loading
Philip loading
loading
Why does Arianne always break into a jig after making shrimp and grits?
‘Cause she just cannot resist a little “shell-ebration”!
loading

The Best of Both Worlds

When Isaac's Guard unit was called upon to help his community during the coronavirus, he appreciated making a meaningful impact in a role that gives him training and certifications that also benefit him in his civilian life.

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

Everyone in the Military is superhuman

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“The Military is made up of everyday people who are going out there and just want to do something bigger than themselves.”

loading

Quiz

Tuition Assistance for service members covers up to _____ of expenses for courses taken at accredited institutions.

25%
100%
50%
95%

If you’re looking for a quality education that is both affordable and accessible, the Military’s got you covered.

Chanel may love space, but caring for all her house plants keeps her grounded.
Phillip loading
alexis loading
loading
loading

A Day at MEPS

A Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is where applicants go to finish the enlistment process. And this 👆is just a glance at what you’ll do during a visit.  

loading
What did the acorn say when it grew up? Geometry (“Gee-I’m-a-tree”)!
As a full-time teacher and math tutor, Emily loves a good math joke.
loading

Poll

Which aspect of military service appeals to you the most?

Choices

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

The Military has no work-life balance

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“The Military gives you plenty of opportunities to have a normal life — to balance your family life and take vacations each year.”

loading
loading

Quiz

True or false: There are photographers, musicians and chefs working in the Military.

TRUE
FALSE

Fact: Each Service offers a surprising range of professional opportunities. Yes, that includes being a chef!

DYK you can be a multiple launch rocket system crewmember and still have time to pursue a degree in exercise science, just like Jada?
loading
loading

Strength in Diversity

Not FOMO energy, YOLO energy — and everyone’s in it together. That’s life in the Military, where teamwork and diverse backgrounds are essential.

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

You won’t make it through Basic Training

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“People think it’s so hard and that they couldn’t make it through Basic Training. Anybody can make it through Basic if they want to do it.”

Fast-Track to the Future

When Isaac was in boot camp, he encountered people in a role he didn't know existed: physician's assistant (PA). The experience motivated him to explore the PA path when he returned to school.

Quiz

Which of these Services are a part of the Military?

Army
Marine Corps
Navy
Air Force
Space Force
Coast Guard
All of the above

No matter what your personal or professional ambitions are, there’s a Service branch for you.

loading

Cutting-Edge Careers

If you're looking to be at the forefront of tech, the Military's cyberdefense teams are using tomorrow's technologies today!

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

There’s no diversity of thought in the Military

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“I would say the greatest misconception people have about the Military is that there’s no intellectual stimulation ... and that’s patently false. I have never faced a greater mental challenge. I’ve never faced more growth, mentally, than I have now.”

DYK? Creating IRL comedy videos in New York City made Anthony into a bit of a social media star.
loading

Quiz

True or false: Military training can count for credits at many colleges and universities.

True
False

It's true! Get yourself a head start on those college credits with training and credentialing offered in the Military. 

Sidney loading
Dejanai loading
Juntranek has always been someone who aims high (she graduated high school a year early). Eager to stay on the fast track to success, she joined the Air Force Reserve (where things go fast, literally).
Prospective loading

Military Word of the Day: ASVAB

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a test that measures your strengths and potential military success. Sure, it's "just" a test, but it's also so much more. It's a big step toward discovering the right fit for YOU in the Military.

loading
loading
Jada loading

Growing in Confidence

Learning new things about herself — like how to be confident in who she is and helping others to be the same, is one of the many reasons Jada is glad she joined the Military. 

View More
loading
Serving part time in the Guard gives Chris the flexibility to enjoy college while also keeping his DJ skills sharp. (Before joining, Chris was known to perform with some very well-known artists!)

Education On Your Terms

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

The Military is a last resort

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“People think if I can’t get a job, I’ll join the Military, but the people I’ve met [are] engineers, D1 athletes — people that could have probably had any job that they wanted.”

Quiz

The federal government provides $____ in grant money to college students in Active Duty, Guard and Reserve service each year.

$500 million
$10 billion
$150 billion

The federal government provides these grants as a benefit of service. In addition, this amount also covers work-study programs and federal loans.

Strength in Numbers

For Marissa, boot camp was one of the most challenging and rewarding things she's ever done — and a big reason for that was the incredible team she completed it with.

The Ultimate Comfort Food

Shrimp and grits may be breakfast for most, supper for some, but it’s comfort food for all. Arianne is one of the Coast Guard’s culinary specialists and she's sharing her secret and most loved recipe.

View More

Futures Magazine

Futures

FUTURES magazine is an annual publication that gives an in-depth look at life in the military. From careers and education benefits to how service members spend their downtime, FUTURES provides a 360-degree view of military life.

loading

Quiz

Which special unit did the Military create to focus on technology that identifies national security threats?

Antivirus software
The IT department
Defense Innovation Unit
None of the above

Is your passion tinkering with tech? Defending the digital frontier is the Military’s jam.

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

There’s no room for creativity

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“You can always find ways to express the creative aspects of yourself in the Military. I love photography and art, so if there is an upcoming retirement or promotion ceremony, I’ll get to draw a storyboard of what the event will look like and photograph members of my unit celebrating.’’

Marissa’s sky-high aspirations include her education. In addition to serving, she’s also a full-time pre-med student studying to be a dentist one day!
Service loading

Military Word of the Day: Day Zero

Day Zero is all about firsts. It marks the beginning of a recruit's journey through Basic Training (boot camp) and the start of new skills and friendships to last a lifetime.

loading

Paths of Potential

Surprised at what you see? We’ve got news for you: This is only scratching the surface of what’s possible in the Military today.

Brittany loading

Quiz

What is an example of a recreational activity you might find on a military base?

HVAC maintenance
Comedy shows
Street cleaning
Weather forecasts

The Military knows downtime is important. You have the time to enjoy hobbies, be with family, see a show or unwind on the golf course (if that’s your thing).

As a budding chef, Senior Airman Alejandro also knows his way around a kitchen!

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

The Military is like the movies

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“People imagine that we’re always being yelled at or going to war, but it’s so much more calm than it’s portrayed in movies. We spend the majority of our time training and building connections with one another.”

loading
loading

Finding Fulfillment

Smiling faces and visiting new places — just two of the many reasons the Military is a fulfilling choice.

loading

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

You can’t continue your education in the Military

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“I’d say the biggest misconception is not being able to progress your education or to pursue your degree while being in the Service. If anything, the Military gives you those opportunities to pursue your education, your bachelor’s degree or your master’s degree.”

Nick loading
Lin loves playing video games, with a passion for anything involving the challenge of a race.
loading

Quiz

What’s so cool about the Department of Defense COOL skills program?

Studies air circulation
Follows fashion trends
Ensures ice stays cold for deliveries
Helps transfer military skills to the civilian world

COOL, aka Credentialing Opportunities On-line, is a DoD program that helps service members take all the cool skills they develop while in the Military and see how they relate to civilian jobs, as well as other government and military ones.

Opportunities Abound

Sgt. Perez is able to fast track his education at the University of Maryland global campus thanks to a generous tuition assistance program provided by the Military.

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

Opportunities are limited in the Military

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“The Military is definitely the most diverse organization that I've ever been a part of. It isn't one size fits all … there are so many different paths that you can take. Whatever you're interested in. There are a lot of opportunities to learn new skills.’’

Unlock Your Potential

Dominique is a hip-hop dancer who’s performed in front of thousands across the globe.
loading

Fun-Filled Days

Live, laugh … love to get away from all that screen time? On base, there’s plenty to do IRL with golf, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and tons more.

Living and working on base has one big perk for Sgt. Perez: He can use his two-hour lunch breaks to go home and have lunch with his family.

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

There’s no flexibility in the Military

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“If something comes up that needs my attention … my co-workers are always really understanding. Everyone has families, whether close-by or far away, so it’s a no-brainer to give people the space to handle situations like that, emergency or nonemergency.”

loading
With Joshua's aspiration to become a neurosurgeon, self-improvement is always on the brain!

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

Women can’t work in combat roles

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“It feels good knowing that I'm a female in a combat role that’s still dominated by males. I think it’s super rewarding and I don't think of it as a gender divide at this point. It’s more common that females are here now, and we all work together.”

Quiz

True or false: Many colleges and universities accept credits based on military training.

TRUE
FALSE

Surprised by the answer? Then be sure to check out all the other education benefits the Military can provide. There could be a few more pleasant surprises you find along the way.

As if the Navy doesn’t provide enough adventure already, Tyra also draws her own adventures in graphic novels.
loading

Building Blocks

Looking to build your personal and professional skills? The Military offers the tools to help you grow before, during and after service.

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Myth

There's no individuality in the Military

MYTH VS. REALITY

The Reality

“The Military takes pride in the strength that diversity brings. There is room for all types of people, and every individual has strengths to bring to the Service.”

Adam loves taking advantage of “military days” at a local ski resort (which for him means the ski rentals and lift passes don't cost a thing).
loading
loading

Challenge Accepted

Think you have what it takes to help the Military defend the nation from cyberthreats? Test your cyber skills and find out.

Yes, you CAN have a pet in the Military! And Miranda's new German shepherd loves to accompany her on walks.