A serious, respected path
The military offers training, career skills, education benefits and a path of service for students who fit it. It's a major, multi-year commitment that should be entered thoughtfully, with a clear-eyed understanding of both the opportunities and the obligations.
The branches and components
Service comes in several forms:
- Branches — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force
- Active duty — full-time service
- National Guard & Reserves — part-time, alongside civilian life or college
Enlisted and officer
There are two main tracks. Students can enlist after high school — the ASVAB test helps determine eligibility and match roles — or pursue an officer path, which requires a college degree earned through a service academy, ROTC in college, or Officer Candidate School.
Training and the GI Bill
Benefits can include hands-on career training, steady pay and healthcare, and substantial education benefits (the GI Bill) that help pay for college during or after service. Talking to a recruiter and to veterans, and reading the fine print of any commitment, are essential steps.
Related resources
See Career Readiness, paying for college, and degrees.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the ASVAB? The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a test that helps determine eligibility and match enlistees to military jobs.
- What is the difference between enlisting and becoming an officer? Enlisted members can join after high school; officers typically need a college degree, earned through a service academy, ROTC or Officer Candidate School.
- What education benefits does the military offer? The GI Bill and related programs can help pay for college during or after service, among other training and education benefits.
- What are the National Guard and Reserves? Part-time components that let members serve while working a civilian job or attending college, with many of the same benefits.