Do You Enlist Before Or After Boot Camp?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Good to know:

By enlisting, you are contractually obligated to complete boot camp and serve

. However, if you find that you are incompatible with serving, you can receive an administrative discharge.

Can you go to bootcamp without enlisting?

Civilians cannot participate in the same training completed by recruits during boot camp.

The only way to receive military training without joining is to enroll in a private military training course

. There is a wide range of training courses available.

How long after I enlist Will I go to bootcamp?

It depends on the job and how many openings it has. MOS with high volume of soldiers may take a couple months before you actually ship off. But the average time from what I've heard is

1–6 months

. Note also, try to enlist twards the beginning of the fiscal years, that when more jobs open up.

Do you go straight to bootcamp after MEPS?

Some people will go into their branch's delayed entry program (DEP) and go home after MEPS to wait until their ship-out date.

Others will embark to basic training immediately after MEPS

. Remember, you have not joined the military before going to MEPS, but by the end of it, you will be asked to.

How do you enlist?

  1. Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) …
  2. Pass the Physical Examination. …
  3. Meet With a MEPS Career Counselor and Determine a Career. …
  4. Take the Oath of (swearing in) …
  5. Becoming a Noncommissioned Officer. …
  6. Transitioning from Enlisted to Officer.

How long does it take to enlist?


Most Army jobs require a minimum enlistment period of four years

, and some Army jobs require a minimum enlistment period of five years.

Do you go to MEPS before bootcamp?

Some of the military branches will ask you to head to basic training after you have completed MEPS. Your recruiter will prepare you for this process.

Other branches will have you go through MEPS first and then wait until the date you ship to go to basic training or boot camp

.

Do you get paid for basic training?

Do You Get Paid for Basic Training?

Yes

. You'll be glad to hear you're at least getting paid to struggle through challenges that will shape you into a soldier. During the in-processing of Week Zero, the Army will establish your military pay records and scale.

Do you go home after basic training?

Do Soldiers come home after basic training?

Soldiers are not often given time to go home after basic training

. Check-in for AIT School is most often the day after graduation, if not the same day.

What percent of recruits fail basic training?

​Yes, it is possible to fail basic training. You could go through the trouble of leaving your home, job, family and friends and come back a failure. In fact, this happens to about

15%

of recruits who join the military every year.

How much does boot camp cost?

Full Time Part Time All Programs

$13,500


$7,500
Bootcamp Short Courses (1-8 weeks) $8,500 $4,750 Immersive Bootcamps (9-16 weeks) $13,500 $6,250 Longer Bootcamps (17+ weeks) $17,780 $8,800

How long is basic training?

Basic Combat Training comes in three phases and lasts

about ten weeks

, depending on your military occupational specialty (MOS). After you graduate from basic training, you will undergo two additional phases of training, known as Advanced Individual Training, where you will learn the job skills required of your MOS.

How do I enlist in the military?

If you decide to enlist, you will

report to a military entrance processing station (MEPS)

. You'll spend a day or two completing pre-enlistment steps. These include taking the ASVAB, having a physical exam, meeting with a career counselor, and if you're accepted, taking the oath of enlistment.

What can disqualify you from MEPS?

  • Abdominal Organs and Gastrointestinal System. The following conditions may disqualify you from : …
  • Blood and Blood-Forming Tissue Diseases. …
  • Dental. …
  • Ears. …
  • Hearing. …
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders. …
  • Upper Extremities. …
  • Lower extremities.

How do I pay my bills while in basic training?

How old can you be to enlist?

The federal law that can be manipulated in a case by case basis states that the minimum age for enlistment in the United States military is

17 (with parental consent) and 18 (without parental consent)

. The maximum age is 35.

What happens after boot camp?

After boot camp,

there is a graduation ceremony open to visitors

. There are a couple of days leading up to the graduation ceremony where new Marines have the opportunity to spend time with their family. Once graduation is over, Marines may take ten days of leave with one travel day.

Can I join the army at 16?


The minimum age for enlisting in the UK armed forces is 16

. The UK is the only country in Europe which routinely recruits people aged under 18. Those who sign on when 16 or 17 must serve until they are 22.

What should I wear to MEPS?

A few general tips and rules for MEPS: Wear

conservative, comfortable clothing

. No offensive writing on t-shirts, no sagging pants, no open-toed shoes, tank tops, halter tops, bare midriffs. Make sure you wear underwear.

Do you have to be 18 to go to MEPS?

Military and service academy

minimum entrance age requirements are 17 with parental consent or 18 without parental consent

.

Can you back out after swearing in at MEPS?

If you have NOT been to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) and have NOT taken an Oath of Enlistment,

you are free to quit the process at any time

. Just because you arrive at MEPS does not mean you are fully committed with no chance of deciding not to commit after all.

Does your recruiter go with you to MEPS?


Once you have talked to a recruiter, you'll set a date to visit a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to finish the enlistment process

.

What happens the 2nd time at MEPS?

The first trip is for initial qualification determination, and enlisting in the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP). The second trip is for actually

enlisting on active duty and shipping off to basic training

.

Which bootcamp is the easiest?

  • The Navy has Boot Camp, which lasts for 8 weeks. …
  • The Marine Corps has Recruit Training, which spans 12 weeks. …
  • The Air Force has Basic Military Training, which takes 8.5 weeks. …
  • The Coast Guard has Recruit Training, which lasts for 8.5 weeks.

How do you survive in boot camp?
  1. Run, run, run. The better shape you are in, the easier boot camp will be. …
  2. Bring your game face. Get up for it. …
  3. Check your attitude. …
  4. Take care of your wingman. …
  5. It's only temporary. …
  6. Know your benefits. …
  7. Study early. …
  8. Run with the pack.

Do you get paid in boot camp Army?


If you arrive at basic training before the 10th of the month, you'll get paid on the 15th

. If you arrive after the 10th of the month, you won't see your first paycheck until the 1st of the following month, but it will include all pay you're entitled to, as of that date.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.