How enlisting and officer programs work, the ASVAB, MEPS and the Delayed Entry Program, and what has to be in the contract.
The military can be a strong start: pay, training, health care, and education benefits for later. It is also a legal commitment of at least eight years, and the details that matter are in the contract, not in the conversation.
Talk to more than one branch, bring an adult to the meetings, and get the job, any bonus and the ship date in writing.
| Route | Who it is for | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisting, active duty | High school graduates, with or without college | Full-time service, usually a first contract of about 4 years |
| National Guard or Reserve | People who want to work or study at the same time | Part-time service with monthly drills and yearly training. Many states add tuition benefits for Guard members. |
| ROTC | College students | Military classes and training during college, with scholarships available, then service as an officer |
| Service academy | Strong students who want to become officers | Free education in exchange for service. Admission usually requires a nomination, most often from a member of Congress. |
| Officer candidate school | College graduates | Officer training after earning a degree |
Every person who joins takes on an eight-year total service obligation. Time not spent on active duty or in a drilling unit is usually served in the Individual Ready Reserve, where recall is possible but rare.
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery decides two things: whether you qualify to enlist, and which jobs you can choose. Higher scores open more jobs. It is worth studying for, and it can be retaken after a waiting period.
At a Military Entrance Processing Station, applicants take a medical exam, finalize their job and sign the contract. Be truthful on the medical history. Some conditions need a waiver, and hiding one can end a career later.
Most enlistees sign a contract and then wait weeks or months to ship to basic training, in the Delayed Entry Program. People can usually ask to be released from it before shipping. Once you ship, leaving is much harder.
Recruiters are service members with goals to meet. Most are honest, but their job is to enlist people, and the only promises that count are the ones in writing.
The same job can come with different training, schedules and bonuses in different branches. Talk to at least two recruiters, and bring a parent or another adult to take notes.
Education is one of the strongest reasons to serve, and the benefits can be combined with college before, during or after service.
| Benefit | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Tuition Assistance | Pays for college courses taken while serving, up to yearly limits |
| Post-9/11 GI Bill | After qualifying service, can cover tuition and fees at public schools at the in-state rate, plus a housing allowance and a books stipend. Can sometimes be transferred to a spouse or child. |
| Montgomery GI Bill | A monthly education payment, including a version for the Selected Reserve |
| State benefits | Many states offer tuition help to Guard members and veterans |
The details and eligibility rules are at va.gov/education and change over time, so confirm them before counting on them.
The Launch Kit has a Military path page with the questions to ask every recruiter and a place to record each branch's offer.
Download the Launch Kit (PDF)Paper goes stale. Hubstone holds the same record and keeps it current, and you choose who sees each page.
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Requirements differ by state.