Military Careers

About The U.S. Military

The U.S. Military consists of five active-duty Services and their respective Guard and Reserve units. All branches are equal parts of the United States Uniformed Services, headed by the president as commander in chief. The Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DoD). The Coast Guard reports to the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and to the DoD (by way of the Navy) during wartime.

Reserve and National Guard units perform as active-duty service members on a part-time basis. These troops train close to home, deploying when needed to aid in international conflict or domestic disaster relief.

For many young people, joining the Military means being away from home for the very first time. For others, adjusting to the “military way of life” is a complete 180-degree turn from the life they are currently used to. That’s why it’s important for you and your child to understand the general processes and conventions that are maintained throughout the Services — from enlistment through Basic Training. And while recruiters can offer specific information regarding each of the branches, we encourage you to take a look at the information below and then share it with your child.

Enlistment
Candidates officially complete the process of joining the Military once they have met all of the requirements at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), or comparable facility, and have been administered the oath of enlistment. This process may take more than a day to complete.

Potential recruits typically do the following at MEPS: