How to Join the US Army Recruitment for Foreigners: See Steps

How to Join the US Army Recruitment for Foreigners-See Steps

Step By Step Requirements for Joining the Military. The requirements to join are similar for all five.

The main differences are age limits, test scores, and fitness levels.

Men and women meet different fitness standards.

Besides the requirements listed here, a branch may have other requirements.

The U.S. military has five branches of service:

The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps

Age Limits for Enlisting

You must be at least 17 to enlist in any branch of the active military.

The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is:

Coast Guard: 31

Marines: 28

Navy: 39

Army: 34

Air Force: 39

Join the Military as an Enlisted Member-Fact

• To join as an officer, you typically must have a four-year college degree and complete an officer program.
• You compete for promotion to continue your career.
• Most officers are managers who plan and direct operations.
• Others are professionals like doctors and lawyers.
• Officers get paid more than enlisted members and enjoy certain other benefits.
• You don’t have to join as an officer to become one though.
• You can join as an enlisted member and attend officer training later on
• Enlisted members make up most of the military workforce.
• They receive training in a job specialty and do most of the hands-on work.
•  You will sign up for four years of active duty and four years inactive.
• After you’ve completed your active duty time, you can either extend your contract or re-enlist if you want to continue serving.
• Officers make up a much smaller part of the workforce.

Step By Step Requirements for Joining the Military

The requirements to join are similar for all five.

The main differences are age limits, test scores, and fitness levels.

Men and women meet different fitness standards.

Besides the requirements listed here, a branch may have other requirements.

The U.S. military has five branches of service:

The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps

Age Limits for Enlisting

You must be at least 17 to enlist in any branch of the active military.

The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is:

Coast Guard: 31

Marines: 28

Navy: 39

Army: 34

Air Force: 39

Requirements for Enlisting If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen

You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to enlist in the military, but you may have fewer options.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must:

• Speak, read, and write English fluently
• Have a permanent resident card, also known as a Green Card
• Currently, live in the U.S

Educational and Testing Requirements for Enlisting

• You can prepare for the ASVAB by taking sample questions.
• You must have a high school diploma or a GED to enlist.
• The services accept only a small number of people with GEDs each year. You can increase your chances of qualifying with a GED by:
• Earning some college credits and/or
• Scoring well on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT)
• You must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
• The ASVAB has 10 subtests.
• Your scores on four of those make up your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score.
• This score determines which branch (es) you may join.
•  Each branch has its own lowest score for joining.
• Your scores on all 10 subtests determine which job specialties you qualify for

Health and Fitness Requirements for Enlisting

• You must pass a military entrance medical exam.
• This includes a physical exam
• Hearing test, vision test, and height/weight measurements.

Steps for Joining the Military

• Start by doing some research about your options for joining the military.
• Learn about the five active-duty branches and their part-time counterparts.
• Know the main differences between officers and enlisted members.
• Once you know which branch you’re considering, contact a recruiter.
• A recruiter will give you an overview and answer your questions about that service.
• If you’re interested in more than one branch, contact a recruiter for each. If you’re interested in joining as an officer, the recruiter will explain any options you may be eligible for.
• If you decide to enlist, you will report to a military entrance processing station (MEPS).
• You’ll spend a day or two completing pre-enlistment steps.
• These include taking the ASVAB, having a physical exam, meeting with a career counselor, and if you’re accepted, taking the oath of enlistment.
• From there you’ll receive orders for basic training, usually to start within a few weeks.
• If you enrolled in a delayed entry program, you’ll go home and get orders for basic training within a year.

How to Become a Military Officer

Commissioned Officers

• They have broader responsibilities and accountability.
•  But they rely upon enlisted members’ technical skills and experience to get the job done.
• Junior officers may lead to platoons and command patrol boats.
• But a senior enlisted member is often their second in command.
• Officers must get promoted at certain points to remain on active duty.
• This can be true for enlisted members too.
• But it is guaranteed for officers at a much earlier stage of their careers.
• In return for officers’ greater accountability and less job security, they get higher pay and some extra benefits.
• Commissioned officers are the military’s managers and highest-ranking leaders.
• They oversee plans, direct operations, give orders, and command units. Some are doctors and lawyers.
• They typically have at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Officers have authority over enlisted members.

Ways to Become a Commissioned Officer

There are five paths to an officer commission:

Direct Commission

Enlisted to Officer Opportunities

Service Academies and Senior Military Colleges

Service Academies and Senior Military Colleges

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Officer Candidate School (OCS)

There are five service academies.

The entrance to these schools is highly competitive.

Applicants for every academy but the Coast Guard need a nomination from the vice president or a member of Congress.

Students attend the service academies for free. In return, they agree to spend the next several years as military officers.

United States Naval Academy –

• Trains future Navy and Marine Corps officers
•  It’s also known as “Annapolis” for its location in Annapolis, MD.
• There is no Marine Corps academy.

The United States Air Force Academy

United States Military Academy – Trains future Army officers. It’s also known as “West Point” for its location in West Point, NY.

The United States Coast Guard Academy

Source: https://www.usa.gov/