Military Volunteer Jobs: Options After High School Graduation?

I'm thinking about pursuing volunteer jobs within the military after high school to gain experience and maybe eventually enlist. Does anyone know what volunteer opportunities are available and how they might help with future career goals?

There are several ways you can volunteer within the military community that could not only give you a sense of mission and purpose but could also strengthen your potential application should you eventually decide to enlist. Here are a couple of options:

1. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP): This is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, mainly involving itself in search and rescue, disaster relief, and teaching about aerospace. It's a great way to learn leadership skills and get a sense of what military life is like.

2. The United Service Organizations (USO): This is a nonprofit that provides live entertainment, like music and comedy shows, to members of the military. The USO also provides other services like helping soldiers transition back to civilian life. Volunteering in the USO could help you get a feel for military culture.

3. The Red Cross: They have a special program called Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) that delivers emergency communications, comfort and assistance to military families. It can expose you to a broad range of military community needs.

4. Veterans Affairs (VA) Voluntary Service: This program supports veterans through a range of activities, like visiting patients, administrative tasks, hosting special events or even escorting veterans.

Volunteering in these positions allows you to demonstrate traits highly regarded by the military—commitment, diligence, service to others, leadership, and teamwork. These experiences can greatly inform your decision about enlisting, and if you do decide to go that route, they can make you a stronger candidate. Just be sure that in any volunteer role you undertake, you’re doing it with sincerity and a true desire to serve others.