WHY JOIN THE MILITARY?
There are so many ways to get involved with the United States Military! The United States Military is part of the Department of Defense, the largest employer in the world. There are opportunities to work full-time or part-time, get a degree or participate in hobbies, travel the world or sit at a desk. Each branch of the Military has a unique mission. Military service comes with all kinds of perks. From discounts at commercial retailers to special home loans and free flights, there’s a lot to consider beyond pay.
Full-time members of the Military are immersed in military culture. They live on base, in military housing or in civilian communities. Part-time service members attend boot camp and train one weekend a month and two weeks a year, allowing them time to pursue a civilian career or college. Part-time service options fall under two types: Reserve and National Guard.
So how do you join? To officially join the Military, a recruiter will schedule your visit to a MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). MEPS determines an applicant’s physical qualifications, aptitude, and moral standards as set by each branch of military service. The process may take up to three days, and food and lodging are usually provided. But before you visit with a recruiter, you should take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery).
ASVAB TESTING – WHAT IS THE ASVAB?
The ASVAB is a timed, multi-aptitude test, which is given at more than 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide and is developed and maintained by the Defense Department (DoD).
The ASVAB helps the DoD not just determine whether you are a good fit to join the service, but also which service branch you might be best for and even what military jobs you can hold after you finish basic training or boot camp. The better your ASVAB score, the broader your options.
The ASVAB measures your aptitude across four main categories (mechanical, administrative, general and electronic). To assess these four categories, the ASVAB given at high schools is divided into eight timed subtests, as follows:
- Test 1: General Science (GS), 25 questions, 11 minutes
- Test 2: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), 30 questions, 36 minutes
- Test 3: Word Knowledge (WK), 35 questions, 11 minutes
- Test 4: Paragraph Comp (PC), 15 questions, 13 minutes
- Test 5: Mathematics Knowledge (MK), 25 questions, 24 minutes
- Test 6: Electronics Information (EI), 20 questions, 9 minutes
- Test 7: Auto & Shop Information (AS), 25 questions, 11 minutes
- Test 8: Mechanical Comprehension (MC), 25 questions, 19 minutes
Note that the ASVAB given at the Military Entrance Processing Station includes an additional subtest called “Assembling Objects.” This 20-question, 20-minute subtest assesses your ability to envision how a flat object will look once assembled (ex: choose an image representing what a flat box would look like once put together).
***If you’re unsure of what you want to do after you graduate, the ASVAB can help you determine your own interests and aptitude, even if you are not planning to enter the military or are undecided.
BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY
US MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES
THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s mission is “to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.”
THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
As the undergraduate college of our country’s naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Academy students are midshipmen on active duty in the U.S. Navy.
They attend the academy for four years, graduating with bachelor of science degrees and commissions as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps.
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
The United States Air Force Academy provides a world-class education that also combines athletics, character and leadership development, and military training to forge outstanding United States Air Force and Space Force officers who are ready to lead on day one.
The United States Air Force Academy prepares students to become some of our nation’s greatest leaders. A dynamic and diverse mix of civilian and military faculty teach lessons with real-world applications. With a student-to-faculty ratio of just nine-to-one, the US Air Force Academy provides a uniquely accessible learning environment.
THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY
Ranked among the nation’s most prestigious and selective institutions of higher learning, the United States Coast Guard Academy is an academic and military community educating leaders for America.
As the smallest of the service academies, ours is a close community where you will know and bond with your fellow cadets in a way that is not possible at the larger academies.
Our graduates go directly to positions of leadership, embarking on meaningful careers as Coast Guard officers serving their country and humanity.
THE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy that educates and graduates leaders of exemplary character who are committed to serve the national security, marine transportation, and economic needs of the United States as licensed Merchant Marine Officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.
With 95 percent of the world’s products transported over water, these leaders are vital to the effective operation of our merchant fleet for both commercial and military transport in peace and war. Academy graduates abide by the motto: “Acta Non Verba,” or “Deeds Not Words,” and are leaders that exemplify the concept of service-above-self.
