How to Sign Up for the Military in High School

While many service members choose to wait until their high school education is finished to join the military, it is entirely possible to join the military while you are still in high school. If you are still in high school, you will join as an enlisted member, as you must have a college degree to join as an officer. This is actually a very simple process, and usually takes less than a month from start to finish.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Birth certificate
• Social Security card
• High school transcripts
• Written permission from your parents

1. Obtain your parents permission if you have not yet reached the age of 18. This must happen before you can even begin the process of joining the military. Your parents must sign a waiver for you to join the military. This waiver can be obtained from your recruiter.

2. Determine which branch of the military you would like to join. Figure out what your interests are and what types of jobs you would like to do. Check out books from your local library and research online to find which branch of the military is the best fit for your goals. Determine whether you would like to serve full-time in an active-duty component of the military, or if you'd prefer to serve part-time. Each branch of the military has an active duty and Reserve component, or you could choose to join the Army National Guard or Air National Guard.

3. Contact your local recruiter for the service component you wish to join. You can find the phone number for your nearest recruiter by checking your local phone book, or looking online. Your recruiter will process all the paperwork for your enlistment, and help you get through all the requirements that you'll need to complete in order to enlist. Your recruiter will require copies of your birth certificate, Social Security card and high school transcripts, so make sure you obtain those before your first meeting with the recruiter.

4. Complete enlistment processing at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). This will consist of a physical examination, hearing and vision tests, meeting with a job counselor for your chosen branch of the military, and ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) testing. Your ASVAB score will help the counselor determine which jobs you are eligible for.

5. Enlist into the military. Once all necessary requirements are met, you will be allowed to enlist. If you have chosen one of the active-duty or reserve components of the military, you will become a member of the Delayed Entry Program. After completing high school, you will again say the Oath of Enlistment and head off for Basic Training to begin your military career. If you have joined the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, there is no Delayed Entry Program--you are an official member once you say the Oath of Enlistment. You will be required to attend all monthly drills, even before you attend basic training.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not enter into this decision lightly. A military commitment is very serious, and you can't just quit if you decide it's not for you. The military will require you to finish your enlistment.