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How to prepare students for military service

 

As a leading British curriculum school in Sharjah, the International School of Creative Science – Muwaileh is committed to producing well-rounded individuals who are ready to serve their community and country. 

Recently, the UAE government has extended the period of compulsory military service for all young men. Men aged between 18 and 30 years will now be expected to serve in the military for a period of 16 months, whereas previously they served for one year. Young women still are not compelled to partake in military service but may volunteer. 

This latest development might understandably raise some questions for parents, and it is important to remember that military service is actually very beneficial for young adults. 

Children can prepare for military service by adhering to the core essential values of their education as they international school in Sharjah:  

Physical fitness 

National service requires physical strength, fitness, and good health. Children should start learning about nutrition and health early on (and in age appropriate ways) and engage in physical exercise whilst maintaining a healthy balanced diet.  

Mental agility

High academic performance and aptitude in science, technology, mathematics, humanities and languages can all be crucial during national service. Intelligent and well-educated servicemen are a great asset to the country and whilst high GPAs are not necessary for the service, the ability to think through complex problems and work to find innovative and effective solutions is highly prized. 

Discipline 

Discipline is the bedrock of national service, so it only makes sense that we help our students practice this skill at school and at home. Help them learn how to obey instructions, adhere to schedules, have routines, and respect others. By having these values firmly instilled, they will more easily adjust to national service’s requirements.​

Civic duty 

Teaching a child about civic duty can be great for their own personal growth. By fostering the values of volunteerism, social responsibility, and national pride, civic duty can help promote a sense of responsibility towards the community and nation, allowing young men to become active servants of society and better members of the military service. ​

And as the nation’s young men learn to protect their country, they can look forward to a number of additional, exclusive government benefits. For example, those citizens who complete their military service will have access to scholarships, housing plots, marriage grants, and will have priority for job opportunities in the private and public sectors.