The Armed Forces are misrepresented in todays culture.

Many view the

military as a place of gunfire and brute labor for an unworthy cause. These same
people do not understand that soldiers are here to defend the freedoms provided to
civilians and to fight for a just cause. Many are inspired to join the services in hopes
of making a difference in peoples lives, and one man in particular was ready to give
his life for his people in order to gain a sense of fulfillment. Because of a bittersweet
series of events, that man sits in a classroom today instead of fighting on the
battlefield.
Cameron Snow attends Michigan State University and resides in Emmons
Hall. I happened to begin conversation with him today at the police station as he
registered his bike, which all students are required to do. As a former member of the
Army, I am an experienced judge of individuals that I think can make it in the
service, and Cameron was one of them. He seemed like a trustworthy and
honorable individual; he spoke with respect and had a sense of capability about
him. Sometimes I like to ask people whether they have thought about joining the
military, and I felt that this was the time to do it. So I proceeded, and he told me all
about his experiences with recruiters, friends, and rejection.
My best friend Connor is in Spartan Battalion for the ROTC program here. My
other friend is in the Coast Guard Academy. As you can see, my exposure to military
recruitment has been extensive, he said jokingly. He told me all about how his
interest started, and how he ended up where he is now. It all started at a high
school job fair where he ran into a Marine recruitment table. Credit has to be given
to the Marines for having the best uniforms because even I am jealous of their
dress-blues. Sargent Small gave me his contact card, and in two days time and I
was in his office with him weighing my options, he said. And after that session I

was set on being an officer in the Marine Corps. I wanted to earn a four year
scholarship to an NROTC program at a university somewhere in Michigan, against
my mothers desires. She hated the fact that I was interested in the military, but she
knew I had to make my own decisions.
I was surprised that Cameron had made the decision to join the Marines so
quick, because most kids look at every branch before making a definite decision. I
asked if he had ever looked at the Army or any other branch.
I trained with the Marines for about a month, but in that period of time I ran
across a few more recruiters. I count my friend Connor as a recruiter since he was
born and raised in the Army; he got me to walk into the Army recruitment center to
look at their options. I will say, every branch sings a sweet tune. Most recruiters
are very effective not only at pointing out the positives of being in a particular
branch, but also at pointing out the negative aspects of others. I asked him what he
wanted out of a career in the Armed Forces. I have always wanted to lead others,
no matter what I do. Success to me is determined by how much of an impact I can
make on the world, and joining the military would have been an excellent
opportunity to make such an impact. Not only that, there are so many benefits in
joining the Armed Forces financially. All-in-all, I figured I would become the man I
wanted to be if I could be a commissioned officer, preferably as a pilot.
Most pilots join the Air Force. Fighter jets, cargo planes, helicopters, bombers;
you name it and the Air Force has one, so I asked why Cameron didnt join the Air
Force.
I eventually put all my effort into becoming a pilot in the Air Force. My friend
Christian told me all about his ventures in the Coast Guard Academy and how he

would highly recommend anybody to go to a military academy. After that I started

my application process, which lasted me 9 months.
Getting into an academy is tough work. If someone wants to get in---whether
it be West Point, Annapolis, the Coast Guard Academy, the Merchant Marines, or the
Air Force Academy---you have to be either extremely qualified or know the right
people. Take this for example; a young African American man named Ramone took
an ROTC class in high school for four years and earned a spot for admission with a
19 on his ACT and a 3.6 GPA. Because of his hard work and dedication, the Tuskegee
Airmen (the first African-American pilots) pushed for Ramone to gain a spot in the
Academy and succeeded. Obviously Cameron was not enrolled at the Academy so I
inquired about him being at MSU.
My entire life was planned out. I was dead set on getting in, and I was
confident to a fault. My grades and test scores seemed more than sufficient to get
me in, and I was physically fit to be in the Academy. I went through nine months of
applying, setting up interviews, getting tested, and waiting for an answer. When I
was told no, my life came to a halt. Everything I had worked for---academics,
physical training, nominations---were all wasted.
Cameron is now very content with his life at MSU and is past his military
ambitions. Life changes at an incredible rate, and even though he faced adversity,
Cameron came out of the situation in a great position.