Making A Career Out of the US Military

West Point is an educational institution that is designed to provide training and education to cadets who are eligible to be commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army after they graduate. A cadet should devote 8 years-5 on active duty and 3 to the Reserved Forces if you opt not to pursue active duty. While a West point graduate can choose to be commissioned to a service of their choice, they can also look forward to other careers after military school.

One of the primary options for a graduate is to join the U.S. Army as an officer in one of its branches. The selection should be done during the fourth year. The graduate can opt for commissioning in the combat arms branch like the Infantry, Armor, Air Defense Artillery, Field Artillery, and Aviation or Combat Engineers. Likewise, they can join in one of the combat support branches such as Chemical or Military Intelligence, Military Police, or Signal.

In addition, a West Point graduate can also enter combat service support branches as a Quartermaster, Adjutant General, Finance, Ordnance, or Transportation. There are also careers waiting for them in the Medical Service Corps or Judge Advocate General Corps. Depending on their skills, the graduate can look forward to being promoted to positions offering bigger responsibilities.

After being commissioned as an officer, a West Point graduate can have an opportunity to lead the male and female personnel of the United States Army. They can be in charge of the front line personnel or work in the support personnel. The official website of the U.S. Army provides a thorough explanation of these services.

West Point has the reputation of having recorded the highest acceptance rate in any educational institution in the United States. Since 9/11, West Point has an acceptance rate of 85%, which is higher than Harvard or Princeton. This is a reflection of how serious and knowledgeable applicants  of West Point are.

Service to the country can be an attractive career to venture into. It gives you an opportunity to fight the opponents of the country as well as of humanity. Here we will look at the attractions of venturing into a career in the US military.

To be eligible for admission in the armed forces, you should be at least 17 years old and with prior consent of your parents or guardian. Your ticket to a career in the Armed Forces is through the Delayed Entry Program. You are given an option to take part in local activities sponsored by the military such as sports or competitions spearheaded by recruiters or military liaisons.

To recruit prospective members, the military targets high school and college students aged 18 and 28 years old. On-campus military recruiters offer competitive entry-level salaries. Regardless of color or race, every applicant is given similar salaries and opportunities for growth.

In order to become a member of any service branch of the military, all you need is courage and determination. As far as promotions and salary increase is concerned, military service has a wide range of opportunities. You can also look forward to other benefits offered by authorities.

At the moment, the United States ranks as the second largest military in the world next to China. American troops are located all across the globe. In the early part of 2007, the Secretary of Defense made a proposal to the President to boost its staff strength by 92,000 troops within in a period of five years. The budget allocation for the US military ranks as the highest in any country in the world.

The US armed forces is one of the most disciplined military in the world. Its multi-faceted work structure provides members with an opportunity to improve their lifestyle as well as their families.  The armed forces is made up of five branches of service - Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. These branches of service are part of the Uniformed Services and serves under the President who is the commander-in-chief.

With the exception of the Coast Guard, all branches are integrated in the Department of Defense headed by a civilian Secretary. The United States Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security. All members of the United States Armed Forces have corresponding ranks, either as an officer or enlisted personnel. Exemplary performance can merit a promotion. 

At the moment, the US Armed Forces has over 1,426,000 members doing active duty with and additional manpower of over 1,259,000 serving in the seven reserves. Women are exempted from combat duties but they can hold non-combat positions or duties.

Aside from going to combat, serving in the military likewise offers other ground duties in the field of logistics, administration, engineering, medical, transportation, public relations, and so on.  Aside from that, the demand is huge for the aspirants to join in their preferred branch of service.

Previous members of the military are now well settled in their life even after they are no longer in active duty. The benefits that the US military offers can be enticing enough for any aspirant to pursue a career in the Armed Forces. You can put a greater meaning to service with pride and dignity by enlisting in the service branch of your choice.