The high school environment is often bursting with the pressure to attend college in some variety upon graduation but the truth is that is not the only option. Beyond that pressure is the regular presence of recruiters from each of the military branches. Indeed, enlisting in the service provides many advantages to high school graduates. Besides the immediate entry to a respected and well paid field with great benefits, enlistees can gain valuable experience and skills for a trade in which they can continue to work after their service has ended.
If the military is a viable option for a high school student, there are several things they should consider and prepare for as they near graduation. Recruiters for all branches of the military are in every community and are usually easy to find. Your local high school can always put you in touch with one if need be. These recruiters are specialists at assisting in the enlistment process but the following will get you started.
The first thing a potential enlistee should determine is which branch of the military most interests them. Each branch has its own pluses and minuses and asking someone else to recommend one is kind of like asking someone to recommend a vacation. There’s really a lot of different elements involved in that question on its face like where do you want be based, what are the deployment rates, what is a typical day like, what skills do you want to practice while you’re in service, what kind of incentives are available, and many others. The answers to those and many more questions can mean entirely different things to different people. The key here is to do some homework and make sure you understand the differences between the branches. Current or former enlisted members can help you with this as well as recruitment officers.
Once you’ve made that decision, you need to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test or ASVAB. This can help recruiters better place you within the branch you’ve selected. You’ll also need to pass physical and medical exams. This is all part of the Military Entry Processing Station or MEPS. Once you finish with all the requirements at MEPS you can either report for basic training if you’ve waited until after high school to start this process, or become admitted to the Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
DEP is primarily for high school seniors who know they want to enter the military but plan to finish school first. Basically, it just gets you through MEPS while you’re still in school so you’ll be ready to go following graduation. It also gives you the opportunity to focus and prepare for life in the military by doing things like increasing your self discipline, getting into physical shape, and arranging personal affairs.
Service in the military is a fulfilling and enriching career path. It’s a great alternative for a student who feels college might not be the best fit for them right after school, though that option will still be there after their commitment to the service is filled. Either way, a little preparation and homework is needed before enlisting in the military.
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