Despite This Website, You’re Still Interested in Joining the Military?
Keep in mind that the military branches basically have two ways of joining: standard enlistment, in which you sign up and get started immediately, and delayed entry enlistment, in which you can sign up but postpone joining the military for a certain period (up to a year in most cases). Individual branches may offer other options.
Understand, notwithstanding a recruiter’s admonishments, that you CAN quit a delayed enlistment “contract” if you change your mind! But, if you want to join, I would DEFINITELY check out commissioning programs. Generally, you need at least a bachelor’s degree, but to the best of my knowledge each branch has provisions for assisting a candidate who has two years of college to complete a Bachelor’s degree before commissioning. Regardless, don’t take a recruiter’s answers for gospel, particularly in this area, in which they have no experience or most likely even training. Ask for written documentation, written authority and guidelines!
The difference in training? From my own experience, enlisted basic training emphasizes brainwashing to become subservient to commands. This does not include any reference to “legal” vs. “illegal” commands as referenced in the enlistment contract. I had a migraine headache when reporting in for officer training, expecting a recurrence of the migraines I got in basic. Couldn’t have been “wronger.” I learned that this is because officer training, while still instilling “subservience to authority,” is based on leadership.
U.S. Army
- Standard enlistment.
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in which you enlist now and delay starting your training for up to 365 days.
U.S. Navy
- Standard enlistment.
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in which you enlist now and delay starting your training for up to 365 days.
U.S. Air Force
- Standard enlistment.
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in which you enlist now and delay starting your training for up to 365 days.
U.S. Marines
- Standard enlistment
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in which you enlist now and delay starting your training for up to 365 days.
- For qualified applicants, the National Call To Service program offers a two-year enlistment option.
National Guard
- Standard enlistment.
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in which you enlist now and delay starting your training for up to 365 days.
- College First Enlistment Program in which you can complete up to two years of full-time schooling, with no federal mobilization. (And if you have two years of college, why enlist?
- Split-option enlistment — As a junior in high school, you can enlist in the Army National Guard and not interrupt your high school education. You start by attending basic training the summer after your junior year. You will return home in time for your senior year in the fall.
- Standard enlistment.
Coast Guard
- Standard enlistment
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in which you enlist now and delay starting your training for up to day 365.
Nearly Half of Female Soldiers Still Failing New Army Fitness Test, While Males Pass Easily
If I had to do it over again? I’d get my college education out of the way first then head for the officer ranks, by which time I’d have gotten over any illusions about the military and not joined. BUT, I was a part-time farmhand hayseed who didn’t know any better.
Enlisted Vs. Officer Ranks
The enlisted and officer paths each have varying ranks and insignias appropriate to each branch. Although ranks and insignias may differ between branches, they all indicate a member’s level of responsibility, leadership and seniority.
Each rank is also associated with a pay grade that is part of a service member’s total compensation. For example, a Marine Corps sergeant has a pay grade of E-5, an Army warrant officer 1 has a pay grade of W-1, and a Navy Captain has a pay grade of O-6, while an Army, Marine or USAF Captain has a pay grade of O-3. As a service member is promoted through the ranks of his or her respective branch, his or compensation rises accordingly.
Transitioning From Enlisted To Officer
Most branches have programs that help enlisted members transition into officer roles. Enlisted members with the right qualifications may be recommended by their commanding officers for Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) if they plan to go back to school.
In addition, there are two other ways enlisted members can earn an officer title. Warrant officers are promoted from the enlisted ranks for technical expertise and rank between the highest enlisted and lowest commissioned officers (for example, most Army helicopter pilots are warrant officers). Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) are high-ranking enlisted members who have been given officer-like authority by their superiors. Additional training is provided in both. Most branches have commissioning processes for enlistees that have earned the equivalent of two undergraduate years. This is the direction I took. BUT a lot of my earned credits were USAFE courses and after passing on-campus bypass tests, Oklahoma State recognized only 23 of my 63 accumulated credits. Another example of military-to-civilian training dichotomies.
Regardless, in my personal experience, a prior enlistee-cum-officer has an uphill battle within the commissioned ranks for being taken as normally intelligent by inexperienced officers.
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