Military Options

Reasons Attracted to Military

• Travel

• Need for Employment

• A sense of civic duty and service for our country

• Family Tradition

• Occupational Training

• Educational Opportunity

Gateways to Military Service

• Enlistment

• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

• Service Academies

• Senior Military Colleges

Branches of Military Service

• U.S. Army (Army Reserve, Army National Guard)

• U.S. Air Force (Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard)

• U.S. Navy (Navy Reserve)

• U.S. Marines Corps (Marine Corps Reserve)

• U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard Reserve)

General Enlistment Qualifications

• 18 years of age. Parental consent at 17.

• U.S. Citizen or immigrant alien legally admitted to U.S. with documentation.

• High School Graduation or GED (limiting)

• Physical exams/drug screening/background check

• Need for recruits in a specific job

• Aptitude Test (ASVAB)

Enlistment

• Direct Ship

• Delayed Entry Program

• Basic Training

• Occupational Specialty Training

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

• Opportunity to attend college while studying military leadership

• Offered at hundreds of college campuses

• Highly competitive (grades, ACT/SAT, personal interview)

• Four yr program leads to bachelor degree and entry level commission as an officer.

ROTC Scholarships

• Pay tuition, required fees, textbooks and a monthly stipend for each month enrolled.

• Merit based not need based• Come with a military service commitment:

– Army (4yrs active, 4 years reserve)– Navy (4 to 5 years)– Air Force (4 to 6 years)Deadlines differ with branches (between Dec.

1st to January 31st of senior yr.)

Military Service Academies

• US Military Academy at West PointWest Point, NY

• US Naval AcademyAnnapolis, Maryland

• US Air Force Academy Colorado Springs, Colorado

• US Coast Guard AcademyNew London, Connecticut

• US Merchant Marine AcademyKingsport, New York

Admissions Criteria for Service Academies:

•Extensive process, extremely competitive•Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) •Athletics and extracurricular activities •Leadership experience and community involvement •High school academic performance •A congressional letter of recommendation (not required by the Coast Guard Academy)•Begin application process Spring of Junior year

After Graduation from Service Academy:

• Five year active military commitment plus three yr reserves

• Commissioned as an officer

• College Degree

Senior Military Colleges

• Offer combination of higher education with military instruction

• Must participate in ROTC programs

• Only those receiving ROTC Scholarships must enter military service

Senior Military Colleges

• Texas A&M Corps of Cadets

• Norwich University• The Virginia Military

Institute• The Citadel

• North Georgia College and State University

• Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

• Mary Baldwin Women’s Institute for Leadership