Military Branches:

• Air Force & Air Force Reserve
  • The nation's source of air and space power. The primary mission of the USAF is to fly planes, helicopters, and satellites.
  • Recruiter: William Barnett 989-992-2741
• Army & Army Reserve
  • The dominant land power. The Army generally moves in to an area, secures it, and instills order and values before it leaves. It also guards U.S. installations and properties throughout the world.
  • Recruiter: SFC Allen Sykes - 989- 615-4426
• Army National Guard
  • The Army National Guard is an elite group of warriors who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation. Each state has its own Guard, as required by the Constitution; in fact, it is the only branch of the military whose existence is actually required by the Constitution
  • Recruiter: SFC Nicholas Kraft - 517-410-6979
• Coast Guard & Coast Guard Reserve
  • The Coast Guard's mission is primarily with domestic waterways. The Coast Guard does rescues, law enforcement, drug prevention, and clears waterways.
  • Recruiter: AMT1 Matthew Allyn 248-388-1317
• Marine Corps & Marine Corps Reserve:
  • The Marine Corps is known as the U.S.' rapid-reaction force. They are trained to fight by sea and land, and usually are the first "boots on the ground." Marines are known as the world's fiercest warriors.
• Navy & Navy Reserve
  • The Navy accomplishes its missions primarily by sea, but also by air and land. It secures and protects the oceans around the world to create peace and stability, making the seas safe for travel and trade.
• Space Force
  • The newest branch of the military, the U.S. Space Force was signed into law in December, 2019. The Space Force currently does not have a reserve component. The sixth branch of the military, the Space Force is also still in development and will be for some time as many final decisions are made, including uniforms, basing and even recruitment.

If you'd like to speak with a recruiter from any military branch, visit here to be connected: Talk to a Recruiter.

If you are interested in pursuing a military career, preparing yourself for the process is very important to prevent delays. To begin, be sure you have proper identification, a birth certificate, medical records, and any other legal documents requested of you. 

Some common barriers to enlistment success or delays are:

• Medical Disqualifications: Read more here - Medical Disqualifiers
• Legal Issues: If you have a criminal record, it will be investigates. However, waivers can be granted for minor issues.
• Academic Issues
•  Height & Weight Standards - #1 Barrier!
  • Females: Must be between 58" and 80" tall
  • Males: Must be between 60" and 80" tall
• Physical Fitness Standards
• Age: You must be at least 17 (with a parent approval)
• Citizenship
• Other: tattoos, piercings, debt, failure to pass a drug test, etc.

What is the ASVAB?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a timed (3 hours) multi-aptitude test. The ASVAB contains 10 sections, consisting of 4 domains: verbal, math, science & technical, and spatial. Your ASVAB scores in 4 critical areas are calculated to determine your Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score, which determines whether you are qualified to enlist in the U.S. Military. These areas include:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Word Knowledge (WK)
• Paragraph Comprehension )PC)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

Your ASVAB scores in other areas will determine how qualified you are for certain military occupational specialties and Enlistment Bonuses. A high score will improve your chances of getting the specialty/job and signing bonus you want. 

Each branch of the military determines which skills are most important in the branch. Composite score categories, their acronyms, and formulas used for calculation are:

• Clerical (CL) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC) + Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) + Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
• Combat (CO) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC) + Auto & Shop Information (AS) + Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• Electronics (EL) = General Science (GS) + Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) + Mathematics Knowledge (MK) + Electronic Information (EI)
• Field Artillery (FA) = Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) + Mathematics Knowledge (MK) + Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• General Maintenance (GM) = General Science (GS) + Auto & Shop Information (AS) + Mathematics Knowledge + Electronics Information
• General Technical (GT) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC) + Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Mechanical Maintenance (MM) = Auto & Shop Information (AS) + Mechanical Comprehension (MC) + Electronic Information (EI)
• Operators and Food (OF) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC) + Auto & Shop Information (AS) + Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• Surveillance and Communications (SC) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC) + Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) + Auto & Shop Information (AS) + Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• Skilled Technical (ST) = Word Knowledge (WK) + Paragraph Comprehension (PC) + General Science (GS) + Mechanical Comprehension (MC) + Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

How is the ASVAB scored?
The ASVAB is scored on a 0-99 point scale. The score is then broken down into subtest scores to determine your qualification areas. Each branch of the military has different minimum scores to qualify to enlist in that branch. Minimum AFQT score by branch:

• Air Force - 36
• Army - 31
• Coast Guard - 40
• Navy - 35
• Marines - 32

Registering for the ASVAB
Registration for the ASVAB is done through your military recruiter. See below for local contacts for the corresponding branch you are interested in. You can also find a recruiter by visiting the Department of Defense website.

ASVAB Preparation Tools:

• MARCH2SUCCESS - FREE
  • U.S. Army tool that is recommended by other branch recruiters as well
• Peterson's ($39 to $49 per month)

Resources:
Military.com

1. When should I take the ASVAB?
When you are ready! Prepare for the ASVAB before taking it!

2. What's the difference between joining the military and leaving for basic training?
Joining the military and leaving for basic training are two completely different things. When you join the military, you are qualifying first by testing and second by taking a physical. After qualifying in both areas, you will pick your job and swear-in. You're not leaving for basic training at this time. It is important that your recruiter and the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) liaisons know when you are available to leave for basic training. If you are a high school senior you need to make sure you know when your graduation date is and when you will be available to leave. Whatever the reason make sure you discuss it with your recruiter.

3. When will my job be assigned?
This is a very important question. Each branch of the service has its own method of assigning jobs.

4. What documents do I need to need to start the recruiting process?

• Driver's license
• Social Security Card
• Birth Certificate
• High School Diploma
• Medical Records
• Legal Records: traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies

Your recruiter is there to help you enlist, not disqualify you. Disclosing information upfront is preferred as waivers are available for some "disqualifiers."