The National Guard has protected and served the United States since 1636, supporting state needs during emergencies like national disasters or civil unrest. Recently, the federal government has deployed the National Guard across the United States sparking controversy amongst Americans due to questions about their purpose.
One area the National Guard has been deployed that has come back with immense disdain is Memphis, Tennessee, a city known nationally for having a high crime rate, with 9,400 crimes occurring per 100,000 residents. Despite these recent controversies, some high schoolers have decided to enlist into the National Guard. One White Station High School (WSHS) student, Johave Laureano (12), joined this past summer.
“I honestly [decided to join the National Guard] to help pay for college,” Laureano said. “Also none of my family has ever joined. Also none of my family has been in college, so it’s nice being able to be first-generation for college and joining the army. I want to make my family proud.”
Laureano’s process for enlisting in the National Guard was fairly easy. First, she had to meet with a recruiter who got her personal information. Next she completed her Military Entrance Processing (MEPs), a lengthy exam that verifies if she is physically and mentally able to work for the National Guard.
“The first day I decided to join, I literally saw a message my friend sent … and I was like ‘might as well,’” Laureano said. “[At MEPs] they take your blood, they take your pee, they check to see if you can hear well, it’s like a normal physical exam.”
Her decision to join the National Guard did not come with many conflicts as she has been in the WSHS ROTC program. However, in the beginning, her mom was hesitant to send her to join the National Guard.
“[There were no conflicts] when I was joining,” Laureano said. “But there were some conflicts for my mom because I was still 17 and she was scared about me going off into the military and that I was going to die. It was kind of easy when they told her that if anything were to happen to me while I was gone, she would get paid for it. So she was fine.”
By enlisting in the National Guard, Laureano hopes to gain better time management skills. The proper physique that also comes from the program is also something she looks forward to.
“I hope they pay for my college, which is going to happen anyways, so it’s really just better for my future,” Laureano said. “I plan to become an officer and right now I am doing [an] ROTC scholarship, so being in the National Guard is supposed to help me with that scholarship.”
Laureano is enthusiastic and hopes this opportunity will end extremely beneficial for her career.
“Don’t be scared,” Laureano said. “A lot of people get scared of basic training and it’s really not hard at all. A lot of people are scared of the pepper spray … maybe you come out crying a little bit, but that’s it.”