Uniformed services and white coats: two apparently distant worlds, united instead by a growing appeal that has been on the rise since the introduction of a barrier abolishing mandatory conscription or introducing entrance exams for Medicine.
In particular, for the past 20 years, the competitive exams for careers in the “uniformed” services – in the Armed Forces (Army, Carabinieri, Navy, Air Force) or in the Police Forces (State Police, Finance Guard, but also Penitentiary Police and Firefighters) attract tens of thousands of young people every year.
Just to give some examples from recent years: about 55,000 lined up for the Military Academies, 40,000 competed for a place in the troops – the initial rank – of the Army, more than 35,000 knocked on the door of the Police to become Officers and over 15,000 to become a Commissioner.
But what drives young people towards the uniforms? The student portal Skuola.net has identified the main reasons for this surge towards these careers, thanks to the support of Dr. Rachele Tenerini, the most appreciated tutor at Nissolino Corsi, the reference “school” in Italy for preparation for military competitions.
1. Training and professional growth go hand in hand
The Armed Forces and Police Forces offer continuous training, allowing to acquire technical and practical skills in various fields: from security to defense, through emergency management, logistics, technology, and much more.
A path that, above all, is not separate but integrated into the work path, both in the initial phase before entering operational service and in the subsequent ones.
The initial training, we recall, varies according to the roles – vfi (volunteers in initial service), officers, non-commissioned officers, officers – and allows to learn all the basic skills necessary to carry out the required activities.
To take on technical or operational roles, it is possible to access specialization schools and attend targeted courses for each specific assignment (paratroopers, commandos, pilots, submariners…).
And since personnel in uniform must always be ready to manage new scenarios, there are also continuous refresher courses, to increase their skills, useful for obtaining higher qualifications.
2. In uniform, you can also graduate
Some careers – such as those of non-commissioned officers or officers – allow to obtain, during training, a first or second level degree in disciplines, moreover, strategic for national and international security.
Among the available courses there are, for example: Law, Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Political Science.
The academic training for officers and non-commissioned officers of the uniformed administrations is among the most complete and structured, combining high-level university studies with advanced military training. Paths that also guarantee strategic and managerial skills, applicable both in the military and civilian contexts.
It is indeed important to specify that some degrees are also recognized in the civilian sector, such as the degree in Medicine and Surgery or Veterinary Medicine.
3. Study and earn? Here it’s the norm
A great advantage of these careers is that training, as well as food, lodging, university fees, educational materials, uniforms, and equipment in training centers, are fully covered by the administration.
Not only that: trainees receive a salary from the first year of the course, allowing them to study and train without the financial burden that weighs on many university students.
The economic treatment that trainees in training centers receive starts from €900 – €1300 per month (depending on the role) during the first year, with a progressive increase based on rank and seniority.
With a salary that not only allows attendees to be economically independent already during the training path, but also to ensure a stable economic base when assigned to the unit.
4. From intelligence to security: a career, a thousand opportunities
The Armed Forces and Police offer a wide variety of roles and sectors to specialize in. In addition to operational units, there are sectors such as administration, intelligence, the aeronaval sector, the canine sector, logistics, and many others.
This allows candidates to choose the path that best suits their inclinations and skills, having concrete opportunities for internal growth and, with the right amount of determination, periodic promotions.
Surely, for action enthusiasts, there are countless operational roles to cover, such as paratroopers, gunners, pilots, commandos, investigators, and riot police.
However, we must not think that in the Armed Forces and Police there are only defense or public security roles. In reality, like in any company, the uniformed administrations need different roles to carry out all activities, such as administrative-accounting, IT, and infrastructure tasks. So, even those who are not attracted to strictly military life can find satisfaction within them.
5. Total preparation, from body to mind
Physical and technical training is an integral part of life in uniform. Members of all corps are trained in the use of weapons, personal defense techniques, and field operations, such as disarmament techniques, aggressor control, rapid reaction, and survival tests.
In addition, sports activities are promoted with numerous disciplines – such as athletics, swimming, horseback riding, skiing, sailing, and many more – practiced within training and education centers and units.
Physical training not only aims to improve endurance and physical strength, but also to develop discipline and mental resilience, promote cohesion and teamwork, and prepare candidates for real operational conditions.
6. A “passport” to travel the world
Many roles in the Armed Forces and Police Forces provide the opportunity to operate in international contexts: from peacekeeping missions abroad to exercises in collaboration with other countries.
Thus, having the opportunity not only to increase one’s knowledge useful for the profession but also to visit and live in other nations, coming into contact with new languages and cultures.
For these reasons, those with a strong spirit of adventure and an interest in working in different contexts can choose a role that allows them to travel.
We are not only talking about the pilot role, other figures such as the Staff Officer, the special forces marshals, and the carabinieri employed in embassies also have the opportunity to work or travel abroad.
7. Feeling part of a family
Many young people approach the uniforms due to a family legacy. Others instead seek a reality to belong to. Whatever the stimulus, however, the outcome is the same: wearing a uniform means being part of a large family, with shared values and a strong sense of belonging.
The daily commitment to the defense and security of the country leads the members of this world to feel pride and satisfaction for their role. Sharing this feeling with their “colleagues.”
The sense of belonging in the Armed Forces is not only an emotional aspect, but also a powerful engine that fuels the task of protecting and defending the homeland and global security.
Cooperation, historical tradition, discipline, teamwork, and the shared mission create a unique environment that forges a strong collective identity.
8. Job stability never hurts
One of the factors that distinguishes military professions from civilian ones is undoubtedly the job security. Those who enter the Armed Forces or Police Forces have the opportunity to build a solid career, with long-term and stable employment. Economic security is guaranteed by well-defined contracts and a structured and well-established remuneration system.
Winning a military competition means ensuring a satisfying career indefinitely and economic stability that certainly facilitates private life.
9. Effort is rewarded
In addition to competitive salaries, those who wear a uniform can often count on bonuses, allowances, and rewards, especially when operating in difficult contexts, such as in the case of missions abroad or risky assignments.
Furthermore, continuous training is funded by the administration, fully covering update courses, specializations, and specific training.
10. A career that opens doors, inside and outside the barracks
Among the personal aspects related to careers in the Armed Forces and Police, there is also the possibility of building a wide network of contacts in the security sector and beyond.
This can facilitate future job opportunities, even at the end of a military career, offering employment opportunities in areas such as private security, emergency management, and intelligence.
It is therefore normal that all these reasons for attraction, taken together, generate a high participation – far exceeding the available positions – in uniform competitions. Faced with such imposing competition, those who have the opportunity turn to the growing offer of dedicated training institutes for the preparation of aspiring cadets.
A path that, however, can also be taken by those who do not have great economic possibilities, thanks to initiatives like “Onore al Merito,” a real competition organized by the AssOrienta association in collaboration with Nissolino Corsi, to award scholarships to the best Italian students to prepare for the selections scheduled in the next academic year.
