Enlisting

Enlisting in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or the Coast Guard is as easy as taking the time to talk to one of the recruiting officers at your local military recruiting center.

If you like to swim or being around water, boats and ships, the Navy, Marines, or the Coast Guard may be best suited for you.

If you like airplanes, the Air Force may be your choice, or if you like working around tanks and munitions, the Army may be a your path.

Most local recruiting centers have an office for each branch of service located right on the premises where you can talk to a recruiter of the branch you want to join, or talk to all of them and then make a choice.

You should not feel pressured to join because whether you enlist, or not, it is up to you.

There are many things to think about because there are many options and opportunities for you.

But the first and the most important thing you should understand is that when you enlist, it is a binding contract and you are expected to fulfill the obligations of the contract.

You enlist for a specified amount time, two, three, four, or six years, and you must follow military rules and regulations.

The military agrees to provide training, pay, housing, medical and dental benefits, and offer many opportunities for advancement in rank and pay grades.

Think about which branch of service you would like to join and what job you would like to do once you get in.

Each branch offer jobs and training that are basically the same but they also offer opportunities that are specific for that particular branch.

Remember, some jobs may require different levels of education, college or technical, and or may require a certain score on the Arms Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

The Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) is designed to allow high school students to enlist before they graduate, but allowing them the time to finish high school before they have to report for duty.

There is also the College First Option that allows a student to go to college for up to two years under the Delayed Enlistment Program. With 30 units or more, you may be promoted to a higher grade when you start active duty.

Even if you don't have a college degree or college credits, you can enlist, report for basic training, do your technical training, and then pursue a college degree while serving and or wait until you get out and go to college under the Montgomery GI Bill.

Whatever choice you make, it will probably be a good choice because all branches of the military has good training and benefits.

Once you make up your mind on which branch of the military is best suited for you, the recruiter will take you through the enlistment process.

Contact your local Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard recruiting center for more information.

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