Joining The United States Navy

Are you planning a military career after high school but you don’t know which branch of the military to serve in? Consider the United States Navy, they have a well structured program that can provide you a great career while serving for your country. To sign up for the Navy, you must be no younger than 17 years old, if you are 17 then you must have a parents signature. You cannot be older than 34 years old. If you choose you can be in the Navy Reserve, you have to be 18 to 39 years old to sign up.

You must be a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident alien or a United States Non Citizen National and you must have a Social Security Card. You must also have a High School Diploma and you must complete and pass the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery or the ASVAB test with a score of 50. You don’t necessarily have to have English as your first language but you have to be very proficient in reading, speaking, writing and an understanding of English.

There is a physical exam that you must pass to enlist; the test will be screened by the doctors at the Military Entrance Processing Station or MEPS. You must meet the height and weight requirements. Your past medical history will also come into play too. You cannot be under restraints such as probation, parole or incarceration. You may not have any types of pattern of minor convictions or any felony convictions. You will be drug tested and you cannot have any substance abuse that includes alcohol, drugs or prescription drugs. The Navy has a ZERO tolerance when it comes to drug use.

You will be paid by the Navy on a weekly basis. On the Navy website there is a 2010 Basic Enlisted Military Pay Chart which offers you a view from the Pay Grade to how many years that you have in the service. There are so many great benefits to joining the Navy. You receive 10 Paid Holidays a Year and in most civilian jobs you can receive 10 days a year of vacation but in the Navy, you can receive 30 days.

There are education perks and retirement perks as well. There are so many great career choices for those you sign up for the Navy. You should talk to a Navy Recruiter and find out everything that you can about all of the requirements and what the Navy can do for your son or daughter. You as parents should reservations about sending your child to the military but if you go with your child to the recruiter and get all of the information that your child may not otherwise think to ask. Make sure that you ask your child to take their time and make sure that this is the career choice that they want to pursue. It is an important decision that can change your child’s life.