Education · 1 of 4

The path

The fastest route to a trained, paid job of anything on this site. It can start the summer after high school.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   A diploma is the standard requirement across the branches. Stay out of legal trouble and get reasonably fit before you apply.

2. 2

   Talk to a recruiter and take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)

   Weeks

   This test decides whether you qualify and, just as importantly, which jobs you are allowed to pick.

3. 3

   Medical exam and contract

   A few days

   At a Military Entrance Processing Station you are examined, screened and then sign a contract naming your job and your term of service.

4. 4

   Basic training

   2 to 3 months

   Roughly 8 to 13 weeks depending on the branch. Fitness, weapons, drill and the transition to military life.

5. 5

   Job school

   1 month to 2 years

   Technical training in your specialty. A few weeks for some jobs, more than a year for languages, nuclear work or advanced electronics.

6. 6

   First unit

   Ongoing

   You arrive at your assigned base or ship as a qualified junior member and start doing the job for real.