Learning Activity

Aired, September 10, 2003

About 20,000 U.S. National Guard and Army Reserve troops currently serving in the Iraq theater may have their tours of duty extended by up to six months under a plan that the Army has sent to Congress, Pentagon officials said Tuesday. The reserve forces usually fill key support roles in military operations. Learn about the the military reserve forces.

If you have students whose parents serve in the military reserves, ask them to describe the pros and cons of growing up as a child of a reservist. What types of sacrifices and adjustments do military reservists and their families make when the reservists are called to serve their nation? If any of your students' parents are reservists serving in the military, allow these students to express their thoughts and feelings about the situation. Ask: What can the community do to help during this difficult time?

Point out to students that each branch of the U.S. military has a reserve force. Refer student groups to the links below to learn about the job specializations and career opportunities available in different branches of the U.S. military reserves. Then, as a class, discuss the following questions: Why might someone choose to join the military reserves? What kinds of career opportunities or job experiences are available to reservists? What kinds of sacrifices are reservists expected to make? What are the benefits and drawbacks of having a military career in the reserves? Would you consider joining the military reserves after high school? Why or why not?

Correlated Standards

Curriculum Standards for Social Studies

IV.Individual Development and Identity

• Students will begin to explain self in relation to others in the society and culture.

V. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions

• Students will develop an understanding of ways in which institutions are created to respond to changing individual and group needs.

The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/) are published by the National Council for Social Studies (http://ncss.org/).

Related Links

CNN.com: Senators question Iraq policy, price tag (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/09/sprj.irq.main/index.html)

CNN.com: Report: U.S. Army extends tour of reserves in Iraq (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/09/sprj.irq.reserves.reut/index.html)

Militaryinfo.com (http://www.militaryinfo.com)

U.S. Military: Armed Forces Careers (http://www.armedforcescareers.com/enlistmentrequirements.html)

U.S. Navy (http://www.navy.mil/)

U.S. Army (http://www.goarmy.com/)

U.S. Marines (http://www.marines.com/)

U.S. Air Force (http://www.af.mil/)

U.S. Coast Guard (http://www.uscg.mil/)

Keywords

military reserves, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, careers