By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Depending on the activities you choose:
Reminder: Any time you use an outside source, be sure you follow the content owner’s or website’s permission requirements and guidelines.
Advisors should review these materials before showing them to ensure that they are appropriate for the post.
Included in this activity lesson plan are an abundance of videos and other resources. You may certainly keep this session to your typical meeting timeframe, but you may also want to gauge your post’s interest level. If your Explorers are highly interested, you may want to consider doing multiple sessions on this topic.
Text in italics should be read aloud to participants. As you engage your post in activities each week, please include comments, discussions, and feedback to the group relating to Character, Leadership, and Ethics. These are important attributes that make a difference in the success of youth in the workplace and in life.
Choose one or more of the following:
Provide an overview of some of the differences between military life and a job outside of the military. Be sure to touch on some of the unique aspects of military life.
Or divide the participants into small groups and have them brainstorm what they know about the different branches of the military. Have them share their perceptions with the larger group.
Or have the participants discuss why they might be interested in joining the military.
Show Explorers the Army history materials (https://history.army.mil) and the Air Force history materials (https://www.airforce.com/mission/history). Lead a discussion about how these branches of the military evolved and their specialized missions.
Show Explorers the “Joining Overview” video (http://todaysmilitary.com/joining ) and lead a discussion about their thoughts on the military’s role in your community, our country, and our world.
With the Explorers, review the Jobs in Today’s Military information sheet found at https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.todaysmilitary.com/2020-11/TM_JobsInTodaysMilitary.pdf. Divide Explorers into small groups and have them discuss what they learned about jobs in the military. In the larger group, have participants share what types of military jobs interest them, what surprised them, and what they did not understand.
Have a veteran or currently serving military member speak to the post about his or her experience, why he or she served, and how it impacted his or her life. Give participants the opportunity to ask questions.
Find the requirements for the Army Physical Fitness Test and discuss with participants the importance of being physically fit while serving in the military. Have participants take the test.
With the post, visit a local recruiting office to learn about military service from an official recruiter. Have participants meet with several recruiters and ask questions about careers, service, and the importance of enlisted service.
As an alternative, if there is a JROTC program at a local high school, arrange a visit for the participants to meet the students, discuss with the faculty the importance of the program, and learn more about why students enroll in this program.
Have the post visit a local National Guard or Reserve weekend drill. Choose a one-hour period for participants to observe the unit in an activity where they can meet military personnel, see their equipment, and discuss the impact of service.
Some sample questions are below. They are designed to help the participants apply what they have learned to their own interests. You are welcome to use these questions or develop your own questions that relate to your post or specific focus area.
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