Each year, many students think about joining the military because there are many different opportunities.

In all military branches, service members are divided into two categories: enlisted or officer. Enlisted members are employed in almost every type of military career. Officers are employed in management roles or highly specialized fields; they require more training.

Full time or part-time positions are available. Active duty is full time, meaning the service members receive a regular paycheck and full benefits, including health care, a housing allowance, and 30 days of paid vacation per year. Part-time members can join either the Reserve or the National Guard. Reserve Service Members receive the same training as their active duty peers, but they do it close to home. They are paid for all the time they spend training or deployed, and receive many of the benefits that active members do.

The National Guard is community-based and report to the governor of their respective state unless they are called in to protect U.S. domestic interests in times of conflict or natural disasters. They can also be deployed internationally alongside full-time service members if necessary. They are required to train one weekend per month and perform two weeks of field exercises per year. They are usually found in most U.S. states and territories.

For basic training, there are physical demands that each branch requires:

Army PFT: A timed 2-mile run, 2 minutes of sit-ups, and 2 minutes of push-ups.

Navy PRT: A timed 1.5-mile run, 2 minutes of curl-ups, and 2 minutes of push-ups.

Marine Corps PFT: A timed 3-mile run, 2 minutes of abdominal crunches and pull ups or push ups. You also have to pass a Combat Fitness Test, it is intended to keep Marines ready for the physical rigors of contemporary combat operations. That test consists of a timed 880-yard sprint, counted 30-pound ammo can lifts, and a 300-yard maneuver-under-fire event.

Air Force PFT: A timed 1.5-mile run. one minute of push-ups, and one minute of sit-ups.

Coast Guard PFT: A timed 1.5 mile-run, one minute of push-ups, one minute of sit-ups, and a 1.5-meter platform jump into a 100-meter swim.

During basic training, all recruiters live in barracks. Most single service members are required to live on base for a period of time. Some bases include things like swimming pools, basketball courts, movie theaters, etc. If a service member does not live on base, they are given Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). That varies, depending on the cost of your living area.

Uniforms differ as well. Evening/formal wear would be worn to a formal event, including balls, ceremonies, weddings, and graduations. Service dresses would be worn as a daily uniform. It is equivalent to a business suit, and are worn in office environments and at certain public events. Utility/working uniforms are worn during day-to-day functions. Physical training uniforms are worn during any type of physical training exercises. All service members are provided their uniforms, depending on what they will be doing.

Military enrollees still have a social life, and there are plenty of on-base activities to do, from going to the gym, seeing a movie, going bowling, taking a walk in the park, and many more things. Armed Forces entertainment even host more than 600 entertainment shows, some featuring the most popular musicians, comedians, actors, and athletes.

The military has it’s on sports league and there are 25 different sports that one can join while on base, it is called Armed Forces Sports.

To enlist in the military, there are certain requirements that must be met. It is required that one passes the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and the physical exam. One must also meet with a career counselor and determine the career path, take the oath, and go to the basic training.

There are so many different opportunities that come with joining the military! But there is only one question: is it right for you?