JOBS IN MILITARY - 3

I.Four of the services (Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, Marines go to the Naval Academy) maintain outstanding and legendary military academies that provide not only some of the best college education programs, but also train and form young persons into military leaders and managers. Competition is extremely fierce for entrance to the military academies; nominations are needed for Army, Navy/Marines and Air Force. The Coast Guard Academy selects on merit.

Once accepted, cadets or midshipmen receive full benefits along with a tuition-free education.

II.Enlisted Personnel
Enlisted personnel begin at the lowest rank in the military and serve as the main workforce. The military prefers candidates with a high school education. With time, good service, and education, advancement can be expected.

Officers
Officers begin at a supervisory rank. They must have a four?year college degree from an accredited institution before being commissioned; however, the military has several programs that lead to becoming a commissioned officer:

* Military Academies
* Officer Candidate Schools
* Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
* Direct Appointments
* Do You Want a Full-Time or Part-Time Military Career?
* The next question you should ask should be the degree of commitment you are willing to make. The military is flexible and has several full-time and part-time options.

Regular Service
In the regular service, personnel serve on a full?time basis. After enlisting in the service, members are sent to basic training. After graduation, they are sent to specialty job training schools. Upon completion, they are assigned to a station or unit for duty. After 20 years of regular service, members qualify for a military retirement.

III.There are two ways to serve in the US Army: either serve full-time in Active Duty as an Enlisted Soldier or Officer, or serve part-time as an Enlisted Soldier or Officer in the Army Reserve.

All Soldiers have a statutory eight-year military service obligation (MSO), which is established at the time of entry into military service (Active or Reserve). Traditional enlistment terms are three, four, five and six years. Terms of service for active duty are from 2-6 years.

As of 22 June 2004, the Army's Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) contained slightly more than 111,000 Soldiers. These trained Soldiers may be called upon to fill vacancies in Army Reserve units and may replace Soldiers in Active and Reserve Units. Part of the Army's Ready Reserve, the IRR involves individuals who have had training, served previously in the Active Component or the Selected Reserve (such as a member of an Army Reserve unit), and may have some period of Military Service Obligation remaining. Unlike new recruits, these are seasoned, experienced Soldiers who can contribute significantly to Army readiness.

The IRR, as it exists, is mandated by Congress under Title 10 of the U.S. Code. In accordance with implementing instructions contained in Army Regulation 135-91, members of the IRR can be required to join an Army Reserve unit if they are statutorily obligated and have a skill needed by the Army.

Activation is when an Army Reserve Soldier is called to serve in the Army full time. Activation can put you in an Army job within the United States or you may be deployed to foreign soil. Once activated, Army Reserve Soldiers can only serve a maximum of two years active duty.