Presented by the US Army

Joining the U.S. Army doesn’t mean giving up all the things you love—you’ll still have the time and opportunity to follow your passions beyond service. The Army has long been viewed as a rigid organization where Soldiers have dedicated their lives to their work, sacrificing their personal lives to serve, defend, and protect their fellow American Citizens, but there is more to Army life than the uniform and the work.

As the world shifts to higher quality of life expectations with a better work life balance, the Army is no different. From pushing and building a better future for yourself, to taking care of family and friends or finding your purpose, the Army has a place for you.

There are hidden talents across the ranks and the Army is providing foundations for Soldiers to follow their passions while serving their country. Soldiers across the globe are athletes, musicians, chefs, artists, students, gamers, wood workers, kayakers, coaches, travelers, gardeners, yogis, professors, and anything else they aspire to.

“The Army is what you make it. If you come into the Army with an open mind, it can take you to places you didn’t know you were able to go in the first place,” said Sgt. 1st Class Akia Crutchfield

Crutchfield, who is a mother, a businesswoman, jewelry maker, poet as well as a yoga and meditation instructor was able to bring her abilities together with the Army by facilitating yoga and meditation sessions for the Soldiers in her unit for physical training.

“I think it’s super important they highlight the many talents that are within our ranks because it shows there’s more to the Soldier than the uniform,” said Crutchfield. The Army helps to provide a platform and a foundation for Soldiers to follow their passions while serving their country. “When you join the Army it’s not about your passions no longer being attainable, it’s how you make the service and your passions work together.”

There are hidden talents across the ranks and the Army is providing foundations for Soldiers to follow their passions while serving their country. Every Soldier’s day looks different, but that doesn’t mean they have to stray away from what they know and love. Though working hours and length of contracts vary depending on goals and skills of the individual, the Army provides clear options and commitments for each path, choosing what would make the most sense for the Soldier.

As the largest United States military branch, the Army defends our nation’s freedom and safety as well as provide stability during challenging times. This has been a focus since 1775 when the Army’s fight for independence began. Today, we honor a legacy rooted in freedom and lead by example with core values that every Soldier lives by.

The Army is representative of the American people it serves, with demographic diversity continuing to grow among their ranks. They highly value the uniqueness of each Soldier’s background and embrace these differences to make the Army more inclusive, through various policies and programs.

Throughout the Chicagoland area, there are 32 recruiting stations available from the Wisconsin border, and down and around Lake Michigan to South Bend, Ind. To reach a recruiter for more information, click here or call 1-888-550-ARMY.

 (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Master Sgt. Ryan C. Matson, 652nd Regional Support Group)