The military or Armed Forces is the branch of the US Government dedicated to defending the security of the United States and maintain American influence abroad. The different branches have different missions and goals, but all provide an opportunity for paid training and money for further post-secondary education. The U.S. Military has five active-duty service branches and their respective Guard and Reserve units which offer full time and part time employment and options to access immediately after high school or after going through initial training, potentially at a college or university. The military doesn't accept just anyone who wants to join; in order to enlist, you must qualify. There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.

How do I know if it's right for me?

You are interested in learning skills in service to your country and don’t mind having your time structured for you. Additionally, you might want to explore the world or want to get money to pay for you college. No matter what, you’ll need to be willing to commit for a significant amount of time as military commitments tend to last 4-8 years.

Average Salary: $60K (army base pay, highly position dependent)

Time Commitment: 8 years, 4-5 on active duty (depends on position)

Focus Area Examples: Pilot, nurse, linguist, mechanic, etc.

Pros: Benefits and pay, training

Cons: Less autonomy, time commitment, risk

The first thing you need to do is determine what branch of the military you want to do. There are a few places you can go to learn about your options:

Today's Military

Military Options

Join the Armed Forces

You can also meet directly with a representative from any military branch or even from different ones so you can compare your options.

Once you have decided on a branch, you’ll need to complete the application process. Check with each branch for their specific requirements.

After you do all your research and decide on a specific branch, you will need to pass a basic physical screening and screening test. If you pass, you will go to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), to you receive a physical and take the ASVAB. You can learn more about the ASVAB here and review some sample questions here.

If you need help, talk to your Career Pathway Center Coordinator!