4 answers
caleb
Student
Piketon, Ohio
1
Question
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How hard is it to go in the military?
How hard is it to be accepted in the military.
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4 answers
Jared Langdon
Technical Account Manager
2
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Jared’s Answer
Hi Caleb! It is not too difficult to enlist in the military! It 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.
There are some common hurdles to joining, but these can be overcome. Some folks feel like they may not be fit enough. You don't necessarily have to be the most fit person to enlist, you will have ample opportunity to get fit in basic training. Others think they may not know enough or be smart enough, but there are plenty of available jobs to each person regardless of how much they know. Don't let hurdles like these get in your way of pursuing this opportunity. The recruiters will also help you navigate any hurdles that come up, it's a core part of their job.
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.
There are some common hurdles to joining, but these can be overcome. Some folks feel like they may not be fit enough. You don't necessarily have to be the most fit person to enlist, you will have ample opportunity to get fit in basic training. Others think they may not know enough or be smart enough, but there are plenty of available jobs to each person regardless of how much they know. Don't let hurdles like these get in your way of pursuing this opportunity. The recruiters will also help you navigate any hurdles that come up, it's a core part of their job.
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.
Thank you so much for the advice.
caleb
Recruiter here! Not here for work, just here to share some responses and give friendly advice! This reply is very sound and solid advice that I give to all of the individuals that I work with! The best thing for you to do is schedule a meeting with all branches and determine which one best suits your need. Not every recruiter will pressure you into joining, but so be cautious before agreeing to further processing. Hope this helps!
Scott Butler
James Hanzel
Corrections and Security
236
Answers
Cape Coral, Florida
Updated
James’s Answer
To get into the military in general is not difficult, but keep in mind which branch you want to join. Some branches like the Coast Guard don't need to maintain a large force, therefore they can afford to be more selective. The Coast Guard was actually my first choice before the Marine Corps, and I couldn't get an email back from a recruiter. They were also appointment only, and I couldn't just walk in. Then it depends on what job you want in the branch you choose. It will depend on your score on the ASVAB. If you can do really well on this test, you will have options. If you don't do well, don't rush. Study and attempt to take the test again. Don't settle for a job you don't want.
Ryan Walsh
Mechanical Engineering
5
Answers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
This depends on which field you would like to get into. Many career fields in the military are almost always accepting new recruits (think infantry, armor, logistics) because they need a lot of soldiers and they have a high turn-over. If you are planning to find a specific job (called MOS in the Army) you should talk to a recruiter and then wait for it to become available.
Gregory Bass
Security Forces/ Law Enforcement
9
Answers
Girard, Ohio
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
Hello Caleb, as some of the others have mentioned the difficulty level depends on the career you wish to pursue and also the branch you want to use to follow that career. Some branches have higher ASVAB score requirements for certain jobs. A recruiter will be able to schedule a time for you to take the test. After your results are processed they can sit down with you and talk about the what jobs are available and which you qualify for.