Enlisting in the Army

You may have heard that a good score in ASVAB is the first significance in the long drawn journey of finally being selected in the army. It's a significant step no doubt, but it's not the only step. There are numerous qualifications which you must meet before being considered for enlisting in the army. Some of these qualifications are related to educational background and others are psychological and physical.

Requirements for Enlisting in the Army

To enlist in the army you need to be at least 18 years of age, but if you have the permission of your parents, you can enlist at 17 as well. You must be a citizen of the country or must have a green card, and at least possess a high school diploma. Once you fulfill all these requirements, you can take the ASVAB test which you must pass, after which you would also have to pass the Military Entrance Processing Station medical exam. At the time of your appointment, the number of dependents can't be more than 2. As far as your physical health is concerned, you must be healthy enough to be included in the army. You will be required to go through a physical exam to see if you can handle the rigorous training, and your height, weight and body mass index would also be measured.

There are several documents which you would need to carry along during the application process. Social security card, driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, medical history and school diplomas are some of the documents which you will need. Read more on requirements to join the army.

Enlisting in the Army With a College Degree

Even though the basic educational qualification to enlist in the army is a high school diploma, you can still apply for a job in the army if you have a bachelor's degree. If you are enlisting in the army with a bachelor's degree, you are entitled to additional bonuses which is usually around US $8,000. This amount is over and above the compensation and benefits which you are entitled to. You may also be appointed to a higher rank if you have additional college credits to show. More on military ranks.

Re-enlisting in the Army

If you want to continue in the army after the expiry of the term of service date, you can re-enlist within 3 to 24 months. You can re-enlist either by your own choice or if the army needs you. In case you re-enlist by your own choice, you must commit a particular number of years to the army. Usually the number of years is between 3 to 6 years. There are bonus programs for re-enlisting which may feature a lump sum payment, and this amount is usually between US $10,000 to 40,000. You may like to know more onmilitary retirement benefits.

Benefits of Enlisting in the Army

As far as the benefits are concerned, a job in the army is one of the best places to be. Recognizing the necessity of caring for its men, the army has come up with numerous benefits which are tax free. With the kind of job you would be entailed to do, the leave policy in the army is generous. At the end of each year you get a leave of four weeks, and the best part is, it's with pay. You can be off to anywhere you please, without worrying about your paycheck. In addition to that, you don't need to work on national holidays and weekends. However, this is applicable only if you are posted in a peace time zone. If you are posted in a combat zone, you won't be able to get leaves, but would be compensated with combat pay.

As far as your health care goes, you are entitled to health coverage not only for you but your dependents as well. The health care policy is such that it provides medical and dental coverage at very little or no cost for you. You can also avail medical facilities in the Military Treatment Facility for you and family. In addition to that, you can avail facilities which pay for students debts and college besides admitting your children in military schools.