Others see a compound, reminiscent of that seen on Hogan’s Heroes, where misbehaving inmates are sentenced to hard time for their past behavior, and angry drill instructors scream at a hopeless collection of trouble-makers. The later is more reminiscent of what today has become known as teen boot camps, where an intense regime of shock therapy and even abuse over a short period of time is designed to turn troubled teens around.

The truth is that both of these types of organizations exist, as does everything in between. This is why one size does not fit all when looking for a military school or academy.

In the United States, there are numerous military schools. In Canada, there is only one. You don’t need to search for too long on the internet to find them. But why are there so many and why are they so popular? Some have a long proud history dating back to before the Civil War. Students attend because of tradition; their father, and grand father, and great grand father attended. Some attend because they see it as a stepping stone to one of the federal service academies like West Point, Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy. Others see it as a structured environment within which their misbehaving youngster will learn their bad discipline and be transferred from a life of misfortune into become a contributing member of society.

There are military schools that cater to each of these groups. However, when these students with differing goals end up in the same school the outcome is often chaotic. Those who do not want to be there fight the system every step of the way. The others end up suffering as a result of these negative influences. In the end, neither group receives what they want, or what they need.

It is for these reasons that it is important to know what you are looking for in a military school, and why. Ask the right questions and tell your whole story to the admissions department before enrolling. This will help determine whether a particular school is right for your son or daughter, and whether your son or daughter is right for the school.

The moral of this story: Not all military schools and academies are alike. Be sure you understand the difference between what you want and what you (or your son or daughter) need, because these are not necessarily the same thing.

Being one of the military troops is one great example of sacrificing life and time. Think about the responsibility of all the military men, it is so great and very challenging. Once they are out in the battle, their hearts never stop pounding, their mind needs to be focused and their body is in deep pressure. It is the intense adrenaline rush that makes them so in to the battle for peace and prosperity.

It is not easy to become a part of the military most especially when you have a family and little kids to think about. The family that they have left behind also feels intense pressure every time their husband or their father is on a mission. The hearts of families never stop from beating fast too. They never stop from worrying and they even constantly think of what could have been going on every single minute. Family support, strength, courage and prayers are what every military soldier needs in order for them to face all of the hardships that they meet.

When an individual has a firm decision on becoming a military soldier, all out support from the family and significant others should be given. For those individuals who are willing to become a member of the military in their country, they must pass or qualify the requirements and the standards of the military academy.

One very important requirement is the age. Those who are willing to join the academy must be at least 17 years old but with parental consent or 18 years old without any parental consent. You need to be of legal age when you want to join due to the fact that this matter is very serious and it needs mature individuals in order to fully understand the procedures and issues that surround the academy and of course, the country. Age is definitely one of the criteria when talking about legal matters. Same goes too when you want to carry and use a self defense tazer or any forms of non lethal weapons.

The military academy also requires every applicant to be in good physical condition. Health is a requirement and as much as possible, they want their applicants to be mentally and emotionally fit as well. They will undergo screening and medical examinations to determine if there are underlying diseases and also if they are qualified or not. This is also a requirement when one decides to buy a stun gun for self defense.

Educational attainment is one requirement that almost any branch of military also requires. Applicants must have graduated from high school and can present a high school diploma and any other accepted credentials. In almost any type of work field, having a good educational background is a must.

Good moral character is another requirement in almost any military service. The recruiter will have to perform a serious background check in all of the applicants. This is to determine if the applicant has history of being imprisoned, use of illegal drugs and has committed serious crimes. Applicants having such can destroy the reputation of the military academy.

If you think you have what it takes to become a good military soldier, you can apply to any branch of military service. Just make sure that you have full support from your family and a strong will and determination to serve your nation.

Defence is also a term used when describing a military unit’s defensive tactics when working against an opposing forces offensive, perhaps by seeking to circumnavigate the enemy position, delay an enemy attack, or to wage a war of attrition whereby the enemy will lose numbers eventually allowing the defensive force to form a defensive line or perform an offensive manoeuvre.

An excellent example of employing defensive strategy tactics can be seen when used against American soldiers in the Vietnam Conflict. The Vietcong employed both regular army units and guerrilla units in order to fight an offensive and defensive strategy. By the use of smaller mobile guerrilla forces the Vietcong waged a war on the resources of the American soldiers, which included destroying supplies and supply routes. They also used the Americans resources when producing booby traps, including discarded items such as tin cans as well as unexploded bombs which they would collect and use for mines.

Eventually the efforts of the smaller mobile defensive guerrillas caused such an effect that the main army was able to overrun the American forces with a massive attack know as the Tet Offensive.

Defensive military strategy is also hugely apparent in the arms race, and more recently the nuclear arms race. The opinion being that with a nation holding such powerful weapons it would be inadvisable to attack unless of course the offensive nation holds weapons of a similar nature.

Nowhere is this example more outlined than in the Cold War stand offs of the mid to late twentieth century. One specific example of this is the Cuban Missile Crisis which involved the US and the Soviet Union in 1962. The Soviet and Cuban authorities had placed nuclear weapons on Cuba as seen by American reconnaissance planes and, with the tension between the two countries already palpable, a standoff ensued with the ‘very real’ threat of a nuclear war occurring. Fortunately diplomatic proceedings ensured that the crisis was settled relatively amicably with the dismantling of the weaponry and a no-invasion agreement in place from the American authorities.

Pakistan Army offensives have thus far been successful, and are likely to cut off Swat from TTP reinforcements from the South. Bajaur-Malakand-Buner axis would leave the Pakistani Taliban in Swat dissected from their friends in Mohmand Agency. The Swat Valley has very few exits and is accessible mainly from the South and North, with limited access to Shangla to the East and Dir to the West. All of which can theoretically be closed by the Pakistan Army.

The TTP have underestimated the Pakistan Army and overestimated their position and moved towards more conventional ground holding operations over classic guerrilla too quickly. They are likely to pay the price in blood, and complete loss of their northern flank. The only silver lining for the TTP will be the use of massive American weaponry including borrowed choppers that are likely to be used in such an operation. This would equate the Pakistan Army=stooges of America.

The Pakistani game plan has been masterminded by General Kayani, who is now emerging as a seasoned chess-player and a veritable Pakistani Putin. He has deftly fixed the political crisis without directly interfering in the affairs of the state. “The Kayani Model”, a term coined by former Chief of Army Staff Jehangir Karamat, represents a new framework for the Pakistan Army. As Karamat puts it, – “invisible but around, fully informed and acting through well timed and effective influence”.

In a parallel development, a new consensus appears to be emerging, that can be called the “Zaid Hamid Consensus” that charts out a broad policy of independence from the US and an Islamic state in the philosophical lineage of Allama Iqbal rather than a Taliban/Salafi style interpretation. This consensus, if it can gain critical mass, could prove to be an antidote to both foreign designs against the country as well as the internal threat of the Salafists and terrorists.

The Americans are also in the game. The American game plan is represented by a rehash of the “Sunni Awakening” strategy in Iraq under the brand name of “Sunni Tahreek” a so-called Deobandi outfit. This is perhaps the biggest danger for Pakistan, as it will in the long-term move the battle from far flung and remote areas to the city centers of the country in a rehash of Iraq post US conquest, with the violence, militias and terror that it accompanied. With the political government’s cooperation and US funding, this could easily turn very nasty.

Almost all of the positions within the National Guard are part-time, as members are expected to serve just one weekend a month, and are trained for only two weeks in a year. Hence, the members can enjoy both lives; as full time civilians, while getting the benefits of a military career, which has excellent benefit packages, like the waiver of school and college tuition, enhancing career skills, and a regular salary. In return, they have to be ready to serve the country when the need arises. The members of the National Guard serve the people closest to them and society as a whole.

Primary Duties

The primary duty of the Air National Guard as well as the Army National Guard is to help protect the people at times of crisis, and serve the country in emergencies. Natural calamities like earthquakes, storms or floods, and communal disturbances such as riots, are some of the emergencies wherein the National Guard is expected to come to the aid of the people.

The Air National Guard is responsible for the air defense of the entire nation. It also serves as a backup force to the regular United States Air Force. A person who wants to enroll for the Air National Guard must comply with some academic and non-academic constraints like being in the age group of 17 to 34, having a high school diploma or GED, being free of major law violations, being free of illegal drug use etc., to be eligible.

Aside from that, he or she must pass a physical test and clear the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB). Once this is done, a recruit can choose a specific career interest and reserve a position before the start of the training program. In addition to paychecks and fee waivers at some schools in their state, the other benefits enjoyed by members are life insurance at very low premium rates, and shopping benefits at military canteens and base exchanges, where they can buy electronic goods and other commodities at cheaper rates.

Career Options

The state as well as the federal government is in command of the Army National Guard. The career options in the Army National Guard can be primarily classified into three sections – combat, combat support and combat service support. Combat can be further classified into infantry, armor, artillery, aviation and air defense, while combat support can be subdivided into engineering, chemical, military policing, signaling, military intelligence and civil affairs, combat service support can be sub-grouped into finance, personnel, public affairs, maintenance supply and transportation.

Enlisting in the National Guard is not only patriotic, but can prove to be very useful for those pursuing higher education and seeking to enhance their career skills. While it provides a regular paycheck and free education, it also opens the doors to other job opportunities that require experience and expertise.

The origination of the British Army can be traced back to around 1707 with the unification of England to Scotland and the resulting United Kingdom. Since its formation the British Army has continued to grow and develop and its role has changed according to its time in history. For example, today the army plays a much more significant peace keeping role and evidence of this can be seen with the recent developments in Afghanistan.

Many young men and women apply to join each year and a number of them fail to pass the application process due to a lack of preparation. The British Army selection process is designed to test your suitability to life within the Army. It can be a difficult process if you don’t prepare and can be a nerve wracking one too.

If you fully prepare for the role that you want to achieve then the rewards of a are second to none. You will receive a good salary, often be given the chance to travel overseas, given the opportunity to work as part of one of the most professional and respected organisations in the world and also to give something back to your country.

At the Army Selection Centre you will undergo further selection, both physically and mentally. The purpose of the centre is to confirm your suitability for your chosen career in the Army. Keep in mind that you are not committed to join the Army at this stage. It is also an opportunity for you to see whether Army life is for you and it is a good opportunity for you to sample what lies ahead if you decide to pursue a career in the Armed Forces.