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What is the entire process for being in the military as an enlisted?
Planning to enlist sometime within the next year and want to know what is the entire process for enlisting and what will happen after boot camp.
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6 answers
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Sabrina’s Answer
Hello, I find it amazing that you want to join The United States Marine Corps! The first step is to speak to your local recruiter. From there, he will interview you to ensure you are mentally and physically eligible to enlist. You will do a practice ASVAB score at the recruiting station to determine if you are ready to take the actual ASVAB Test. After receiving your test results, your recruiter will tell you what Military Occupational Services (MOS) are available to you based on your test scores and the MOS needs of the Marine Corps. Once you pick your MOS, the next step is to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), where you will conduct various medical checks to ensure you are ready for boot camp. You also swear in at MEPS. After MEPS, you either fly out that day to BootCamp, or you have an assigned date to fly out. After boot camp (12 weeks), you will go to The School of Infantry for an additional month. The school of infantry will then give you your orders to your assigned school house to officially start training for your MOS upon graduation. I hope this helps!
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Qiaoqiao’s Answer
Hello Marco, which military branch do you like to join? Obviously Sabrina answered process to enlist Marine Corps. If you would like to Join Army, the beginning process is similar, it depends on which Military Occupational Services (MOS) you choose, the school you are going after boot camp can be vary. I would suggest you search MOS in army website to find out which specialty interests you. For example, if you like to do IT, the school could last your a year. Also, the military contract time can be different depends on which MOS you choose as well. After training, they will assign a unit for you. If the unit is in domestic, it will be two years, international unit including Hawaii will be three years.
I hope this helps! Good luck!
I hope this helps! Good luck!
Updated
Jared’s Answer
Hi Marco! Joining the military is a very guided process by a recruiter. Your very first step will be contacting a recruiter from the branches that you're interesting in serving in. I recommend contacting a couple of different branches and learning about a few jobs from each. Once you've decided on a particular branch of interest, you'll work closely with your recruiter on all the necessary forms and paperwork to enter. Some steps in this process include filling out a pretty detailed questionnaire about you, taking a written test as an assessment of your mechanical and knowledge proficiencies, and possibly a fitness test. The recruiter will also be able to answer all your questions about timeline, what to expect, where you'll train. I would mention that unless you enlist in the Reserves or the Guard, the biggest unknown will be where you go after training. This often isn't determined until you are well into your training already, and the process differs in each branch.
One final piece of advice is to not allow yourself to be pressured by anyone to do anything you don't want to do. Ask questions, get information, but don't sign anything you aren't comfortable with. The recruiters will apply some pressure because they have a job to do, and they may even throw some shade at the other branches. This ultimately comes down to deciding what YOU want to do. Don't worry about offending someone by not enlisting in their branch, or choosing not to enlist at all.
Contact a recruiter at an Armed Force Career Center or online
One final piece of advice is to not allow yourself to be pressured by anyone to do anything you don't want to do. Ask questions, get information, but don't sign anything you aren't comfortable with. The recruiters will apply some pressure because they have a job to do, and they may even throw some shade at the other branches. This ultimately comes down to deciding what YOU want to do. Don't worry about offending someone by not enlisting in their branch, or choosing not to enlist at all.
Jared recommends the following next steps:
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James’s Answer
The first thing would be to choose which branch you would like to join. Do thorough research, because each has different jobs, as well as its own cultural identity. The next step would be to study for the ASVAB. That test decides which jobs you qualify for. Once you feel comfortable with your preparation for that test, I would go see a recruiter, and start preparing physically for basic training. Part of a recruiter's job is to make sure you are prepared when you ship out. Sometimes that involves having you show up to physical training along with other prospective recruits. Once you make your initial commitment, you will receive a day to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station. That is where you will be interviewed, medically cleared, etc. Once you are processed, you will receive date to attend basic training.
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Jerry’s Answer
This is for if you are joining the Marine Corps. First off, you must have a diploma or GED. They will also administer the ASVAB test that can determine what job you can get, it is just basic math, English, and other simple concepts. You must be able to pass a drug test and a medical exam, this just verifies there is nothing wrong with you medically. Don't lie or try to cheat. Next, you must be able to pass the minimum fitness standards for the Corps (They aren't hard, it's a 1.5 mile run, pullups, and situps). You will also get a background check to verify you don't have a criminal background. If you check all of these boxes, you're all good to go.
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Scott’s Answer
Determine which branch you want to serve in first, then schedule an interview with the nearest recruiting station to you. Before hand, I would focus on certain aspects of the military you want to learn about and write down questions you have. Speak to all branches and decide which bone suits you best. The recruiting process is typically explained at the interview if you decide to proceed with that route. Hope this helps!