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Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor individuals who have lost their lives while serving our nation. For many Americans, Memorial Day is a reminder that there is a cost for freedom and unfortunately sometimes that cost results in the loss of the courageous lives of men and women in the service. Because of this, although Memorial Day has become somewhat of a fun and festive holiday, it is important that we don’t lose sight of the true reason we celebrate it. Here are 15 ways to celebrate Memorial Day and everything the holiday stands for:

1. Take a trip to the cemetery to visit the graves of fallen soldiers.
2. Take part in the National Moment of Remembrance (3 pm local time).
3. Collect money for a veterans’ charity.
4. Attend a Memorial Day parade.
5. Host a family bar-b-que.
6. Show your patriotism by sporting red, white, and blue.
7. Create a care package for an oversees soldier.
8. Organize a family picnic.
9. Display the U.S. flag in your front yard.
10. Decorate your home and yard
11. Teach your children about the history of Memorial Day.
12. Volunteer at a veterans’ hospital.
13. Visit a military history museum.
14. Place U.S. flags near tombstones of fallen soldiers.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s decision to let women serve in combat jobs has drawn attention to the selective service. This institution has, for many years, been forgotten because the U.S. hasn’t issued a military draft for so long. The 1973 military draft required that all men register within a period of 30 days once they’ve turned 18, with the selective service.

U.S leaders have repeatedly insisted that the nation won’t make use of the draft since the all-volunteer system is bearing fruits. However, increased rumblings in connection to women registry have been reported.

The Selective Service

This system maintains young Americans contact information that could be subjected to military conscription. The first U.S. conscription attempt occurred during the civil war in 1862. It proved to be unpopular in 1973 during the Vietnamese war.

Why Women Are Not Currently Required to Register

In 1981, the congress’ decision that attempted to excuse women from selective service registration was upheld by the Supreme Court. The court ruled that women wouldn’t be required during a draft since they were combat restricted.

The selective service website clearly shows that the law specifically refers to “males” when referring to the people to register and to be drafted. This therefore means that women are exempted from registration. The service goes a step further to state that the congress must first amend the law to allow women drafting into the military.

What the Military Says About Women Inclusion in the Draft

Military spokespersons say that it is important for the congress to consider reviewing its decision about women selective service registration since all combat positions have been made open to women. In February, Marine Corps Commanding Gen. Robert Neller voiced his opinion that women should be able to register and attain combat roles. However, the Marine Corps organization itself has some conflicting views.

Brooke Stedman, a member of a non-government organization known as “Women in International Security” said that she had positive feelings about the statement made by the Gen. She argued that, if the government wants to promote and uphold gender equality, it is important to allow women register with the selective service.

The selective service states that all male citizens in the U.S. with 18 years and above but not exceeding 26 years should register. Male citizens in the group and are immigrants must as well sign up. Those on visas however are exempted from registration.

Penalties for Failure to Register

Failure to register with the selective service could lead to serious repercussions. Most importantly, if someone is a man and has attained 18 years. One could lose their eligibility for government jobs, job training and student financial loan. For immigrant men, one could lose their U.S. citizenship eligibility.

Being in the military is not just a job, it’s a way of life. This is why the transition to civilian life is a major challenge for most military personnel. The difficulty of this transition can best be described as taking a fish out of water. One has to sufficiently adjust from a life that demands discipline, structure, physical fitness, and mental hurdles to life as a civilian. This takes time and dedication.

In extreme cases, it may even take therapeutic or medical intervention. There is no one-fit-all solution for a smooth transition. Each individual will experience a varying set of challenges and milestones. For example, transition will not be the same for someone who has been in the military for 3 decades versus another who has served for 3 years. Additionally, a military member who has spent a lot of time in a particularly hostile location might face a harder time adjusting. Below are some tips applicable to almost every soldier transitioning or planning to transition to civilian life.

1. Know what to expect. The initial shock of leaving the military is one of the obstacles that hit transitioning military members the hardest. It manifests as an inability to take in and accept the vast differences between military life and civilian life. To reduce its effect on you and how you relate to others, you can prepare yourself mentally by knowing what to expect. Ask former military members what their experience was like or read other people’s adjustment stories online. Expect that people will not be as disciplined as you were in the military. They may not be as punctual, respectful, or honest as you. There are many traits that members of the military learn and live by that civilians are not accustomed to, such as the ones mentioned previously. By anticipating and being understanding of the differences in your mind before you get out of the military, it becomes much easier when the time comes.

2. Have a good support system. Too often, military members get into civilian life to find themselves all alone. No one really understands what they are going through and the struggles they faced in military and are facing during the transitioning stage. This can often lead to stress or even mental illnesses such as depression. It is important to have someone or a group of people who make up your support system outside the military. It can be family, friends or an online group. The most important thing is to find people who understand your situation and are willing to walk with you through it. It is also important to utilize military resources in order to get evaluated, and treated for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

3. Think about your financial future. Financial problems are another major source of stress for former military members. This is especially true if they have a family that they need to provide for. Luckily, these days plenty of organizations are committed to helping transitioning soldiers in furthering their education or getting a job. Start your research early on so that when the time comes, you are well aware of your options.

Ultimately it is important to remember to take it a day at a time and do not get down on yourself if certain military habits keep creating uncomfortable situations at home or work. Transitioning into civilian life takes time and effort. Take it slowly, absorbing a little change at a time. Though inside you will always be a soldier, you can learn to live productively in the civilian world.

Do your Research

The US military are continuing to attract large numbers of young men and woman each year. Because of the distinguished military history which this country has, thousands of young men and woman grew up in military homes and therefore the military has remained a part of their lives. Others have friends and family who has excelled in military service and therefore those individuals are themselves motivated to serve their country in one capacity or another.

Deciding which branch of the military is best for you, is very much like deciding on what to study in college. Such a decision could be life changing. Picking the wrong branch can result in you becoming stagnate and making very little progress. The right branch of the military can ultimately help you to excel in the military and make it a long-term career. The reality is that just because one of your parents or a family member has excelled in a specific military career is no guarantee that such a career is suitable for you. This is why it is extremely important to do your own research.

Speak to a Military Recruiter

The military personnel who are responsible for recruiting personnel for the Armed Forces are, in most cases, the perfect people to ask for excellent advice about how a person should proceed in choosing the correct military career. These people often have many years of experience in their specific department and they have gained a lot of insight relating to assigning specific people to a specific positions or within the US military.

It is important to research all of the different departments of the US military as comprehensively as possible as this will give you a better understanding of the duties and requirements associated with each specific branch. Few other national armies present their citizens with the staggering amount of diversity which is available to US citizens who have made the decision to join the US military.

Do not make the mistake, made by so many men and woman before, of joining a specific branch of the military based on the reports which they have heard from family or friends or even the television and media. Although some of these people will succeed, a substantial number could potentially realize that they were misinformed and this may require a change in branch which could substantially delay the progress of your career.

Define your Career Objectives

Where do you see yourself within the next 5 or 10 years? Staying one step ahead and thinking about your future is vital when considering a career in any branch of the military. Once you decide where you want to be 10 years from now, you should then come up with an action plan of sorts—think of it as a road map to achieving your goals.

Defining your career objectives is a major part of setting and achieving life goals. Do you want to make the military a long-term career, or do you have other plans? Answering that question, and similar questions, could help you decide which branch of the military may be best for you to join as some branches have more favorable long-term career options.

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