Military Enlistment
There are around 100,000 18- and 19-year-olds who join the military right after high school. There are five branches of the U.S. Military: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.
Each branch involves the armed defense of our country and requires a specified period of commitment. Beyond being a form of service, the practical benefits of being in the military are another reason to consider joining.
Benefits
A salary that is on par with what a new college grad makes ($30-$45K).
Free health care for you and your family.
Little-to-no living costs, meaning you can save money faster.
Tuition is paid for while in service, should you decide to earn a degree at some point. (You have a variety of online learning options, and many military bases have satellite classrooms of prominent colleges so you never even have to leave post.) You can also take advantage of the GI Bill once your active service is complete, and get at least portions of your education paid for, depending on your time on active duty.
Travel the world – while certainly not the point of military service, this is a benefit that shouldn’t be ignored.
30 days of vacation per year. The average for folks with 20+ years of service in the American civilian workforce is only 17 vacation days.
Retirement, with benefits, after 20 years of service. For an 18-year-old, that means you can retire at 38. While you likely won’t live off those benefits for the rest of your life, you’ll have much less to worry about financially.
Basic Requirements
There are a few requirements for joining military service:
Must be 18 to join, without parental consent. You can be 17 when enrolling if you have parental consent.
Must be a US resident (includes territories like Guam and Puerto Rico).
A high school degree is not required, but is strongly desired. GEDs are sometimes acceptable as well.
Pass the ASVAB Test – tests your comprehension in various categories like science, language, technical skills, mechanical skills, etc. It helps in assigning career roles within the military. The different branches have different passing scores for this test.
Pass a physical. Each branch has different requirements for height, weight, and body fat. You are also tested for various physical ailments that could handicap your service.
Resources
General
Specific Branches