How to Enlist in the Army
U.S. Army soldiers undergo advanced training and have access to a wide spectrum of career fields and educational opportunities. When you enlist in the Army, you will select a specific career path that might focus on medical and emergency services, combat, mechanics or administrative support, among others. You might choose to become a cook or an engineer. Your first step to enlisting in the Army is to discuss your options with a recruiter and what your responsibilities as a soldier might be. Potential Army recruits also take a written examination and a medical evaluation.
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Things You'll Need
- Social Security card
- Driver's license
- Birth certificate
- Medical documents
- Conservative clothing
- Contact lenses/eyeglasses
- Lens/eyeglass case
- Vision prescription
- Medical questionnaire
Instructions
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Go to the official website of the U.S. Army (see Resources) and click on "Apply Online." Create an online account and answer all questions in the electronic application. Submitting this application does not obligate you to join the U.S. Army; it is a step toward finding more information. The application requests information such as your contact information, education and employment history. Select your preferred jobs from the list the website generates for you. Submit the application.
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Talk to your Army recruiter when he contacts you. Depending on your age, he might request a conference with both you and your parents. Compose a list of questions you have prior to the conference. Ask your recruiter questions about the recruiting process, which options are best for you, what you can expect from basic training and what jobs you can expect to perform after training. If you are interested in a college education, ask your recruiter about tuition support programs.
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Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery examination. Many schools offer this test; ask your career counselor for information if you are still in school. You must score at least 31 on this three-hour-long test. Attaining a higher score will increase your career opportunities within the Army. The Army uses the ASVAB to determine which military occupational specialties you might perform.
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Prepare to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station. Your day at MEPS will determine your eligibility to join the Army. Gather together all documents your recruiter instructs you to bring, including your Social Security card, driver's license, birth certificate and medical documents, if applicable. Wear neat, conservative clothing without any offensive wording. Do not wear hats, piercings, jewelry, watches or other valuables. Bring your contact lenses or eyeglasses along with your lens or eyeglass case and vision prescription, if applicable.
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Complete a medical questionnaire and undergo a physical examination at MEPS. Expect to remove your outer clothing. The doctor will take your height and weight measurements, administer a drug test and conduct a complete physical examination. Undergo vision and hearing tests. Expect the doctor to manipulate your joints and muscles to evaluate your general health. If you are a woman, you will meet with the doctor in a private room. Expect a pregnancy test.
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Meet with your service liaison counselor during your day at MEPS. He will explain the enlistment agreement and discuss your job opportunities. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. To complete the interview, undergo a pre-enlistment briefing and fingerprinting.
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Take the U.S. Army oath of enlistment to complete your day at MEPS and enlist in the Army. If your family has attended MEPS with you, they are welcome to watch the oath and take photographs.
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Tips & Warnings
After your oath of enlistment, you will go to basic combat training for 10 weeks to begin your career in the Army. You will learn teamwork and leadership skills in addition to physical training and instruction in weaponry.
Once you graduate basic combat training, you will begin more advanced training, depending on your military occupational specialty.
References
Resources
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