1. Requirements Benefits Training American Soldier
THE MILITARY
Requirements
Benefits
Training
American Soldier

2. 5 Military Branches Army Marines Navy The dominant land power.
Secures an area and instills order.
Largest branch.
In the war the longest.
Marines
U.S. rapid-reaction force. (911 Force)
Fights by sea and land, usually the first "boots on the ground."
Every Marine is a Rifleman.
Department of the Navy.
Semper Fidelis – “Always Faithful”
Navy
Missions primarily by sea, but also by air and land.
Secures and protects the oceans around the world.

3. 5 Military Branches Air Force Coast Guard Air and space power.
Primary mission is to fly planes, helicopters, and satellites.
Coast Guard
Protects domestic waterways.
Does rescues, law enforcement, drug prevention, and clears waterways.
Smallest branch.
Department of Homeland Security.

4. Active Duty Reserves National Guard All branches Army and Air Force
Full Time –
2 to 6 years (or more)
Part Time –
Drill training one weekend per month and 2 weeks per year
2 to 6 years
Serve for 3, 6, or 8 years
Commanded by President
Commanded by State Government
*President may overrule
12 month deployments
May be deployed:
Emergencies
War
Stateside or Overseas
May be deployed
Domestic emergencies
Fires
Floods/Storms
Reconstruction efforts
Live on or near base
Example Air Force Base
May need to travel for training
Train close to home
Video
Basic training is the same for all choices

5. Military Entrance Requirements
U.S. Citizen
18 years or older (17 years with parental consent)
High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB)
A multiple choice test used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces.
High scores must be obtained to become an Officer or Special Forces
Helps determine your (MOS) Military Occupational Specialty
To enlist – 31 or higher
Officers/Special Forces – 100 or higher
Physical Fitness and Human Lie Detector Test
Drug Test

6. MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Station
3 hour medical exam
Vision, Hearing, Physical
Lots of Paperwork
ASVAB
Personality Test
Clean Record
Time with a Body Language Expert
Can you be caught in a lie?
Drug Test
Oath
Video

7. Military Training - Enlisted
Attend Basic Training (commonly referred to as "boot camp")
7 to 12 weeks in length
Rigorous physical fitness program
Builds mental strength and knowledge of military history and tactics.
After completing boot camp:
Recruits receive additional training specific to their career field.
Advanced Individual Training (AIT).
Classroom instruction at skill-training school as well as field exercises.
Video

8. Basic Training by Service
Army
Marine
Navy
Air Force
Coast Guard
Duration
10 weeks
12 weeks
7-9 weeks
8.5 weeks
8 weeks
Locations
Fort Benning
Columbus, Georgia
Fort Jackson
Columbia, South Carolina
Fort Leonard Wood
Waynesville, Missouri
Fort Sill
Lawton, Oklahoma
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island
Parris Island, South Carolina
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego
San Diego, California
Great Lakes Recruit Training Depot
Great Lakes, Illinois
Lackland Air Force Base
San Antonio, Texas
Cape May Coast Guard Training Center
Cape May, New Jersey
Physical Fitness Requirements
Timed 2-mile run
2 minutes of sit-ups
2 minutes of push-ups
Timed 3-mile run
A pull-up count
2 minutes of abdominal crunches
Timed 1.5-mile run or 500-yard swim
2 minutes of curl-ups
Sit-and-reach flexibility test
Timed 1.5-mile run
1 minute of push-ups
1 minute of sit-ups
Abdominal circumference measurement
5-minute water tread
5-foot platform jump into a 100-meter swim
Note: Active Duty, Reserve and Guard personnel all attend that respective Service's Boot Camp.

9. Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Completed after basic training
Classroom instruction
Field Exercises
American Council on Education (ACE) provides the opportunity for service members to convert their training into a degree.

10. Advanced Individual Training (5 Branches)
Army Advanced Individual Training Schools
17 career fields
Marine Corps Military Occupational Specialty School (MOS)
3 elements: ground, aviation, and logistics combat
Navy “A” School
Many fields from arts and photography to world languages
Air Force Technical School
Instruction on mechanical, administrative, general and electronic careers
Coast Guard “A” School
Safety and law enforcement, maritime patrols, technology, environmental operations, and business administration

11. Careers Administrative personnel Media and public affairs personnel
Combat specialty personnel
Protective service personnel
Construction personnel
Firefighters
Electronic and electrical equipment repair personnel
Military police
Support service personnel Religious program specialists
Engineering, science, and technical personnel
Transportation and material-handling personnel
Environmental health and safety specialists
Aircrew members
Information technology specialists
Cargo specialists
Intelligence specialists
Quartermasters and boat operators
Healthcare personnel
Human resources development personnel
Vehicle drivers
Vehicle and machinery mechanical personnel
Machine operator and production personnel

12. Paths to Becoming an Officer
You must obtain a 4 year Bachelor’s degree
You must have an ASVAB score above 100
4 Pathways:
Service Academy or Military College
ROTC at a Civilian College
Attend an OCS/OTS program after college
Direct Commission

13. Paths to Becoming an Officer
Service Academies
4 year Bachelor’s degree
Fully immersed in military culture
Full scholarships – includes tuition, room and board, books and a monthly stipend
Extremely competitive
Requires a congressional letter of recommendation
(except the Coast Guard)
Must participate in a sport
5 year service commitment

14. Paths to Becoming an Officer
5 Service Academies
U.S. Military Academy – “West Point”
Army – must serve 4 years active, 4 years reserve
U.S. Naval Academy – “Annapolis”
Navy and Marines – must serve 5 years
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Must serve 5 years
U.S. Air Force Academy
Must serve 4 years
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Known as Mariners, Seamen, Seafarers, Sailors
NOT Marines

15. Paths to Becoming an Officer
Senior Military Colleges (SMCs)
4 year degree
Fully immersed in military culture
Combine higher education with military instruction through ROTC
Only required to serve if you received a military scholarship
Texas A&M University
Norwich University
The Virginia Military Institute
The Citadel
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
University of North Georgia
Mary Baldwin Women’s Institute for Leadership

16. Paths to Becoming an Officer
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
4 year degree at a Civilian College
Field exercises
Hands-on leadership workshops
Classroom instruction
Free education in exchange for a service commitment
NROTC, Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC
*There is no Coast Guard ROTC
Coast Guard Split Training.
Enlistees train for two summers.
Serve one weekend a month during the school year.
Schooling continues uninterrupted.
Receive pay for their weekend service and, after training is complete, begin Reserve duty.

17. Paths to Becoming an Officer
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
NROTC
For both Navy and Marines
Freshman – 4 week cruise studying Navy and Marine Corps history and missions
Sophomore – 4 week cruise learning high altitude and cold water movement, survival techniques
Junior – attend OCS for 6 weeks
Senior – graduate as Second Lieutenant in U.S. Marine Corps
Attend The Basic School (TBS) – 6 months

18. Paths to Becoming an Officer
Officer Candidate School/Officer Training School
3 types of people who attend OCS/OTS:
Graduates from a traditional four-year college or university
Enlisted service members transitioning into officer roles
Direct Commission Officers (DCOs) with specialized skills or professional degrees
OCS
Army
Marine
Navy
Air Force
Coast Guard
Duration
 12 weeks
10 weeks
12 weeks
 9 weeks
17 weeks
Location
Fort Benning, GA
Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
Naval Station Newport, RI
Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, AL
Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Ensign
 Second Lieutenant

19. Paths to Becoming an Officer
Direct Commission (DCOs)
Civilians with special skills
Typically possess advanced degrees in:
Medicine
Law
Religious studies
Engineering
Intelligence

20. Military Benefits Free College Education
Opportunities for Advancement and Pay Increase
30 days paid vacation
Free Housing and Meals
Free Health Insurance
$250,000 Life Insurance for $16/month
Travel
Tax Benefits
Retire Young and with a Pension