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Taking the ASVAB test. The government sends, at their expense, all applicants to a Military Entrance Processing Station where the ASVAB test is administered and the physical examination takes place. The purpose of the ASVAB test is to assess the skills and aptitudes of applicants in order to determine which programs they are qualified to enter into for training.
Proof of citizenship. Applicants must be able to show a copy of their birth certificate, a social security card, or other proof of citizenship and birth date. Resident aliens must provide proof of lawful entry for permanent residence.
Applicants between the ages of 17 and 18 must have parental consent before being allowed to join any branch of the military.
High school diploma. While a high school diploma is not required to join the military, as of 1995 more than 95 percent of all recruits were high school graduates. For many of the highly specialized technical career fields, a high school diploma is required before being allowed to enter the training programs.

Basic training for all fields is required and takes place in a variety of locations. Enlistees receive instruction in a variety of areas including: military regulations, the handling of weapons, codes of conduct, military justice, first aid, and marksmanship. Physical fitness training is an essential part of basic training, and involves both exercises and competitive sports, and the testing of each enlistee's progress. Recruits are paid for the time spent in basic training at the E-1 rate, unless they have enlisted under a program that allows them to start at a higher pay grade. At the 1995 pay rates, a single enlistee at pay grade E-1 would be earning $790 per month.

Allowances for food and housing are sometimes available to service members who are stationed in locations with a very high cost of living, or for officers who are not able to be housed on base. Enlistment bonuses of $1,000 to $12,000 may be available for qualified applicants who are able to fill vacancies the branches are actively recruiting for. To find out which specialties are currently in demand, contact your local recruiter.

When you decide to enlist in the army, you can choose a time period ranging from two to six years. Enlistees must be between the ages of 17 and 34 to join, and may choose an area of training and/or a geographic location in which to work. Enlistees are given a written guarantee for training in the area of their interest, provided they meet all requirements for that job specialty, and that there are vacancies available in that area.

Applicants who have experience in a civilian skill that the army has a current need for may be eligible for an enlistment bonus of $1,500 to $8,000, and may be appointed to the grade E-3 pay rate upon enlistment, rather than starting at the normal E-1 rate. ROTC participants may also be eligible to receive an advanced pay rate upon enlistment. Opportunities for advancement generally occur at six-month intervals, and are dependent upon the individual's performance record, and ability to excel in their training area.

All soldiers attend eight weeks of basic combat training before receiving an assignment. Soldiers enlisting in specialty occupations receive an additional individual training session, lasting an average of nine weeks. During this session, soldiers receive advanced occupational field skills training.

A number of education assistance options are available to army enlistees, including the Montgomery GI Bill, and the Army college fund.

The Army Continuing Education program allows soldiers to earn degrees ranging from certificate to graduate level using army tuition assistance, while serving on active duty. A major plus to this program is that it allows all credits to be transferred from institution to institution, to insure completion of the program even if several schools are attended.

The Army College Fund provides additional assistance above the basic Montgomery GI Bill benefit for people who enlist in specific specialty areas. Soldiers who enlist for a two-year period receive $20,000 to use for their education, in return for their $1,200 investment. Three-or four-year enlistments can range from $25,000 up to $30,000 to use towards advanced education. Qualifying specialties may change from quarter to quarter. Check with your local army recruiter to find out which specialties are currently included in this program.

For information on the Army ROTC Scholarship Program, please refer to the ROTC article .

There are two major enlistment programs for joining the Air Force: Guaranteed Training Enlistment Program (GTEP) and the Guaranteed Aptitude Area Enlistment Program. For both programs, applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 27, and are obligated to serve from four to six years on active duty.

The GTEP program allows qualified applicants to select from more than 100 specialties to receive training and assignment in, with a written confirmation given at time of enlistment. GTEP enlistees who were previously three-year junior ROTC members in high school, or who received the Billy Mitchell Award or higher in the Civil Air Patrol are eligible to enter the Air Force at salary level E-3. GTEP enlistees who enter certain specialties, with a six-year obligation, may receive an enlistment bonus ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.

The Guaranteed Aptitude Area Enlistment program is available to enlistees who are interested in working in the Air Force career areas of mechanics, administration, general, or electronics. Eligibility for the various areas is dependent upon the enlistees score on the ASVAB test. Job selection occurs during basic training.

All enlistees receive six weeks of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. After completing basic training, enlistees either attend a resident course at one of the four Air Force technical schools, or at one of the other military branches' schools.

Air Force aviation programs are open to commissioned women and men who are qualified for duty as rated pilots. Applicants must be no older than 27 1/2 upon entering pilot training, and must meet specific physical qualifications to be eligible. Undergraduate pilot training takes place over 52 weeks. The Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (SUNT) program takes place over 34 weeks, and provides training for electronic warfare officers, weapons systems officers, and tanker, transport and bomber navigation officers in order to earn their wings.

The Air Force offers several opportunities for enlistees to receive additional education, both on-duty and off-duty.

The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) offers an associate in applied science degree, with 65 programs in five career areas. This school allows enlistees to earn a degree while on active duty.

Tuition assistance is available from the Air Force, paying up to 75% of the full cost of obtaining a college degree. Through the Airman Education and Commissioning program, enlistees who have completed 45 semester hours in a scientific or technical field can complete their degree, and receive an officer commission. The Bootstrap program allows enlistees to be assigned to a university for a year to complete degree requirements. An additional duty obligation is incurred through the Bootstrap program.

Continuing officer education is available through the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). Degrees at all levels are offered through this institution, through its School of Engineering, School of Systems and Logistics, and Civilian Institution programs.

Navy enlistments are open to people from the ages of 17 to 34. Enlistment commitments range from three to six years, depending upon the training area selected. After completing basic training, most Navy recruits receive additional training at one of the many schools the Navy operates, while the rest report to ship and receive four weeks of apprenticeship training. Applicants who have earned a high school diploma or better may be able to qualify for an advanced program in electronics or nuclear propulsion.

Advancement occurs at nine-month intervals after demonstrating excellence in military and professional service, with a recommendation from the commanding officer being the deciding factors.

Special training programs are available to prepare qualified recruits for the job fields of pilot, flight officer, aeronautical engineer, and naval intelligence.

Naval pilot training is open to qualified commissioned officers of the OCS, U.S. Naval Academy or NROTC. After the initial pilot training, students receive orders for aviation training for either jet, prop or helo. The active duty obligation is seven years for prop or helo, and eight years for jet. Naval Flight Officer training is also open to qualified commissioned officers of the OCS, U.S. Naval Academy or NROTC. Completion of this program will allow officers to specialize in the areas of anti-submarine warfare, electronic countermeasures evaluation, radar interception, airborne early warning, or bombardier/navigator. An active duty obligation of six years is incurred through this program.

The Aeronautical Engineering Duty Officer training program allows college seniors and graduates who are interested in specializing in the aviation maintenance field. Recruits must be between the ages of 19 and 28 at the time of commissioning, and incur a four-year active duty obligation. The Naval Officer Candidate-Special Duty Intelligence program provides training as an intelligence specialist officer in a non-flying capacity. This program is open to college seniors or graduates, between the ages of 19 to 34. A four-year active duty obligation is incurred through this program.

The Navy is committed to providing its members with education and occupational training, and offers the ability to take courses on-duty and off-duty. Tuition assistance of up to 75% of the total is offered for college undergraduate and graduate study, or 100% funding of high school completion courses.

Tuition-free college courses are offered to crewmembers at sea through the Program for Afloat College Education (PACE). The courses, usually sophomore and freshman level, are taught by college professors who are traveling with the Navy.

The College Level Examination program allows crewmembers to earn college credits for their Navy training by taking standardized tests. Through this program, Navy personnel may earn an associates degree in three years or less while on active duty.

Marine Corps enlistments are from three to six years, depending upon the field and training selected by the enlistee. To join, applicants must be from 17 to 28 years old. Marine Corps enlistees are given written guarantees for training in the area of their interest, provided they meet all requirements for that job specialty, and that there are vacancies to be filled in that area. Enlistment bonuses of up to $5,000 are available for enlistees who possess specific skills needed in the Marine Corps.

A variety of accelerated promotion programs are available, in addition to the standard ROTC options. The Marine Corps College Enlistment program, open to holders of an associate degree or the equivalent, offers accelerated promotion to the E-3, lance corporal level. The Marine Corps Quality Enlistment program offers similar benefits to high school graduates. The Marine Corps Musician Enlistment Option program offers training and assignment to Marine Corps field bands to qualified musicians. Musicians with exceptional aptitude are eligible for accelerated promotion, and guaranteed duty station assignment.

All Marine Corps recruits go through a basic training course, twelve weeks for women, and eleven weeks of regular training followed by four weeks of combat training for the male recruits. After basic training, marines enter a job skill training program in the field they have chosen. Advancement is based upon performance of job duties and leadership potential. Most advancement opportunities occur at six-month intervals.

Male and female college graduates of a four-year university, or of an accredited law program are eligible for a reserve commission through this program. After a ten-week training period, applicants are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps Reserve. Officers then receive 26 weeks of education at officer training school in Quantico, Virginia. Aviation officers receive an additional 12 to 18 months of training, and are obligated for six to eight years, depending upon the type of plane trained on, while ground officers have an active duty obligation of three and one half years. Applicants must be at least 20 to enter the program, and must not be older than 27 1/2 (for aviation) or 29 (ground) upon commission to be eligible.

This program is open to full-time male undergraduate freshman, sophomores and juniors, and female juniors who are physically qualified and attending accredited colleges. Participants undergo pre-commissioning training of either two six-week sessions, or one ten-week summer session. PLC participants may choose from ground, aviation, to law training, and can apply for financial aid of up to $100 per month after completing one summer training session. After college graduation, PLC participants are commissioned as second lieutenants and have a four-year active duty obligation.

The Marine Corps generally pays up to 75% of tuition costs for its members. High school completion courses are paid for completely by the Marine Corps. Several programs are offered through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) including the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) which allow Marines to receive college credits without attending classes.

The Marine Corps College Fund (MCCF) provides assistance along with the Montgomery GI bill, to pay up to $30,000 towards higher education to enlistees. Applicants must be enlisted for a four- to five-year period and participate in the Montgomery GI Bill Savings program to be eligible for the MCCF.

Educational opportunities while enlisted include the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education program, which allows marines between the ages of 20 and 26 to attend college full-time to earn a bachelor's degree, then commissions them as second lieutenants.

The best source for more information on a career in the military is your local recruiter. Look in the United States Government section of your phone book to find the address and telephone number of the recruiter in your city. Other military career information can also be obtained from the following sources.

Information on the specific branches can be obtained by calling the following toll-free numbers:
Air Force
1-800-423-USAF

To find out about civilian jobs in the Department of Defense, contact:
Chief, Staffing Division
Directorate for Personnel and Security
Rm. 2E148
The Pentagon
Washington, DC 10501-1155
(703) 614-4066