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The process for enlistment can vary by branch of service and greatly from person to person. Factors such as medical history, moral history, dependent status and education status can lengthen the process considerably or disqualify a student from completing the enlistment process.
Prior to students’ senior year is the best time to start the enlistment process. The longer students wait, job availability can dwindle. Job selection identifies what the applicant is qualified to do and the positions that are available. The average time to process an applicant given typical medical, moral or ASVAB (or AFQT if applicable) qualifications is no fewer than 14-21 days. Additionally, seasonality can have a significant impact on the length of the enlistment process.
Each branch of service operates under the Department of Defense, which governs enlistment requirements for all branches and internal regulations specific to each branch. The information below includes links to the specific enlistment requirements for each branch of the armed forces and relevant information for early enlistment for high school students.
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a heavily researched and well-respected aptitude test developed by the Department of Defense. It measures a young adult’s strengths and potential for success in military training. There are two versions of the test:
The enlistment version of the ASVAB is given at a Military Entrance Processing Statement (MEPS) and is used for recruiting purposes only. To take the ASVAB at a Military Entrance Processing Station for enlistment purposes, an individual will need to speak with a recruiter and schedule a time to take the test. ASVAB testing at a Military Entrance Processing Station is a self-paced test on a computer, and it may be retaken after a one-month waiting period. Those who do not live near a Military Entrance Processing Station may take the test at a satellite location called a Military Entrance Test site.
The student testing program, also known as the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, is used for career exploration and given in high schools and community colleges, job corps centers and correctional facilities. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a complete career planning program. Students are given the opportunity to take the ASVAB at no cost and with no commitment to military service. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program also provides an interest assessment and planning tools to help young adults explore career field entry requirements and various career paths, both military and civilian.
High school students in grades 10, 11 and 12 and those enrolled at postsecondary institutions can participate in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program. Students in 11th grade and beyond receive valid scores for enlistment. The ASVAB may be given in paper and pencil or computer adaptive forms. ASVAB Career Exploration Program test results are sent to schools, so participants can explore career options with counselors. The scores report how the student performed on each subtest area and how their scores compare with others who took the test.
Students are permitted to take the ASVAB multiple times and practices tests are available.
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps, commonly referred to as ROTC, offers students a chance to study and serve after they complete their degree, or to participate for a short time in the program without a post-college commitment. The ROTC website traces the program's roots to 1819 and notes that more than 600,000 commissions have been earned through it.
Considering the current need for officers, the ROTC serves as an important pipeline for bolstering the ranks of the military.
Students train as they learn, taking military science courses alongside regular college classes, with the requirement to enlist as an officer in the U.S. Army, Navy or Air Force upon graduation. The Coast Guard does not have an ROTC program but rather a College Student Pre-Commisioning Initiative, which offers scholarships and a spot at officer candidate school after graduation.
Students interested in ROTC participation without the military service commitment can join the program for a limited time, typically three semesters, officials say. While only those who enlist receive a scholarship, ROTC officials say short-term participants benefit from leadership skills taught in the program. For those who do join the military through ROTC, scholarships can help pay for college, though acceptance of the award means a commitment of at least eight years after graduation.