Military 

Enlistment Options

ROTC—for students seeking a part-time option while primarily enrolled in an academic path in college, the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a viable path forward. In addition to military leadership courses, students can qualify for partial tuition scholarships for equivalent military service.  Many CSU/UC/Private/Community Colleges offer an ROTC program!

For example, at Cal State LA ROTC, upon graduating, cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Regular Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard with an assigned specialty (i.e., infantry, aviation, medical, intelligence, etc.)

CSU Long Beach ROTC explains, "Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) is one of the best leadership courses in the country. It is an Army leadership and field training program that runs during your normal school schedule. It trains you how to lead and conduct missions as a future officer in the Army. When you graduate, you will earn your commission and gold bar of a Second Lieutenant. It is the best way to get a feel for the Army and still lead a normal college life."

Military Enlisted Service-This path requires the perspective enlisted person to take and hit the qualifying scores on an aptitude test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Scores are used for placement within an appropriate service branch and military occupational specialty (job placement) after basic training. Enlisted contracts can be completed as a full-time active duty service member or part-time through reserve service, such as the United States Army Reserves or United States National Guard.

So Your Child Wants to Join the Military | Resources for Parents

ARMED SERVICES VOCATION APTITUDE BATTERY (ASVAB)

Be the architect of your career. Learn more about the benefits of participating in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program.  The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the most widely used multiple-aptitude battery test in the world. As an aptitude test, the ASVAB measures your strengths, weaknesses, and potential for future success. The ASVAB also provides you with career information for various civilian and military occupations and is an indicator for success in future endeavors whether you choose to go to college, vocational school, or a military career.

Highly selective, prepares military leaders. Admission criteria include rigorous physical assessment, demonstration of leadership, and academic rigor. Preparation for the application process should begin by sophomore year to enable students to secure the recommendation of their senator or congressional representative. The application is officially open for juniors in February of their junior year. Successful applicants theoretically represent the very best the country has to offer. Graduates become professional, full-time service persons upon their graduation. During their four years, students participate in athletics, often competing against collegiate conferences, alongside their military leadership training. Importantly, students' cost of attendance is free for four years in exchange for the four-year service commitment.

• Register for and take the PSAT the fall of your junior year.

• Contact your Congressmen's office about the process to secure an appointment to the academies.

• Take the ACT and or SAT Reasoning Test. Send your scores to the academies you're considering.

• Athletes! Remember if you are maintaining college athletic eligibility, code one of your score reports for the NCAA Clearinghouse

• You will need two/three letters of recommendation by the end of the first quarter of your senior year.  Use the forms in the College Resource Handbook to request Letters of Recommendation.  Give your recommenders plenty of advance notice.

• Academies expect you are taking a rigorous curriculum; 4 or 5 college preparatory courses your senior year from the following subject areas (math, language arts, social studies, science and foreign language). Academies are generally unimpressed with seniors who take only 2 or 3 courses from these core areas their senior year. First semester senior year grades do matter.

• Establish a file folder at home for each academy to which you are making application.

• When you receive/send any information or correspondence related to academies keep copies for reference.  This includes communication with academy liaisons, your congressman, and recruiters.

• Contact your local liaison office of the academies you are interested in to verify you are following all the necessary steps to seek an appointment.

There are also public maritime colleges and universities. Maritime academies differ from maritime studies at traditional colleges in that they focus specifically on merchant marine operations. Maritime academies prepare students to become Merchant Marine Armed Forces intermodal transportation officers.

Studying merchant marine operations at the university level is a core component of MARAD's education strategy, particularly its essential responsibility to meet national security needs and maintain maritime defense readiness. The six maritime academies and USMMA meet that need by educating young men and women for service as officers in the United States Merchant Marine, U.S. Armed Forces, and Nation’s intermodal transportation system. A measurable outcome of MARAD’s MET (Maritime Education and Training) promotional efforts is the educational success of students enrolled in the USCG unlimited credentialing program offered through our Federal and State Maritime Academies.