Abstract:
As the fastest growing population in the United States, Latinas/as have become the most enticing group for the military to recruit. There is limited information regarding the experiences of Latina/a youth, specifically those who defer a post-secondary education to join the military. While the Latino population continues to increase rapidly, gains in the educational attainment do not follow the same pattern. Although educational attainment among US. Latinas/as has improved in recent years, this group continues to hold the lowest educational attainment in comparison to other racial/ethnic groups. The experiences of four Latina/a youth who consider military service as the most viable option, centralizing on the following two questions: Why do Latina/a youth join the military? How does that decision impact their motivations for a higher education? This article highlights the importance of acknowledging the experiences of Latina/a youth in order to understand the factors that prompt them to enlist in military service. Further, to use these experiences to help improve the leaks within the educational pipeline to increase the educational attainment of Latinas/as.
