## 2h. Soldier

A soldier is a member of the military. The military, or armed forces, protects a country’s land, sea, and airspace from foreign invasion. The armed forces are split up according to those divisions. An army protects the land, the navy protects the sea, and an air force protects the airspace. Some countries have a marine corps, but marines are part of the navy.

Soldiers have one job: to protect their country. However, there are many different ways to do this. If the country is at war, many soldiers fight in combat. They use weapons and technology to help defeat the enemy. During peacetime, soldiers are alert to any danger or threat to their country. In addition to training for combat, each branch of the armed forces offers training for hundreds of different job opportunities. These jobs can be in such fields as engineering, medicine, computers, or finance.

There are different levels, or ranks, of soldiers. A soldier rises through the ranks with experience and training. Soldiers who enlist in the military without a college education enter as privates. There are requirements in order to become a private. For instance, soldiers must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and be in good physical shape. (Soldiers younger than 18 must have their parents’ permission to join.) They then go to basic training where they are prepared for a life in the military. Basic training teaches new soldiers physical strength, mental discipline, self-confidence, loyalty, and the ability to follow orders.

The following video shows a few things about the United States Military: