Considering a career in the military? Military service has provided opportunities in education, training, and employment for many Americans. The military can be a good starting point or even a great career and hires over 365,000 people each year.
The military offers many benefits. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard have over 300 schools offering over 10,000 courses of instruction. The military offers security and early retirement in exchange for a regimented lifestyle, transfers, and the possibility of combat. If you're interested in military service or a career in the military, talk it over with friends and family, including some that have served in the armed forces.
Age limits, enlistment periods, basic training, occupational training, and programs all vary by service. Contact a local recruiter for details.
The Delayed Entry Program
The Delayed Entry Program can be important if you're sure you want to be in the military and are interested in an occupation that is popular and may be hard to enter. By enlisting during your senior year in high school and delaying entry until after you graduate, you are more likely to get the occupational training you want. (Parental permission is needed if you are under 18.) In making such a decision, however, remember that you are actually enlisting even though you don't start on active duty right away. Also remember that enlistment options are subject to change and are always subordinate to the military's overriding purpose, which is to defend our country.
The National Guard and Reserves
Another option, if you're interested in the military but are not willing to completely take on a new lifestyle, is the National Guard or the Reserves. Guards and Reservists go through the same basic training and occupational training as regular military, but only serve one weekend each month plus 15 days active duty per year. Members of the National Guard or Reserves may be called to active duty in the event of war, national emergency, or crisis.
Military Career Information Online
Information about military service is available online. Internet resources can help you in exploring everything from what military careers best match your interests to what military life is really like. Here are a few Internet sites that can help:
- ASVAB Career Exploration Program - www.asvabprogram.com - Used by about 900,000 students each year, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program is available without cost to schools or students. Scores are used to help high school age students match their abilities, interests and personal preferences to military and civilian career opportunities.
- Myfuture - www.myfuture.com - This Web Site can help answer some of your questions about military life such as; What's it really like? How do I get started? What's in it for me? What career training is available?
- Military Career Guide Online - www.careersinthemilitary.com - The Military Career Guide Online provides detailed information about military careers in over 152 enlisted and officer occupations in all five services.
- Army www.goarmy.com
- Navy www.navy.com
- Airforce www.af.mil/careers/
- Marines www.marines.com
- Coast Guard http://www.uscg.mil/
- Air National Guard www.goang.com
- National Guard http://www.nationalguard.com/
- Tool to improve your test scores - www.march2success.com
