Military
Options
The Armed Forces
is one of the largest employers in the U.S. If you are interested in exploring the options and benefits
of the Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard, or Coast Guard, be
sure you know all the pros and cons of each service as well as all the
expectations and commitments.
There are three
routes into military service:
1) Enlist into a branch of the armed forces
right after high school to begin training and wages. Students may take the ASVAB:
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a test that helps indicate possible career paths within
the military.
2) Go to one of the service academies for
four years, become an officer, and then work in that service for at least 6
years.
3) Begin training as an officer while attending
a liberal arts college. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) will pay for
some education expenses and begin officer training in return for military
service after college.
TA school
counselors can arrange for military recruiters to speak with you at school, or
you can contact them directly:
Army: 802-476-6610 Navy:
603-298-9890
Vermont Army National Guard: 802-222-4819
Application to
service academies and ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) usually begins in
junior year of high school.
Service academies are very selective; their qualifications include
excellent academic and physical strengths.
1) Write to the
academy or go online to request a Pre-Candidate Questionnaire:
Army: Admissions Office
Air Force: Admissions Office
US Military Academy
US Air Force Academy
West Point, NY 10996
USAF Academy, CO 80840
Navy: Admissions Office
Coast Guard1: Admissions
Office
US Naval Academy US
Coast Guard Academy
Annapolis, MD 21402 New
London, CT 06320
2) Write to each
of your US senators and congressional representatives asking them to consider
you as one of their nominees. The letter needs to include your #1, #2, #3
choices of service academies as well as the following information: your name,
address, phone number, social security number, high school name, year of
graduation, names of parents.
1
The Coast
Guard Academy does not require a nomination from a US congressional
delegate
ROTC: Reserve Officer
Training Corps
Students in
college can be members of officer training programs and get some of their
tuition paid by the service (Air Force, Army or Navy). Upon graduation from
college, the student becomes employed by that service full time.
The ROTC scholarship programs are
an additional set of applications including a written application, physical
examination, and formal interview. Go online or write for ROTC applications:
Air Force
ROTC/RRUF Army
ROTC Navy
ROTC
Maxsell Air
Force Base Box
9000 Box
3060
Alabama 36112-6663 Clifton,
NJ 07015 Hyattsville, MD