to be more than [a] one-weekend-a-month person. I wanted to do more,� he said.

Though to discover what service or plan would work best, contact a local recruiter, he advised.

“When looking at joining the military, look at all your options. Don't just look at one branch; one might offer something better for you,� he added.

My uncle, Gilbert Martinez, a Vietnam Veteran who lives in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe and was a "DP3" — data processing technician third class — on the USS Kitty Hawk from 1970-72. Martinez joined the Navy before he could be drafted in order to choose which branch he wanted to be in.

Martinez’s advice to young people who aspire to military service is to “carry especially the name with pride.�

Navy veteran Brittany Esquibel, who is my cousin and served for four years, had three pieces of advice.

“One, research thoroughly, look at all the branches, research their missions, their culture and each role that they play in our military,� she said.

“Stay informed about current events,� she added. “Being in the military, you will be more aware of the global events happening, and it’s always best to understand what role you might play while serving in the armed forces.�

Finally: “Consider the importance of family and friends. Being in the military comes with a demanding responsibility, and schedule. But it’s nice to know that your loved ones are always one phone call away from reaching out to them.�