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 like social security card, driver's license, birth certificate, passport, medical history and school diplomas are some of the documents which you will need.

If you are enlisting in the army with a bachelor's degree, you may earn higher salaries than those without one. The starting salary may be around USD 37,000 per year and increase upto USD 47,000 after four years. You may also be appointed to a higher rank if you have additional college credits to show.

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 $3000 to 52,000.

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.

You are entitled to health coverage for you and your dependents as well. The health care policy provides medical and dental coverage at very little or no cost for you. You can avail medical facilities in the Military Treatment Facility for you and family and those which pay for students debts and college besides admitting your children in military schools.

Today, due to the increase in the zones of confrontation, there is an increase in the number of personnel required. There is tremendous pressure to fulfill combat needs, and as such, the Army has started enlisting people with felony convictions as well.