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How much training do you need to be in the military?

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Melissa’s Answer

Depends.

If you enlist in the military, none. Enlisted members of the services attend eight plus weeks of training, length depends on the branch of service, where you’ll learn to work as a team, learn the importance of attention to detail, and run through various physical and mental exercises meant to teach and prepare you for necessary combat skills. After you’ve successfully completed the first let if your training, you’ll attend a technical school where the military will teach you the skills to perform whatever career field you’ll end up in. Some people wait for a specific job while some take whatever is available at the time of enlistment, but either way jobs are based off military need. After that, you’ll head to your first duty station likely, or more additional training, where you’ll spend your career continuing your education, with both formal and informal training.

If you choose to become an officer however, you’ll need at least a bachelors degree, although you’re not guaranteed to end up in the same career field in the military. If you choose this route, when you first commission, you’ll attend an officer training program, similar to enlisted basic training, and a technical training school for whatever your career field may be. Again, officers continue their education through leadership courses and attending war college, amongst other things.

However, no matter if you choose to enlist or become an officer, both physical and mental training is the most important thing. Physically you’ll need to be able to endure some tough things, so a healthy physique is a necessity. But more importantly, mental training, being as prepared as you can be for what you may encounter and endure.

Melissa recommends the following next steps:

Talk to a recruiter (make sure to find someone you feel confident in)
Find and talk to a veteran, the closer in age to you, the better
Talk to your family or someone close who really knows and understands you, they might ask a question or say give you good insight while deciding
If becoming an officer sounds like the better option for you and you haven’t completed a degree, look into different programs, and look into ROTC.
Continue asking, researching, and preparing
Thank you comment icon Good answer! Dwight Mathers
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Mitchell’s Answer

One of the beautiful things about the military is that they will train you as if you have never touched your perspective trade. I do IT work, and they started my school with how to use Windows: web browsing and word processing and the like. I have friends in aviation that were the same way. They made them into mechanics or pilots or whatever else. If you're trying to join as a commissioned officer, a bachelor's degree is required, but even then, what you do as an officer will be drilled into you before you jump into service. They don't just tell people "okay, go lead a group of people, good luck." They set you up for success as best as they can, even if you know nothing about your future role.

Just make sure you pick a job that you find interesting and can picture yourself doing for 14 hours a day, because you will be at some point.
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John’s Answer

Before joining, none. After, it depends on what you want to get out of it. I have spent most of my navy career in schools. Like Mitchell, I am a Information Systems Technician and I deal mainly with tactical and mobile communications. Maintaining relevance in our community is difficult since the field of technology is constantly changing. To get the most out of our jobs and the military, it makes the most sense for us to self education, seek higher education, and attain certifications and qualifications.
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