Joining the Military What are your options ? Enlisted, Officer, Warrant Officer ? Active Duty or Reserve Component ? (Reserves or National Guard)

High School Graduate ENLISTED Warrant Officer OFFICER (You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma !) Only 153A Aviator ENLISTED Warrant Officer OCS OFFICER 4-year degree

Eligibility Basics (for ALL Services) Eligibility rules can be a little confusing. There are different rules for enlisting and for officer programs. Enlisting: Enlisted members do the hands-on work of the military. They need at least a high school degree (a GED may or may not suffice). Officer: Officers are the managers of the military. Most officer programs require a college degree at minimum, and are very competitive. Many officers have master's or higher degrees. Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Some qualifications are required by all five (5) services: You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. You must be at least 17 years old (17-year old applicants require parental consent). You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma. You must pass a physical medical exam.

Meet exacting physical, mental, and moral standards. To join the... You must: Air Force Be between the ages of 17-27. * Have no more than two dependents. Pass the ASVAB (Minimum AFQT Score: 36); most score 50+ Army Be between the ages of 17-34. * Have no more than two dependents. Pass the ASVAB (Minimum AFQT Score: 31 to enlist); 50+ for bonus Coast Guard Be between the ages of 17- 39* Have no more than two dependents. Pass the ASVAB (Minimum AFQT Score: 50) Have a willingness to serve on or around the water. Marines Meet exacting physical, mental, and moral standards. Be between the ages of 17-29. * Pass the ASVAB (Minimum AFQT Score: 31) Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational exception of combat arms specialties: infantry, tank and amphibian tractor crew members. Navy Be between the ages of 17-34. * Pass the ASVAB (Minimum AFQT Score: 35) Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of serving in the Navy Seals or on submarines.

Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force Jobs in the Air Force are called "AFSC's" (short for Air Force Specialty Code). ASVAB Score: Air Force recruits must score at least 36 points on the 99-point ASVAB. Exceptions are made, however, for a handful of high school graduates who can score as low as 31. In actuality, the vast majority (over 70 percent) of those accepted for an Air Force enlistment score 50 or above. Education: - You're more likely to be struck by lightning than enlist in the Air Force without a high school diploma. - Even with a GED, the chances are not good. - Only about ½% of all Air Force enlistments each year are GED-Holders. - To even be considered for one of these very few slots, a GED-holder must score a minimum of 65 on the AFQT. - The Air Force allows a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college credit.

Enlisting in the U.S. Army Jobs in the Army are called “MOS's" (short for Military Occupational Specialty). ASVAB Score: The Army requires a minimum AFQT Score of 31 to qualify for enlistment. To qualify for certain enlistment incentives, such as enlistment bonuses ($$), an Army recruit must score a minimum of 50. Education: - The Army allows more recruits to enlist with a GED than any other branch (50+ on ASVAB for GED only). - In FY 2008, only 83% of new Army recruits had a high school diploma (or at least 15 college credits), compared with the DOD average of 92%. - The Army even has a special program, called Army Prep School, that allows individuals to enlist who have no high school diploma or GED. - Like the Air Force, the Army also offers a higher enlistment rank for recruits with college. Unlike the Air Force, where the maximum initial enlistment rank for college credits is E-3, the Army offers the rank of E-4 for those with a bachelors degree.

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Jobs in the Marine Corps are called “MOS's" (short for Military Occupational Specialty). ASVAB Score: Marine Corps recruits must score at least 31. A very few exceptions are made (about 1%) for some exceptionally otherwise qualified recruits with scores as low as 25. Education: - As with the Air Force, those without a high school education are ineligible. - The Marine Corps limits GED enlistments to no more than 5%/year. - Those with a GED must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT to even be considered. - As with the other services, the Marine Corps offers advanced enlistment rank for college credits. However, of all the services, the Marines are the most restrictive in this area. The maximum advanced rank for college credits is E-2, where the other services will give college credit advanced rank up to E-3 (E-4 in the Army).

Jobs in the Jobs in the Navy are called "Ratings". Enlisting in the U.S. Navy Jobs in the Jobs in the Navy are called "Ratings". ASVAB Score: Navy recruits must score at least 35 on the AFQT. The Navy raised this requirement from 31 in 2003 for active duty accessions. Reserve enlistment programs still only require a score of 31. Education: - Like the Air Force, the Navy accepts very, very few recruits who don't have a high school diploma. - To be considered for enlistment with a GED, you must score a minimum of 50 on the AFQT. - You must also have no drug use, and at least three references from influential members of the community (police, fire, judge, teacher, etc.). - Any police involvement, other than minor traffic offenses will also disqualify a GED applicant. - Like the other services, the Navy offers advanced enlistment rank (up to E-3) for college.

Enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard Jobs in the Jobs in the Coast Guard (like the Navy) are called "Ratings". ASVAB Score: The Coast Guard requires a minimum of 40 points on the AFQT. A waiver is possible if a recruit's ASVAB Line Scores qualify them for a specific job, and the recruit is willing to enlist in that job. Education: - For a very few (less than 5%) who will be allowed to enlist with a GED, the minimum AFQT score is 50. - The CG offers advanced enlistment rank of E-2 for 30 college credits, and E-3 for 60 credits.

Converting AFQT/ASVAB to ACT AFQT/ASVAB Score ACT Composite Score 1-9 10 or less 10 – 15 11 16 – 20 12 21 – 30 13 – 14 31 – 49 15 – 16 50 – 64 17 – 18 65 – 92 19 – 26 93 – 99 27 - 36

Height & WEIGHT Requirements Each service has its own height and weight requirements for recruits. There is also a Body Fat % limitation. EXAMPLES (U.S. Army): FEMALE (17-20): 64” or 5’4” Maximum Weight = 145 lbs. 66” or 5’6” Maximum Weight = 155 lbs. MALE (17-20): 68” or 5’8” Maximum Weight = 170 lbs. 70” or 5’10” Maximum Weight = 180 lbs.   Female Age Groups Age 17-20 21-27 28-39 40+ Body Fat % 30% 32% 34% 36%   Male Age Groups Age 17-20 21-27 28-39 40+ Body Fat % 20% 22% 24% 26%

(Active vs. Reserve Component) SERVICE COMPONENTS (Active vs. Reserve Component) U.S. ARMY U.S. MARINE CORPS U.S. NAVY U.S. AIR FORCE U.S. COAST GUARD Active Duty Reserves National Guard (state mission) Auxiliary (volunteers) Only the Army & Air Force have National Guard (state mission)

Routes to becoming an OFFICER ALL Officer programs require a 4-year (bachelors) college degree ! ROTC 44% (4-YR degree) SERVICE ACADEMY 24% (4-year college) OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) 21% DIRECT COMMISSION 11% U.S. Army U.S Military Academy @ West Point, NY Fort Benning, GA legal, medical, ministerial & technical U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Academy @ Colorado Springs, CO Maxwell AFB near Montgomery, Alabama NONE U.S. Navy U.S. Naval Academy @ Annapolis, MD Nuclear, Aviation, U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class U.S. Coast Guard Academy @ New London, CT

SERVICE ACADEMIES (4-year college) New London (CT) US Coast Guard Academy Colorado Springs (CO) US Air Force Academy West Point (NY) US Military Academy Annapolis (MD) US Naval Academy

U.S. Army RECRUITERS (2 types) ACTIVE DUTY & U.S. Army RESERVES ARMY NATIONAL GUARD The Army Reserve is solely Combat Service Support and Combat Support. NO Combat units! (limited type units in KY) The Army National Guard consists of 28 fully capable brigade combat teams with combat support & combat service support components (State & Federal mission). Many types & variety of units.

Size of the U.S. Military Component Military Enlisted Officer Female 2011 Demographic Reports Component Military Enlisted Officer Female Civilian 1. Army 541,291 438,670 98,126 465,784 75,507 2. Air Force 333,772 265,519 64,290 270,462 63,310 3. Navy 317,237 260,253 52,546 265,852 51,385 4. Marine Corps 195,338 173,474 21,864 181,845 13,493 5. Coast Guard 41,327 6,790 7,057 Total Active 1,429,995 1,137,916 236,826 1,219,510 210,752 Army National Guard 358,200 Army Reserve 205,000 Marine Corps Forces Reserve 39,600 Navy Reserve 62,500 Air National Guard 105,700 Air Force Reserve 70,880 Coast Guard Reserve 9,000 Total Reserve Components 850,880 Other DOD Personnel 108,833

Military Service COMMITTMENT 8 It may surprise you to learn that everyone who joins the military for the first time incurs a *MINIMUM* eight (8) year service commitment. That's right, EIGHT (8) years! It doesn't matter if you signed a two (2) year active duty contract, a four (4) year contract, or even a six (6) year contract. Your total military commitment is eight (8) years. Whatever amount of time that is not spent on active duty, must either be served in the active Guard/Reserves (the program where one performs drill one (1) weekend per month, and two (2) weeks per year), or in the inactive Reserves (one doesn't perform drill, but can be recalled to active duty at any time for war, or national emergency). Active duty members who do not reenlist onto active duty, or apply for the active Guard/Reserve upon active duty discharge, are automatically transferred to the inactive Reserves once they are discharged from active duty.

10 Steps to Joining the Military Step 1: Learn about the military Find out military basics: what they do, where they go, and who they are. Step 2: Decide if you're ready Get a handle on the basics of joining: eligibility, benefits information, and branch missions. Step 3: Choose the right path Find the best point of entry for you: compare services, consider guard & reserve services, compare enlisted vs. officer, and look at your job choices. Step 4: Meet the recruiter How do you handle meeting recruiters? Find out questions and answers, secrets to visiting a recruiter, documents you'll need, incentives and more. Step 5: Ace the ASVAB If you will be enlisting, you need to ace the ASVAB! Our special ASVAB section will help you get the best score possible. Step 6: Get the best job You want to join - now make sure you will be doing what you like! Find an interest matcher, tips on finding the right job, and overviews of all jobs in each branch here. Step 8: Raise your right hand Your about to swear in: find out about the oaths you'll take, the general orders you need to learn, military ranks, and more. Step 9: Get ready for bootcamp Are you ready to be challenged? Get the skinny on how to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Step 10: You're in! Make the most of it. What happens after boot camp? How do you make a success of yourself? Find out tips and get advice from those who have been there.

http://www.military.com/ For more information about ALL the SERVICES Check Out: http://www.military.com/ For more information about the AVSAB Check Out: http://official-asvab.com/ http://asvabprogram.com/ March2success.com