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Joining
Students should explore the basic criteria for entrance into any military branch: Age, physical condition, citizenship status and education level. A high school diploma or GED is required for most branches of the military.

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Information on the differences between Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard types of service in the Military.

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Enlisted service members attend the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). There, recruits receive a physical exam and take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which helps determine their career path. Finally, they take the oath of enlistment.

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High school students can take the ASVAB CEP test in grades 10, 11 and 12.

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Speaker 1: My name is Dennis Boston. I'm the test control officer here at the Boston MEPS. Every applicant entering into the Military has to take an ASVAB test, and chances are that's the first contact the applicant has had with the MEPS is coming to the testing section.

Speaker 2: My name is Chuck Shaw, and I'm the education services specialist here at the Boston MEPS. My goal is to market the ASVAB Career Exploration program out to the 419 schools that we have in our area. The ASVAB itself is similar to the standardized test in that it is timed. It is a set of timed tests. But it is, in fact, an aptitude test rather than an achievement test, and it measures potential to learn rather than what you've learned up until this point. What they're looking for is to match individuals in the Service with the right kind of occupations that's going to make them more efficient and provide the best person for the Service, and we're doing much the same thing with the career exploration.

Speaker 3: When I was looking at most of the jobs that were available with the scores that I got on my ASVABs, that would seem like a good job to go along with what I've learned.

Speaker 4: It is. It's a very interesting job. Okay, Mr. Wood, could I have you read each one of these statements? Print your name. "Yes" or "no" by each statement.

Speaker 1: The ultimate goal of the ASVAB is to get an AFQT score for that applicant. Each individual service will take that score, and they have criteria, which an applicant has to meet to qualify for a specific job.

Speaker 5: When you're done with that, you're going to click "next," and the test will begin. You have scratch paper. You have a piece of - you have a pencil. If you need any help or more paper at all, you're going to hit that red "help" button, then raise your hand, okay?

Speaker 2: When we take the program out in the schools, it isn't just to try and get everybody to enlist in the Services, that we're providing a product of Services that go well beyond that. That when we talk to the counselors and the administrators, a lot of them don't realize that the program is free.

Speaker 1: The test administrators that work here at the Boston MEPS Center are instructed to almost put the applicant at ease to try to get them to relax, to do the best that they can do on the particular test.

Speaker 2: We talk to them about work values, what's important to them, what they want to get in return from choosing a particular occupation. And then we bring that all together and then use that to help them plan their career and show them how to work with in terms of the money and the time that it's going to take to complete their education. I think the ASVAB program because of the aptitude element that we have with it is - it stands head and shoulders above most of the other stuff that I've seen out there.

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MEPS: Taking the ASVAB, Finding a Career

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Speaker 1: My name is Dennis Boston. I'm the test control officer here at the Boston MEPS. Every applicant entering into the Military has to take an ASVAB test, and chances are that's the first contact the applicant has had with the MEPS is coming to the testing section.

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Many students are not prepared to enter the workforce directly after graduation. Some students would prefer to obtain training specific for a particular career.
Technical schools offer specialized training for workforce development. Student can choose many different schools and specialties.

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Some of the highly specialized trades require students to pass a certification test prior to working in the field. Example: electrician,

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Vocational schools award associate degrees, diplomas and or certificates.

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Offer two-year degrees and are an affordable option for beginning the college journey.
For students who would like to stay close to home or explore degree options, community college is a good choice.

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Many high school students begin working or completing internships while still enrolled in high school.
Entering the workforce after high school is an option for many students who are motivated to begin earning an income right away and are not considering other options.

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Why you should be considering a Gap Year.

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There are gap year programs that can help students to find opportunities for volunteering at home or abroad. Using the gap year to volunteer if it is financially feasible can provide a student with valuable insights and experiences.

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Many students take the gap year to travel without having the time restriction of work or class. Travelling can also be expensive so students should take this into consideration when choosing to take a gap year to travel. Many students may need to work in a

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Community colleges often have partnerships with 4year colleges to accept credits and transfer easily into these programs after completion of the 2 year degree at the community college.
Students should inquire about the specifics of each program offered at the school.
Community college allows the student to stay at home and avoid the housing costs while still continuing education. Many students feel more comfortable starting at the community college and then moving to a four year degree school after taking time to think about their specific programs.

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There are jobs available for students who have earned a high school diploma.
Websites such as careerbuilder.com can help students to build a resume, narrow and search for job opportunities.

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Financial aid is also available for students who attend technical schools. Each school has an enrollment specialist that can help students with this process.

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Students who work after high school can attend school later and have more money available to pay for their education.
Having a job can teach responsibility and a give valuable experience. Students may love their job or find that it isn't what they thought it would be.