The Hassle Free Army Enlisting Procedures for Applicants

Enlisting for a position in the army is not such a stressful matter, if you find the appropriate army information to guide you. The best person to help you out and offer all kinds of information is the army recruiter in your locality. The army consists of five armed services, mainly, the Army, Air force, Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. Enlisting regulations can seem a bit confusing as there are separate rules for officer programs and for enlisting. Since enlisted members are required to do hands on job for the Army, they are required to have minimum high school degrees. A GED may possibly be adequate or may not be so.

Minimum qualification for enlisting

  • You have to be a citizen of the country or resident alien
  • You have to be minimum 17 years of age (these applicants should have the consent of their parents)
  •  High school degree is necessary barring a few exceptional cases.
  • You have successfully get through a medical physical exam.

For every branch of the army, there are somewhat different enlisting requirement.

Air Force - You must be aged between  17-27

You should not have more than two dependents.

You must successfully pass the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude test with a minimum score: 40

Army – You must be aged between  17-34 years.

Have should have only two dependents.

AFQT Score: 31

Coast Guard – enlist between 17-39 years of age.

Have only two dependents.

AFQT Score: 45

Marines – Be between 17 – 29 years of age.

Meet the rigorous mental, physical and moral standards.

AFQT Score: 32

Women can also enlist in occupational combat arm specialties.

Navy – You must be between 17-34 years of age.

AFQT Score: 35

Women are qualified to enlist for occupational combat arm specialties, except for Navy Seal.

The Army also offers many opportunities to join the army with a high rank immediately, known as advanced enlistment. This facility is available to those applicants who have college credits, are in the Army’s delayed entry program or have civilian experience.

Benefits in the Army

Even though the salaries of army personnel are not great, they have considerable tangible and non tangible benefits. Some of them include:

  • Educational benefits – education during duty, Service member Opportunity college, tuition assistance
  • Advanced specialty and technical training.
  • Cash bonuses
  • Tax free food and housing allowances or free board and room.
  • 30 days vacation yearly.
  • Free flights between each base.
  • Considerable discounts along with deal among all the private sectors.
  • World travel
  • Health as well as dental care for the whole family.
  • Special home loan deals
  • Pension
  • Last but not the least, being a member of a traditional military family and serving the country.

After you are an enlisted member in the Army, you will get an increase in your pay packet each year of your service till your retirement. You will also get benefits from the adjustments in the annual cost of living.