Guide to Joining the Military

by Ostrow, Scott A.; Arco Publishing

• ISBN13: 9780764561894
• ISBN10: 0764561898
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Arco Pub

Summary

As a military insider, Maj. Ostrow of the United States Air Force Recruiting Center has access to behind-the-scenes information about joining the military. In this candid, tell-it-like-it-is book, he outlines the enlistment process from beginning to end, effectively eliminating confusion and misconceptions about what military life is really like.

Table of Contents

A Note to Parents	iii
Acknowledgments	v
Introduction	ix
Your first meeting with a recruiter: Facing the best-trained salesperson on the face of the earth	1	(42)
In this chapter you will learn about military recruiters, their training, their tactics and their procedures. You'll also learn what a recruiter can and cannot promise you.
Getting the facts together: Should I, or shouldn't I?	43	(8)
This chapter will discuss the factors that must be considered in order to make an informed decision on whether or not to join the military. It will include a needs assessment to determine whether or not the military can fulfill your needs.
Preparing for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Exam: Yikes! Did you say exam? Do I need to know math?	51	(8)
This Chapter will not prepare you for the ASVAB; however, it is a general overview of the exam and its parts and contains some helpful hints.
The Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS): Don't these people ever smile?	59	(22)
Perhaps the most traumatic---and memorable---experience in the entire enlistment process is the applicant's first trip to the MEPS. This chapter will outline the purpose of the MEPS and reassure you that it is not an indicator of what life in the military is like.
Congratulations! You've enlisted: Staying out of trouble until you're off to Basic Training	81	(10)
Many, if not most, applicants wind up in a Delayed Entry Program (DEP). In this status, the applicant has already been sworn in and is awaiting his or her ``ship date'' to Basic Training. The enlistee can remain in DEP status for up to a year. A lot can happen between the day you swear in and the day you ship. This chapter will discuss things to avoid as well as keeping in shape and keeping the recruiter informed.
Basic Training and beyond: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man or a woman healthy, stealthy and spry	91	(60)
This chapter will outline the Basic Training of each military branch. Sample schedules are included as well as some basic advice for getting through the hell that is boot camp.
Appendix A. Military Occupations	151	(48)
Appendix B. Pay and Benefits	199	(10)
Appendix C. Opportunities in the Guard and the Reserve	209	(6)
Appendix D. Educational Benefits	215	(10)
Appendix E. Contacts	225	(6)
Appendix F. Other Useful Information	231	(4)
Appendix G. Forms	235