Service Branches

Army

The Army is a powerful fighting force defending and serving our nation by land, sea and air. Elite groups within the Army, such as the Army Rangers and Special Forces, receive specialized training for advanced combat situations.

In addition to domestic bases, the Army has permanent stations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa as well as troops on the ground wherever there is a conflict. Length of individual service commitment varies, and in some cases may be as little as two years.

Learn more: Army

Strength and Camaraderie in the U.S. Army

Soldiers in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division show why working as a unit is essential to mission success.

Length 0:59 View Transcript

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Speaker 1: The way I motivate my soldiers out here at EIB is I continue to work with them, I ensure that they're getting the training that they need, and I continue to do the training with them and ensure that they're ready and prepared to execute all tasks and good to go. In my eyes, a good leader is not only a working leader and leads by example but motivates their Soldiers and continues to go through everything with them.

Speaker 2: Being a part of my EIB squad - it helps make this experience better because we're all mixed and matched. Yeah, we're all from the same company but we're all different in ranks. We have lieutenants, we have sergeants, we have a corporal, we have a specialist, and we have a good amount of privates. But, among all of the ranks in our squad we all have our own strengths and weaknesses and no matter the rank we all make sure that we are all doing well in everything  and we focus on each other's weaknesses and we go to others for their strengths to help us with our own weaknesses. 

Before Serving in the Army

To enlist in the Army, you must be between 18 and 35 years old (17 with parental consent). You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. A high school diploma is preferred, but a high school equivalent such as the GED may be accepted. You must also take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and a physical fitness exam. Some jobs may have additional requirements.

To serve in the Army, recruits must complete 10 weeks of Basic Training, commonly known as boot camp. Eligible college students can participate in their school's ROTC program or attend a military academy to join the Army as officers after graduation.

Sergeant First Class Keith Russell
Sergeant First Class | Keith Russell Army

Army Careers

The Army offers more than 200 career employment opportunities across various disciplines, including aviation, cyber, information technology, health care, aircraft maintenance and Special Forces. No matter your specialty, you'll receive top-notch training and the experience to handle whatever future career opportunities come your way. Find out which full-time Army opportunities are right for you or get information about part-time service in the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard.

Army Benefits

A competitive salary is just one of the employment benefits of Army service. All Soldiers receive health care, housing and food allowances, as well as educational opportunities. The Blended Retirement System offers guaranteed retirement pay after 20 years of active-duty service (and reaching age 60 for Guard and Reserve) in the form of a monthly pension or lump sum in addition to retirement pay options for those who serve less than 20 years (please speak to your recruiter for more information).

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Types of Military Service

The U.S. Military consists of six active-duty Service branches and their respective Guard and Reserve components. Together, they offer a broad variety of ways to serve.