You will then need to complete a conditional release or DD Conditional Release form with a recruiter from the branch you would like to join. Download a copy of the DD form today. It must be signed prior to any further steps. Meet with your Supervisor Next set up a meeting with your supervisor and explain your intentions. If for some reason it does not make it to the commander, you can submit it directly.
Follow Up You may have to wait but next you should receive approval or disapproval. If your Unit says you can not be released and will not accept the package, you should request that they formally disapprove it on the DD Members of the National Guard, however, can be called for duty by either their state governors or by the president. It's important to understand that the National Guard is considered an extension of the Reserve component.
All service branches , except the Space Force, also offer reserve components. The length of commitment depends greatly on the chosen Service, required training and a number of other variables. For instance, in the Marine Corps , members are obligated to a term of 8 years total, with 4 or 5 of those being on active duty depending on enlistment program choice and 3 in the Inactive Ready Reserve IRR for active duty enlistments.
For the Navy , current enlistments obligation ranges from years active service. Military personnel may retire after 20 years of service and must retire after 30 years of service in most cases. While total length of service commitment varies based on Service branch need and occupational specialty, a first term is generally four years of active duty followed by four years in a Reserve unit or Individual Ready Reserve IRR. IRR members do not drill, but muster once per year.
IRR members are also not paid but may be recalled to Active Duty in times of need until their eight-year total commitment has expired.
Though technically not a "shorter" commitment, the two-year enlistment program is available for some Services. A recruiter can tell you more about this option. The six service branches of the U. The enlisted and officer paths each have a unique hierarchy of various ranks. As the Commander in Chief, the President of the United States is responsible for all command decisions. The president is advised by the Secretary of Defense, who oversees the Department of Defense and works closely with chiefs of staff from every service branch.
Although the Coast Guard ultimately reports to the commander-in-chief as well, it operates within the Department of Homeland Security. The Selective Service System is a government agency that requires the registration of almost all male US citizens and male immigrants who are 18 through Should a national emergency require a military conscription draft , these individuals may be called upon to serve.
Military Entrance Processing Station MEPS is a joint Service organization with locations all over the country, that determines an applicant's physical qualifications, aptitude and moral standards as set by each branch of military service.
Visiting MEPS is an important step in becoming an enlisted service member. There are two versions of the test:. The Reserve Officers' Training Corps ROTC is an officer commissioning path associated with 4-year colleges and universities that prepares young adults to become leaders in the Military.
In exchange for scholarship money, ROTC cadets commit to serving for a set period of time upon graduation. Basic training, which is commonly known as boot camp, is a 8-to week training program that prepares recruits for all elements of service: physical, mental and emotional.
It also instills service members with discipline, confidence, and reinforces the importance of teamwork. Possession of a high school diploma is desirable, although not mandatory, for enlistment in any component of the Military Services. Depending on Service needs, candidates with a GED General Education Development certificate may be able to join, however; these opportunities may be limited. For details, see Eligibility Requirements.
Recruiters are the very best source of information about what the Military is like, what young people can get from the Service and all the steps in the process of recruiting. It matters that people get accurate and current information, and recruiters are the best resource for answers to even the most difficult questions regarding the Service. To get started, visit Questions to Ask a Recruiter. As part of the entrance process for any Service branch, but prior to boot camp , new recruits will receive a physical exam, which includes a complete medical history.
During that exam, they will be asked about their overall health. A recruit's input and the result of the exam will determine his or her ability to meet the health and physical fitness standards for military service.
Some of the most common reasons for disqualification include permanent medical conditions such as sight or hearing deficiencies, or temporary conditions that can be remediated, such as excess body weight. Applicants who are disqualified because of a temporary condition may be granted a medical waiver, with the approval rate depending on the condition being considered and the different needs of each Service.
For a full list of conditions and waiver considerations, we recommend that you speak with a recruiter. Properly documented noncitizens may enlist. However, opportunities may be limited. Contact a recruiter for more advice on a specific situation. All jobs, including combat, are open to women. The percentage of women serving on active duty in the Military has more than doubled since Clearly, women play an important role in today's Military.
Each Service and many occupations have specific physical requirements that must be met regardless of gender. Each Service takes a different approach to evaluating the severity and number of offenses on a candidate's record. The results of this evaluation may — or may not — disqualify candidates. DoD generally prohibits the enlistment of any applicant who has more than two dependents under the age of While the Services are allowed to waive this policy, they often will not.
In fact, most of the Services are even stricter in their policies:. Once serving, all service members are free to marry and have children as they wish. Family members are eligible for military health care, and female service members can take maternity leave. Speak to a recruiter to learn more about this process.
Below is a breakdown by Service branch and component:. Much like the wide range of jobs found in the civilian working world, the Military offers hundreds of rewarding opportunities across many different career fields. Visit Explore Careers to discover opportunities that match your interests and skill sets.
To hear from service members about their own career experiences in the Military, visit Career Stories. First, candidates need to confirm the career field or military occupational specialty MOS they want are available by working with the service enlistment counselor at a Military Entrance Processing Station MEPS.
Thousands of different jobs are available, but not in each Service. Jobs are assigned based on several factors:. Prior-service personnel will not receive a pay grade higher than that held on their last separation from regular active duty. Depending on the needs of the service and approval from the Coast Guard Recruiting Command, you may be eligible to serve in your prior-service specialty. In order to apply, you need to have held the same or an equivalent military occupational specialty as one of the careers available on the list.
Coast Guard Recruiting Command will consider good-faith applications if the rate was removed from the ORL during processing. If you do not currently have the skills required to fill an ORL job, you can still enlist as an E-3 and be trained in a Coast Guard career. Prior service personnel from any U. Armed Forces component may be eligible to enlist under the open rate list. At the time of separation from active duty, the applicant must have held the rate listed on the ORL or a comparable military occupational specialty.
They must have less than five years since separation from active duty, and the applicant cannot have more than 10 years of prior active service or 14 years combined active and reserve service.
If the applicant does not hold a specialty at the time of separation that is included on the ORL, they enlist at the pay grade of E-3, regardless of the rank or rate they held at the time of separation.
A reservist not re-enlisting through the ORL can be enlisted as an E-3 or below depending on prior time in service. A former Coast Guard petty officer may be authorized their former rank with designators if his or her rate is on the open rate list.
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