Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/8/2010

Question
QUESTION: well thank you and i will try to get on the walking and excersise but it may be hard because i am a very lazy person so i will really have to committ do u have any other tips for me?

ANSWER: Dear Meghan --

Find something you like to do while you walk.  I like to listen to history and science books on CD which I download onto my iPod Nano, so it is easy to carry with me when I walk, then I listen to the books and hardly think about the fact I am walking.

Also, if it is easier, do 3 20-minute or 2 30-minute walks instead of one 60-minute walk.  As long as you exercise for at least 10 minutes steadily each time, you will get an aerobic benefit as well as burn calories.

However, if you are really that physically lazy, the military is probably not the right career for you.  

Good luck finding a career that suits you and that you enjoy!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well i am only 13 almost 14 so i think i will get less lazy as i get older and i have another question would it be better to join at 18 or after college?

Answer
Dear Meghan --

You have plenty of time to get into shape for the military.  I recommend you start walking now and since you are not under the same time pressure you need only walk 30-40 minutes a day.  Try to lose about 1/2 pound a month.  This is an easier goal and you will be able to stick with it for longer.  If you grow taller, you will not need to lose as much weight, since you may well still be growing taller, be cautious of reducing your calories too much.

As for joining the military, since you are planning so early (good for you!) you have a lot more options.  If you feel you are ready to go to college right after high school, then I recommend that you apply for a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship when you are applying to colleges.  This scholarship will pay for at least 70% of your college tuition, and provide you a small monthly stipend.  You will take military classes each week in addition to your normal college classes and you will train for six weeks during one summer.  When you graduate from college you will be a second lieutenant or an ensign, depending on the service you choose.

Alternatively, you can apply to one the service academies and got to military college for free.  For four years, you will be a cadet or midshipman, you will live in a barracks on campus, and you will take military training, college classes, and athletic training in an integrated program.  When you graduate you will be a second lieutenant or an ensign.

With both of the above options you will owe the military 5 years of active duty service and at least three years of reserve service, if you leave the active military at 5 years.

Finally, you can choose to enlist immediately out of high school.  In this option, if you are a high quality candidate, you can earn bonus money for enlisting, or you can earn money for your college fund to attend college when your military service is over.  You can enlist for 3 to 6 years, and the size of your bonus will depend on the number of service years you commit to serving.  When you enter the service you will most likely be a private, unless you qualify as a high quality candidate and get accelerated promotion to private first class.

Please write back, if you have any additional questions or want to learn more about any of the above options.  Good luck to you!