Military Workers, Enlisted

You will need to do a fair amount of exploring to determine what job you would like to have as well as what branch of the military suits you. Consider any family members or family friends who have served in the military a valuable resource. Ask them about their experiences, what they liked best about the military life and what they liked least. Talk to recruiters from several branches to learn about what each has to offer you.

Attend events that are open to the public, such as air shows, where you may also have the opportunity to talk to those in the service, and visit the Web sites of each branch. Think about what job you would like to have in the civilian workplace and find out the requirements for that position. Then determine if a similar job exists in the military and ask recruiters about the probability of getting such work. After all, if you want to be an aircraft mechanic but you end up working in food service, you may be very dissatisfied for a number of years. Researching before you join is one of the primary ingredients to success in this field.