IOWA CITY

Without a close role model to recommend it, military service may not be considered by high schoolers as an option these days. That’s a missed opportunity that some may have found beneficial, or even life changing.

Author Steven J. Crane hopes to rectify that with his new book, “The Military Experience: How It Can Impact Your Future,” available on Amazon.

Writing the book was “something I’ve always wanted to do,” Crane says, who grew up in Mason City. Seeing recruitment numbers falling, he decided the time had come.

Crane wrote the book for students who don’t plan to go to college but are “just trying to look at a different option.” At a short 97 pages, it offers a succinct guide to what life in the military is like, what to expect at every step from initial inquiry to retirement, as well as an honest list of benefits and drawbacks.

The author himself initially attended college after high school but found himself floundering. He left school and returned to his hometown, but still felt unsettled until he found himself discussing military service with his neighbor and best friend, both of whom had experience in the Air Force. Soon, Crane himself was enlisted, and he found the experience “invaluable” and one of the best decisions he has ever made.

He credits his military experience for his civilian career in banking; the moral and leadership qualities he gained through the military, as well as technical expertise in intelligence, helped him rise to his position as president and CEO of F&M Bank in Iowa City.

Crane mentions at the start of the book that only 6% of Americans ever serve in the military; that scarcity of veterans contributes to fewer young people knowing much about it. Crane hopes that his book, and his personal willingness to talk to kids about his own experience, will help fill that gap.

The book is filled with descriptions and information about the branches of the military, the realities of military life, pay and benefits, and the author’s own experiences. It also contains plenty of apt advice, such as not giving into a recruiter’s pressure until you’ve given the decision research and thought; how to mentally and physically prepare for basic training; and not to undervalue military pay and the myriad financial benefits of service.

Military life is not sugar coated in the book; while Crane found the experience ideal for himself, he draws attention to realities, such as experiencing homesickness, being deployed on hours’ notice, and losing friends in action.

In his conclusion, Crane acknowledges, “I served my country for only four years. I am not some long-tenured and highly decorated veteran and do not claim to be. I was fortunate enough to work alongside some very talented service members who ended up making the military their career, and they had a great deal of success in doing so. My purpose in writing this book is to help the young person who is lost and uncertain of their future, much like I was at nineteen. My answer was joining the military.”

Crane’s guide belongs in every middle and high school library and career counselor’s office. It is written at an appropriate level for this age group; concise, detailed, and complete; and inclusive of both genders.

“The Military Experience: How It Can Impact Your Future,” can be purchased for $7.99 on Amazon. The author can be reached at sjcraneonline@gmail.com.