Enlisting

Stories about enlisting in the military.

Latest in Enlisting

News

The Navy is offering up to $75,000 in enlistment bonuses to get more sailors The Navy is offering up to $75,000 in enlistment bonuses to get more sailors

By Nicholas Slayton

/ Jun 18 2023

News

Army secretary concerned ‘woke military’ criticism could hurt the service Army secretary concerned ‘woke military’ criticism could hurt the service

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 14 2023

News

Air Force, Space Force hope medals and promotions can boost recruitment referrals Air Force, Space Force hope medals and promotions can boost recruitment referrals

By Nicholas Slayton

/ May 21 2023

Culture

Why being a Marine is more of a bonus than actual money Why being a Marine is more of a bonus than actual money

/ Feb 15 2023

Military Life

Court clears Sikh men to attend Marine boot camp with beards Court clears Sikh men to attend Marine boot camp with beards

By Nicholas Slayton

/ Dec 27 2022

News

The Army is bringing the ‘Be All You Can Be’ slogan back The Army is bringing the ‘Be All You Can Be’ slogan back

By Max Hauptman

/ Dec 2 2022

News

What Americans are getting wrong about veterans What Americans are getting wrong about veterans

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 11 2022

News

The Army Reserve chief wants leaders to stop wasting soldiers’ drill time on paperwork The Army Reserve chief wants leaders to stop wasting soldiers’ drill time on paperwork

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 10 2022

News

Netflix documentary shows Vanessa Guillén’s family’s fight for answers in the wake of her murder Netflix documentary shows Vanessa Guillén’s family’s fight for answers in the wake of her murder

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 4 2022

News

The Army screwed over soldiers in an enlistment bonus fraud investigation. Now it’s trying to fix it The Army screwed over soldiers in an enlistment bonus fraud investigation. Now it’s trying to fix it

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 3 2022

News

The US military is still struggling to figure out social media The US military is still struggling to figure out social media

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 2 2022

News

Military leaders urge Americans to help them overcome ‘misperceptions’ of military service Military leaders urge Americans to help them overcome ‘misperceptions’ of military service

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 26 2022

News

COVID-19 had an ‘appalling’ impact on American students’ test scores. That’s bad news for the military COVID-19 had an ‘appalling’ impact on American students’ test scores. That’s bad news for the military

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 24 2022

News

Pentagon to help pay for troops to travel out of state for abortion care Pentagon to help pay for troops to travel out of state for abortion care

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 20 2022

News

The Army needs to get better at recruiting PSYOP soldiers, general says The Army needs to get better at recruiting PSYOP soldiers, general says

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 20 2022

News

The Army’s new pre-basic-training boot camp might actually build better soldiers The Army’s new pre-basic-training boot camp might actually build better soldiers

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 19 2022

News

From ‘intense darkness’ to the Army’s NCO of the Year: How this medic made an example of himself From ‘intense darkness’ to the Army’s NCO of the Year: How this medic made an example of himself

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 18 2022

News

Sgt. Maj. of the Army to leaders: Stop using behavioral health as a universal band-aid for problems Sgt. Maj. of the Army to leaders: Stop using behavioral health as a universal band-aid for problems

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 17 2022

News

Army considering height and weight exemptions based on fitness test score Army considering height and weight exemptions based on fitness test score

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 12 2022

News

A Marine recruit died on Camp Pendleton. The Marine Corps waited 11 days to announce his death A Marine recruit died on Camp Pendleton. The Marine Corps waited 11 days to announce his death

By Jeff Schogol

/ Oct 11 2022

News

The Sergeant Major of the Army knows what you’ve heard about the service. He’s working on it The Sergeant Major of the Army knows what you’ve heard about the service. He’s working on it

By Haley Britzky

/ Oct 10 2022

News

US Army fails to meet its recruitment goal by 15,000 soldiers US Army fails to meet its recruitment goal by 15,000 soldiers

By Nicholas Slayton

/ Oct 1 2022

News

Woman recalls the time a retired Marine general ‘saved my life’ as a college student in an abusive relationship Woman recalls the time a retired Marine general ‘saved my life’ as a college student in an abusive relationship

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 30 2022

News

Navy finds jet fuel in USS Nimitz drinking water days after declaring it safe Navy finds jet fuel in USS Nimitz drinking water days after declaring it safe

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 28 2022

News

Russia’s ‘partial mobilization’ of civilians is going about as well as you’d expect Russia’s ‘partial mobilization’ of civilians is going about as well as you’d expect

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 27 2022

News

The Marine Corps’ new littoral combat team is changing the Marine rifle squad The Marine Corps’ new littoral combat team is changing the Marine rifle squad

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 26 2022

News

The Air Force’s top recruiter is personally reviewing recruits’ hand tattoos so they can enlist The Air Force’s top recruiter is personally reviewing recruits’ hand tattoos so they can enlist

/ Sep 22 2022

Culture

What is it like to re-enlist after years of being out of uniform? What is it like to re-enlist after years of being out of uniform?

By Max Hauptman

/ Sep 20 2022

News

Meet the best-trained team of divers in the Army Meet the best-trained team of divers in the Army

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 16 2022

News

How the military’s new medical screening is screwing over Army recruiters How the military’s new medical screening is screwing over Army recruiters

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 15 2022

News

Inside the agency working to bring every missing US service member home Inside the agency working to bring every missing US service member home

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 12 2022

News

A Marine who filmed the iconic Iwo Jima flag raising was killed on the island days later. His remains are still there A Marine who filmed the iconic Iwo Jima flag raising was killed on the island days later. His remains are still there

By Haley Britzky

/ Sep 9 2022

Opinion

Reefer recruits: Why the US military must change its stance on marijuana Reefer recruits: Why the US military must change its stance on marijuana

By Schyler Peck

/ Sep 8 2022

News

As the world moves on, veterans of the Afghanistan withdrawal struggle to join them As the world moves on, veterans of the Afghanistan withdrawal struggle to join them

By Haley Britzky

/ Aug 29 2022

News

US calls in Apaches, AC-130s, and artillery to take on militants after Syria rocket attacks US calls in Apaches, AC-130s, and artillery to take on militants after Syria rocket attacks

By Jeff Schogol

/ Aug 25 2022

Culture

Millions of troops cry out in horror as Dodge announces end of the Charger and Challenger Millions of troops cry out in horror as Dodge announces end of the Charger and Challenger

By Haley Britzky

/ Aug 16 2022

Opinion

No one wants to join the Army this year. Here’s how to fix it No one wants to join the Army this year. Here’s how to fix it

By Daniel Johnson, James Machado

/ Jul 25 2022

News

The military’s top hospital is copying wounded troops’ tattoos onto their prosthetic limbs The military’s top hospital is copying wounded troops’ tattoos onto their prosthetic limbs

By Haley Britzky

/ Jul 21 2022

News

The Air Force is very sorry about killing your pets The Air Force is very sorry about killing your pets

By Max Hauptman

/ Jul 19 2022

Culture

Which Marine Corps boot camp is tougher? This Marine experienced both Which Marine Corps boot camp is tougher? This Marine experienced both

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 15 2022

Culture

How muscle cars, sideburns and John Travolta helped save the military after Vietnam How muscle cars, sideburns and John Travolta helped save the military after Vietnam

By Max Hauptman

/ Jul 12 2022

Culture

How ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ ‘Black Hawk Down’ and other films inspired a generation to join the military How ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ ‘Black Hawk Down’ and other films inspired a generation to join the military

By Max Hauptman

/ Jul 8 2022

History

A Marine’s Bronze Star offers insight into US troops’ heroism during the Kabul evacuation A Marine’s Bronze Star offers insight into US troops’ heroism during the Kabul evacuation

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 5 2022

Opinion

How games like ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ and ‘Magic: The Gathering’ strengthen the military How games like ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ and ‘Magic: The Gathering’ strengthen the military

By Caroline Moseley

/ Jul 5 2022

News

The hidden costs for US troops after the downfall of Roe v. Wade The hidden costs for US troops after the downfall of Roe v. Wade

By Haley Britzky

/ Jun 28 2022

Culture

What movie played the biggest role in your decision to join the military? What movie played the biggest role in your decision to join the military?

By Max Hauptman

/ Jun 28 2022

News

Leaked barracks orgy video gets hundreds of British paratroopers barred from NATO mission Leaked barracks orgy video gets hundreds of British paratroopers barred from NATO mission

By Haley Britzky

/ Jun 20 2022

Military Life

Pentagon worried the ‘Nintendo Generation’ can’t survive boot camp because their bones are weak Pentagon worried the ‘Nintendo Generation’ can’t survive boot camp because their bones are weak

/ Feb 23 2022

The Gear Locker

The best portable coffee makers for your next deployment The best portable coffee makers for your next deployment

By Joe Plenzler

/ Feb 22 2022

News

Army offers new recruits big $50,000 bonus to blow on irresponsible sh-t Army offers new recruits big $50,000 bonus to blow on irresponsible sh-t

By Haley Britzky

/ Jan 13 2022

News

Air Force recruiting is in the toilet and senior leaders are sounding the alarm Air Force recruiting is in the toilet and senior leaders are sounding the alarm

/ Jan 12 2022

Military Life

How do extremists get in the military? The Pentagon wants to find out How do extremists get in the military? The Pentagon wants to find out

By Max Hauptman

/ Jan 11 2022

Military Life

Florida state Senator wants to bring back ‘join the military or go to jail’ for criminals Florida state Senator wants to bring back ‘join the military or go to jail’ for criminals

By Max Hauptman

/ Dec 23 2021

Culture

Santa at War: A visual history of Jolly Old St. Nick in the unlikeliest of places Santa at War: A visual history of Jolly Old St. Nick in the unlikeliest of places

By James Clark, Paul Szoldra

/ Dec 21 2021

News

The Navy is rusting away thanks to a crushing deployment cycle The Navy is rusting away thanks to a crushing deployment cycle

By Jeff Schogol

/ Dec 17 2021

News

‘Nothing but the rest of your life to look forward to’ — What it’s like riding the ‘Freedom Bird’ out of combat ‘Nothing but the rest of your life to look forward to’ — What it’s like riding the ‘Freedom Bird’ out of combat

By Jonathan Lenz

/ Dec 16 2021

Military Life

Thanksgiving through the years and wars Thanksgiving through the years and wars

/ Nov 24 2021

News

5 Air Force Bases You Want To Avoid 5 Air Force Bases You Want To Avoid

By Sarah Sicard

/ Nov 24 2021

Culture

The good, the bad, and the ugly of celebrating Thanksgiving while deployed The good, the bad, and the ugly of celebrating Thanksgiving while deployed

By Jared Keller

/ Nov 24 2021

News

Marine Corps plan calls for some future Marines to skip boot camp Marine Corps plan calls for some future Marines to skip boot camp

By Jeff Schogol

/ Nov 23 2021

History

They were children when the Afghanistan War began. As soldiers they carried the burden of ending it They were children when the Afghanistan War began. As soldiers they carried the burden of ending it

By Haley Britzky

/ Nov 10 2021

News

The debate over registering women for the draft is a waste of time: There is no draft The debate over registering women for the draft is a waste of time: There is no draft

By Jeff Schogol

/ Nov 6 2021

News

A county in Oregon wants to call in the National Guard to deal with all their illegal pot farms A county in Oregon wants to call in the National Guard to deal with all their illegal pot farms

/ Oct 19 2021

Tech & Tactics

The best hacks to make military life in the field suck less The best hacks to make military life in the field suck less

/ Oct 16 2021