Guidance Activity Plan In The Classroom

Military Planning Guide

Purpose: To have an informative discussion with a group of 11th grade students that are contemplating entering the military after high school.

MILITARY SERVICE BRANCHES

The U.S. Military consists of five active-duty services and their respective Guard and Reserve units. All branches are equal parts of the United States Uniformed Services, headed by the President as Commander-in-Chief. The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DoD). The Coast Guard reports to the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and to the DoD (by way of the Navy) during wartime.

Reserve and National Guard units perform as active-duty service members on a part-time basis. These troops train close to home, deploying when needed to aid in international conflict or domestic disaster relief.

 Army (Department of Defense) -Active Duty, Reserve, or Nat’l Guard  Air Force (Department of Defense) -Active Duty, Reserve, or Nat’l Guard  Navy (Department of Defense) -Active Duty or Reserve  Marines (Department of Defense) -Active Duty or Reserve  Coast Guard (DoD & Department of Homeland Seceurity) -Active Duty or Reserve

Enlisted Service Members Enlisted service members make up the majority of the Military and perform much of the hands-on work. To enlist, an individual must be 18 years old, or 17 with parental consent. He or she must also have graduated from high school, although a General Education Development (GED) certificate is sometimes acceptable.

Officers Officers are the managers of the Military, planning and directing operations or acting in professional roles in fields such as law and medicine. Officers have generally completed a four-year college degree or greater before serving, though it is possible to work up through the enlisted ranks and complete officer training later.

Entrance Requirements Age Requirements Each branch of the Service has different requirements. Minimum entrance-age requirements are 17 with parental consent or 18 without parental consent.

Physical Requirements Because of the varying physical demands on service members in each branch, physical requirements vary greatly. These differences can vary even within each branch of the Service. Generally speaking, potential service members should be in good physical condition, of appropriate weight, and able to pass a standard physical screening prior to entry. For more specific information, please contact a recruiter.

Educational Requirements Success in any branch of the Military depends on a good education, and a high school diploma is most desirable. Candidates with a GED (General Education Development certificate) can enlist, but some Services may limit opportunities. It is very difficult to be considered a serious candidate without either a high school diploma or accepted alternative credential. In any case, staying in school is important for entering the Military.

Citizenship Requirements

U.S. citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens (people who have an INS I-151/I-551 “Green Card”) may join the U.S. Military. For more information about citizenship, visit the U.S. Immigration and Nationalization (INS) web site.

Noncitizens may enlist, but cannot re-enlist (extend their enlistment beyond their first term of service) unless they become naturalized U.S. citizens. However, after service of three years, additional residency requirements for citizenship can be waived. The Military does not assist in the immigration naturalization process.

For enlistment purposes, the United States includes Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

Citizens of certain countries may require a waiver to enlist. These include citizens of countries considered hostile to the interests of the United States. For more specific information on the current list of hostile countries, or for other specific questions, contact a recruiter.

Entry Process

Once an individual has talked to a recruiter and made a commitment to serve, he or she sets a date to visit a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to finish the enlistment process. The MEPS is a joint-Service organization that determines an applicant’s physical qualifications, aptitude and moral standards as set by each branch of Military Service. There are MEPS locations all over the country. Here are a few things a recruit should keep in mind for the visit:

 Bring a Social Security card, birth certificate and driver’s license  Remove piercings and do not wear clothing with obscene images  Bring glasses or wear contacts and bring along an eyeglass or contact lens case and solutions  Get a good night’s sleep and arrive early

Candidates officially complete the process of joining the Military once they meet all of the requirements at the MEPS. This process usually takes about two days. Food and lodging are usually provided for candidates.

Step 1: Pass the ASVAB.

With thousands of different jobs for enlisted personnel and officers, there’s a lot to do in the Military. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program can help young adults identify and explore potentially satisfying occupations and develop effective strategies to realize career goals.

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is one of the most widely used, multiple-aptitude tests in the world, developed and maintained by the Department of Defense. Over half of all high schools nationwide administer the ASVAB test to students in grades 10, 11, and 12 (sophomores cannot use their scores for enlistment eligibility). Students may also take the test at another school or through a recruiter and may retake the test at any time.

The ASVAB consists of the following eight individual tests.

 General Science  Arithmetic Reasoning  Word Knowledge  Paragraph Comprehension  Mathematics Knowledge  Electronics Information  Auto and Shop Information  Mechanical Comprehension

Students are provided with scores on each of these individual tests and three Career Exploration Score composites: Verbal Skills, Math Skills, and Science and Technical Skills. The battery takes approximately three hours to complete and test results are returned to schools in about two weeks. The Military uses students’ ASVAB scores to identify the occupations that best suit their abilities. Junior, senior, and postsecondary school students can use their ASVAB scores for enlistment for up to two years after taking the test.

Step 2: Pass the physical examination. Examinations include:

 Height and weight measurements  Hearing and vision examinations  Urine and blood tests  Drug and alcohol tests  Muscle group and joint maneuvers  Specialized test if required (pregnancy test for women, body fat percentage test for those who are overweight, tests relating to any unusual medical history)

Step 3: Determine a career. A few different factors contribute to career selection:

 Needs of the Service  Job availability  ASVAB score  Physical requirements (for example, a recruit needs normal color vision for some careers)  Recruit preference

For a list of career choices: http://www.todaysmilitary.com/careers/career-fields

Step 4: Take the oath of enlistment.

Step 5: Direct Ship – The recruit reports to Basic Training between two days and two months after completing MEPS testing requirements. (It varies based on job assignment and branch.) A recruiter will provide instructions on transportation to Basic Training at this time.

Delayed Entry Program (DEP) – The recruit commits to Basic Training at a time in the future, generally within one year. This is especially popular with recruits who enlist before completing high school. Recruits enrolled in DEP may return to their homes until the time comes to report for duty.

Boot Camp

Basic Training – often called boot camp – prepares recruits for all elements of Service: physical, mental, and emotional. It gives service members the basic tools necessary to perform the roles that will be asked of them for the duration of their tour. Each of the Services has its own training program, tailoring the curriculum to the specialized nature of its role in the Military. No matter which branch of the Service a recruit chooses, Basic Training is an intense experience. However, most people (up to 91 percent) who start boot camp complete it without problems. The purpose of this training isn’t to “break” recruits. In fact, the combination of physical training, field exercises, and classroom time makes individuals strong and capable. It’s a tough process, but a rewarding one that many service members value for life.

Army Air Force Basic Marine Corps Navy Recr Coast Guard Comb Recruit Boot uit Recruit at Training Camp Train Training Traini ing ng

Duration: Duration: Duration: Duration: Duration:

9 weeks 12 weeks 8 weeks 8.5 weeks 8 weeks

Locations: Locations: Locations: Locations: Locations:

Fort Benning Marine Corps Great Lakes Lackland Air Cape May Coast Fort Benning, Recruit Depot, Recruit Training Force Base Guard Training Georgia Parris Island Depot San Antonio, Center Parris Island, South Great Lakes, Texas Cape May, New Fort Jackson Carolina Illinois Jersey Columbia, South Carolina Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Fort Knox San Diego Louisville, San Diego, Kentucky California

Fort Leonard Wood Waynesville, Missouri

Fort Sill Lawton, Oklahoma

OTHER THINGS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH:

ROTC Founded in 1926, ROTC stands for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. It’s a college program offered at over 1000 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military. In exchange for a paid college education and a guaranteed post-college career, cadets commit to serve in the Military after graduation. Each Service branch has its own take on ROTC.

Officer Candidate School (OCS), known as Officer Training School (OTS) in the Air Force, is essentially the equivalent of enlisted Basic Training for those interested in becoming officers. There are three 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

While duration and type of training varies among the Services, all teach military subjects, leadership skills and physical training. The goal is to prepare recruits for the challenges of officer life, from managing others to understanding military culture and law. You can learn more about specific programs and classes by visiting the Service-specific websites listed in the table below.

Marine Corps Army Officer Navy Officer Air Force Officer Coast Guard Officer Officer Candidate Candidate School Candidate School Training School Candidate School School Duration: Duration: Duration: Duration: Duration: 12 weeks 12 weeks 12 weeks 13.5 weeks 17 weeks Rank upon Rank upon Rank upon Rank upon Rank upon Graduation: Graduation: Graduation: Graduation: Graduation: Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Ensign Second Lieutenant Ensign Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Fort Marine Corps Base Naval Station Maxwell-Gunter Air Coast Guard Benning Quantico Newport Force Base Academy Fort Benning, Ga. Quantico, Va. Newport, R.I. Montgomery, Ala. New London, Conn

Military Academies and Colleges: For students who would like to experience a military environment while getting a first-class education, the four Service academies – the U.S. Military Academy (Army) in West Point, N.Y.; the U.S. Naval Academy (Navy/Marine Corps) in Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force Academy (Air Force) in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Coast Guard) in New London, Conn. – offer an outstanding education and full four-year scholarships. Tuition, books, board, and medical and dental care are all fully paid for all four years. The competition to get in is fierce. Admissions criteria include:

 High school academic performance  Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)  Athletics and extracurricular activities  Leadership experience and community involvement  A congressional letter of recommendation (not required by the Coast Guard Academy)

Graduates of all four academies receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as officers in their respective Service branch. In all cases, there is a service obligation of a minimum of five years.

Benefits of joining the military

Top-notch training and career opportunities are just the beginning of the benefits that come with military service. In addition to base pay, service members receive full medical coverage, tuition support, and many discounts. Plus, military service members are some of the most well-traveled people on earth, crossing the globe for business and pleasure. So if you think benefits are only about the numbers on your paycheck, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Compensation- Explore options and get an idea of the kind of money you can make in a military career.

Tuition Support- Since the GI Bill was enacted during WWII, money for college has been an important part of military benefits.

Tuition Assistance: The rising cost of tuition can be hard to manage, but the Military’s Tuition Assistance Program pays for up to 100 percent of the cost of tuition or expenses, up to a maximum of $250 per credit and a personal maximum of $4,500 per fiscal year per student. This program is the same for full-time-duty members in all Military Services. Selected Reserve and National Guard units also offer Tuition Assistance Programs, although the benefits may vary from the Active Duty program.

Loan Repayment Programs: May be different for each military branch.

Training- Professional training – from class work to field exercises to digital simulators – is available for hundreds of military jobs, many with civilian equivalents.

World Travel- With installations all over the world, the Military provides many chances to explore new regions and cultures.

Discounts- From the stores on base to movie theaters and airlines, service members receive discounts on all kinds of products and services. http://www.todaysmilitary.com Rina Duggan