Today’s Army and armed services are putting greater emphasis on the individual soldier and their development. The expanded Post 9-11 GI Bill and the expansion of dependant benefits ensures that our veterans are being taken care of. For those servicemen and women who have already served their country, there are more benefits available for those who want to embark on a second Army career.

There are many reasons why a veteran would want to begin a second tour of duty. Many miss the camaraderie and discipline of their fellow soldiers, or the clear purpose and meaningful missions that define armed service. Whatever the reason, there are now even more incentives to help ease veterans back into service.

Prior Service

The foundation what a veteran can offer the United States is their prior service record and experience. The Army appreciates that experience without the need for basic training and having to instill basic values. In return, every year of prior service counts towards determining benefits and retirement options for returning veterans. All applicable awards and certifications are still in effect. There are very few penalties for the time out of the service; it is easy for nearly all returning veterans to pick up their careers where they left them.

Enlistment Incentives

For highly desired positions and MOS’s, sign up bonuses for veterans can reach six figures. The Army is very serious about compensating veterans who will bring their wealth of military and civilian experience back into service for their country.

Veterans returning the armed service can utilize their past experiences to help their country once again and be justly compensated.

After leaving active duty, many former servicemen and women begin to miss something in their lives. The feeling of discipline, camaraderie and purpose can sometimes be lost in the civilian world after years of service to one’s country and fellow countrymen. Those with prior military experience often consider re-enlisting to continue their military careers.

Today, there are many open MOS’s and a need for experienced soldiers to rejoin the service to keep America’s Army in top condition. In order to ease the transition back into active service, there are a number of incentives that the military provides for returning veterans.

Deployment Flexibility

Veterans have the opportunity to rejoin the military in any service branch they choose; they are not restricted to the same branch they were discharged from. This flexibility allows an even greater chance to learn new skills, receive training, and apply new and old experiences to a military and civilian career. Of course, an Army tank driver might find it difficult to apply those skills in the Navy, but most MOS’s are compatible.

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Eased Entry Requirements

Each reenlistment situation is different, but in general, most returning veterans will skip basic training. Special training camps and programs will still be required if applicable. The ASVAB and physical screening are typically mandatory for the second stint, but they should not be a problem the second time around. Best of all, every year of prior service is retained when determining benefits, and pay grades are usually retained as well.

With fast-tracked reenlistment procedures and operational flexibility, starting on a second military career is as easy today as it ever has been.

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Service in the United States armed forces requires great sacrifice from every single enlisted person and officer. Many people forget that behind every person serving their country, there is a family back home that is shouldering a burden too. The military never forgets about military family, they are provided with a host of benefits in order to keep America’s most important families intact.

Relocation, Separation, And Dependant Benefits

In addition to the benefits that all servicemen and women receive, relocation benefits are also provided to move entire families to match duty assignments. Healthcare and health insurance is made available to each family member in addition to life insurance to cover expenses in case the unfortunate ever occurs. Under the latest amendment to the GI Bill, spouses and dependants of active duty personnel with 10 years of service are eligible for the same education benefits, including complete tuition reimbursement for a four year state college.

When a family cannot move with their soldier, a separation allowance provides a safety net for the entire family.

Base Amenities

In order to make each deployment feel a little more like home, there are a number of services and amenities available on base to service personnel and their families. Sports teams and fitness plans are organized for spouses and children as well as discounted entertainment vouchers and travel planning. Financial services, tax preparation, and legal services help families keep their personal matters in order.

Overall, the Army wants to provide the same level of support for families as they do for every soldier who serves.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the first opportunity for recruits to show how qualified they are for service to their country. This aptitude test is the first hurdle that will try applicants in their Army career.

The ASVAB is not just a multiple choice test. Being successful in this task is a good display of how well a recruit will perform as an enlisted Army man or woman. The key to the ASVAB is preparation, discipline, and determination. Notice how these are the same requirements for success in the armed services in general.

Study Smarter

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Cramming for a test might have worked sometimes in high school, but it won’t work in the military. Preparation and time management are the key to ASVAB excellence. Laying out a study timeline is the only way to explore each of the four sections of the ASVAB in sufficient detail.

Practice Will Definitely Make Perfect

It might be an old cliché, but practice is the only way to get better at the ASVAB. There are a number of free sample tests as well as online resources and study guides. Taking the time to go through as many sample tests as possible is the best way to ace the exam.

Start by taking a practice exam slowly to learn all the details about how the exam is structured. Then, work up to simulating a real test environment by sticking to the same time constraints as the real thing. When the day comes, make sure to get plenty of sleep and have a nutritious breakfast. Excellence in the ASVAB is the first step to Army excellence.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the qualification exam that every recruit will have to take in order to successfully enlist in the United States Army or any branch of service. Every enlisted man and women will have to pass this hurdle in order to prove they are qualified to serve in the United States armed services.

Scoring well on the ASVAB is about more than just passing in order to satisfy a requirement. Aptitude scores are a measure of how a recruit will do in their military career. The ASVAB score is factored in to signing bonuses and which MOS’s are available for each recruit. It is important to score as high as possible on the ASVAB in order to start one’s Army career on the right path.

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Answer Every Question

There is no penalty for an incorrect answer. Therefore, there is no reason to leave a question blank. It is best to make an educated guess on a question, as every point scored helps the final grade.

Don’t Be Afraid To Skip A Question

However, do not take too much time to answer one question. Spending five minutes staring at the same problem is a waste of valuable test time and the right answer is not going to just pop out.

Eliminate False Choices

Every ASVAB question is multiple choice with four possible answers. Most of the problems will have 1 or 2 choices that can be eliminated as the wrong answer. By eliminating two wrong choices, the chance to get the right answer is 50-50. This technique can often turn difficult problems into manageable one.

These three tips will help in answering any and all ASVAB test questions.

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The original GI Bill, passed in 1944, was designed to provide educational opportunities to the veterans who had served their country through the difficult years of World War II. Today, the men and women of the Army and armed services have a similar opportunity with the Post 9-11 GI Bill, also known as Chapter 33.

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Education Benefits

The new GI Bill package includes a generous complete tuition benefit to attend any four year public college in the state of enlistment. This provision can be worth over $13,000 alone and is one of the largest benefits offered to veterans in the history of the United States Army. In addition, if a veteran desires to attend a more expensive private school, the Bill will also share the extra expense 1 to 1 with the veteran. A monthly living stipend, dependant on the current cost of living, is provided to help the veteran pay their bills and stay in school, in addition to an annual stipend to cover books and fees. Finally, the old program enrollment fee of the GI Bill is completely waived.

Who Is Eligible

These unbelievable benefits are offered to any serviceman or woman who has completed 36 months of duty since September 11^th, 2001. A program applicant must already have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Best of all, after a total of 10 years of service, these benefits also extend to a veterans spouse and children.

Today’s military is dedicated to furthering the education of every one of its brave soldiers.

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Basic training is no walk in the park. Preparing for the training and conditioning that every recruit will undergo is key to getting the most out of those first weeks as an enlisted soldier. Both the mind and the body need to be prepped in anticipation of basic training.

Physical Conditioning

The focus of basic training is to build endurance and get the body used to long duration activity. Muscle strength and pure mass are not needed and can often be detrimental. A good exercise regimen would have a strong emphasis on cardiovascular activities such as jogging and strength training in the form of push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups, rather than free or stacked weights. An advanced workout would add in long distance marches while carrying a third of one’s body weight.

The goal here is to be able to run two miles in under 14 minutes and be able to perform 50 sit-ups and push-ups consecutively. This will give a recruit a jump-start on basic training and lay the foundation for further improvement and strengthening.

Preparing The Mind

The hardest adjustment to life in basic training is giving up all the luxuries of civilian life. Get used to living without your music system, computer, and cell phone by voluntarily putting them away as often as possible in the weeks leading up to basic training. Use the extra time to focus on getting your affairs in order, such as bill payments and relationships with friend and families.

By preparing the mind and body to enter Army basic training, each recruit will be in the best position to learn the most from their experiences.

The US Coast Guard is now run by the Department of Homeland Defense, and for good reason. The waterways and coastal areas of America are its longest frontier. Terrorists and criminals often attempt to gain entry to the country through its many ports and harbors. Defending the US’s coastal territory is one of today’s most important roles in the Army.

Protecting Borders

Over 1.3 billion tons of cargo is shipped into US ports every year. Terrorists and criminals often see this figure as a possible avenue to deliver weapons and chemical or biological agents onto American soil. Accordingly, the US Coast Guard is tasked with conducting naval ship inspections to prevent the delivery of such illegal and harmful cargo.

Other criminals think they can harm the US by disrupting the flow of trade into and out of the country. Much of the country’s oil supply, consumer goods, and food products have to come through its harbors. The Coast Guard often plays a police role for the US’s vital seaborne resources.

Saving Lives

Stopping weapons and drugs from ever entering the country saves lives every year. Each illegal weapon or drug that is stopped from ever hitting the streets is another life saved from violence and drugs. The Coast Guard also specializes in search and rescue missions to provide security and peace of mind to American citizens who make a living on the waterways.

The Coast Guard is an even more important aspect of the US military in today’s world. Just as the Army protects American interests abroad, the Coast Guard is often the first line of domestic defense.

As the times change, so does the armed forces. The tactics and thinking from World War II, the lessons learned from Vietnam, and the strategies of the Cold War have all pushed innovation in Army practices, operations, and disposition.

A “Smaller” Army

The days of multi-million man armies, divisions stationed on hundreds of miles of frontier, and massive wars of maneuver are long gone and might never return. The size of a standard unit is getting smaller to allow more flexibility to meet today’s challenges. Modular brigades designed to be self sufficient in small numbers have replaced the 20,000-man division with the attached support structure. Today’s conflicts in urban environments and asymmetric wars have put the emphasis back on the individual and their fighting spirit.

Fighting Smarter, Not Harder

Today’s battlefields reward agility, flexibility, and mobility rather than a rigid application of massive firepower. With battles being fought in cities surrounded by civilians against an enemy that hides among those civilians, a bigger gun is often the wrong answer. The intelligent application of power and good decision making by soldiers on the ground is now the driving force behind the Army’s effectiveness. 

These changes in the Army are why the individual soldier is more important today than ever before. The slogan, ‘An Army Of One,’ has never been more applicable. This focus on the individual is one of the many reasons why an Army career is so attractive. Soldiers grow in their skills, abilities, and faculties while serving their country.

Each branch of the military is unique; the opportunities present in each appeal to a wide array of American citizens. Those branches, the US Army, the US Navy, the US Air Force, the US Marine Corps, and the US Coast Guard, are all vital to protecting America and building the individual character of every enlisted person.

US Army

The Army is responsible for ground operations and is comprised of active duty and National Guard units. Active duty personnel are deployed worldwide to protect American interests, performing the duties set forth by the federal government. The National Guard is also responsible for many domestic responsibilities, including disaster relief and humanitarian efforts.

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US Navy

The Navy boasts a long and rich tradition in the history of the United States. Covering all sea-borne operations, the Navy utilizes active and reserve units to carry out their missions. Those serving in the Navy often find themselves at the cutting edge of technology projecting the US’s influence in their own floating technological marvels.

US Air Force

The newest branch of service, The Air Force, dates back to the early days of aviation during the conflict of World War I. Utilizing the country’s vast and impressive airborne resources, the Air Force protects Americans by projecting power through the entire globe.

US Marine Corps

The Marine Corps is often called on to tackle the toughest situations that the United States faces. Diverse in training and rugged under stress, the Marines specialize in unique missions and extraordinary circumstances.

US Coast Guard

With the war against terrorism, the Coast Guard has found new roles and duties in today’s world. Protecting America’s vast waterways and coastal borders, the Coast Guard carries out such vital missions as search and rescue, legal enforcement of borders, and ship inspections in the fight against terrorism.

Now all you have to decide is which branch best reflects your desire to serve.

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