Exploring your
military options
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Xello can help you learn about the benefits of service and search for military careers.
Explore
It can be a great honor to serve our country in one of the five branches of the military, and almost any career that is available in civilian life also is available in the military. It’s important to know about enlistment options part-time or full-time, financial support for college education and other factors to consider about this career option.
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What you need to know and do
Explore each branch of the military, their purpose and function and the multiple military bases that could provide opportunities to travel the world.
Explore the thousands of careers available in each branch of the military.
Plan
There are physical, academic and citizenship requirements specific to each branch of the military, and there are steps that you can take in high school to ensure you are meeting these requirements.
What you need to know and do
The ASVAB is a challenging assessment, and it is recommended to maintain strong academics and practice before taking the assessment. The cut score of this assessment determines the military career and officer options available to students.
Students will have the opportunity to meet professionals from each military branch through the Career Center. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities!
The ASVAB is offered at each high school at least one time per year, so pay attention to these opportunities.
Join
Once you have determined a commitment to join the military, you will meet with a recruiter and follow the steps to enlistment, which are different for each branch and can include a direct entry, delayed entry or an officer training path through Reserve Officer Training Corps, or ROTC.
What you need to know and do
ROTC is offered at more than 1,700 colleges across the United States. It prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. military and provided paid college education in exchange for a commitment to serve in the military after college graduation.
Schedule a one-on-one visit with a recruiter and your parent or guardian to determine enlistment options and next steps. This can be arranged at your school through your career center.
After meeting with a recruiter, you will set a date to visit a military entrance processing station (MEPS) to finish the enlistment process.
Boot camp or basic training is required for all military branches. You can prepare by doing cardio, sit-ups and push-ups every day and creating a strict schedule for yourself.
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Key step to complete: the ASVAB test
If you're planning on joining the military after high school graduation, you should plan to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The test