For educators: Military Resources
The idea of joining the Military can feel a little overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to. Here’s a quick overview of the enlistment process, from initial eligibility requirements and testing to Basic Training and officer training:
Sometimes doing the reading actually helps. If you’re not sure where to start with that, try checking out the Service branches that interest you, understand the opportunities they offer and review enlistment criteria.
Hopefully we’re answering a lot of your questions here, but the best way to get all the answers you’re looking for is to talk to someone in real time. By talking to a recruiter, you can learn a lot more about each Service branch and its components, share your interests, and figure out which branch or role might be a good fit for you.
We know no one likes standardized tests, but this one is important. If you’ve already gone through medical prescreening, consider setting some time aside to study for the ASVAB.
Just a few more acronyms to go, so bear with us here. Once you’ve spoken to a recruiter, you’ll set a date to visit MEPS to finish your enlistment process: taking the ASVAB (if you haven’t already), passing a physical exam and meeting with a counselor to start planning your career.
After taking the Oath of Enlistment, depending on your terms of enlistment, you’ll report to Basic Training (aka “boot camp”). Here, the Military will begin to prepare you for the physical, mental and emotional elements of service. While anything new can feel challenging, accomplishing new goals can also feel immensely rewarding. Even better? The benefits extend from growing your confidence to financial perks as well — you start receiving your military pay and benefits right away.
Once you’ve completed Basic Training, you’ll attain the first enlisted military rank, E-1. From there, you’ll receive instructions on next steps via outprocessing.
Depending on your chosen role, you may proceed to AIT to learn the technical skills needed for your job — anything from financial management to advanced cyberwarfare technology! This can take between four and 52 weeks, and you may be eligible for promotion upon completion.
After training, you’ll typically be granted 10 days of leave before you’re expected to report for duty. This part’s all you.
Once you complete training and take leave as a full-time active-duty service member, you’ll receive a movement order. This could be a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) which is a long-term assignment typically lasting two to four years at a base in the United States or abroad. Alternatively, this could be a Temporary Duty (TDY), which is a shorter assignment (30 days to six months), or a deployment, a longer-term assignment. While people often associate deployments with combat, most military missions extend far beyond that — like providing humanitarian aid, peacekeeping or conducting joint training exercises with allies and partners. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations: Those were the last couple of acronyms for this section.
Meanwhile, enlisted part-time Reserve and Guard members train one weekend a month, plus a two-week annual drill. They can also be deployed for special missions alongside Active Duty service members.
Your military journey doesn’t stop when you report for duty — just the opposite. Once you’ve started your tour of duty, there are a variety of ways to continue growing and developing your skills through on-the-job training and continuous education, giving you skills that can help you excel both in your service role and beyond.
Think you know all about the Military? There's even more to discover! Dive deeper to explore what joining is all about and imagine what serving in the Military could really be like.