How to Start a Career in the Armed Forces

So you want to join the military, but you still have some questions--like how you get in and what you do once you're there. If you're in college or about to be, you can join the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and graduate school as a reserve officer. If you want to join up full time or reserve (but not ROTC), you can talk to a recruiter. Follow these steps and get started.

Instructions

1. Contact the local military recruiter for the branch or branches of service you're interested in. Usually recruiters are listed in the phone book's blue pages under U.S. Government Offices.

2. Take the ASVAB (that is, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). The results of this test will in large part determine which military career fields you are eligible for.

3. Consider which career fields you're most interested in. Your recruiter can give you information about the different fields. You should also find at least one other source to give you information about military careers.

4. Investigate enlistment incentives. These vary depending on multiple factors including your ASVAB scores and your choice of career field.

5. Choose which branch to join and which career specialty is right for you. Sign up and tell your recruiter when you're available to report for training. You can delay this date for up to one year.

6. Do your best during basic training and career training. Once you have passed these and taken your oath of office (or enlistment), your have begun your career in the armed forces.