Joining the Military

Stories about joining the military, from guides, to explainers, to reflective pieces about others' experiences.

Latest in Joining the Military

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Branch

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

Enlisting

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

Active Duty

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

Air Force

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Air Force

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Active Duty

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

Afghanistan War

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

Enlisting

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

Army

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

Air Force

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

Enlisting

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

Enlisting

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

Branch

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

Afghanistan War

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

Enlisting

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

Branch

A Marine Corps recruit died on his first training day at boot camp A Marine Corps recruit died on his first training day at boot camp

By Jeff Schogol

/ Sep 13 2021

Branch

Protecting GPS is the Space Force’s most important job, according to their new commercial Protecting GPS is the Space Force’s most important job, according to their new commercial

/ Aug 25 2021

Benefits & Pay

How to become a US citizen through military service How to become a US citizen through military service

By Meredith Mathis

/ Aug 23 2021

Analysis

A small tweak to how the Army trains new soldiers is dramatically reducing sexual assault reports A small tweak to how the Army trains new soldiers is dramatically reducing sexual assault reports

By Haley Britzky

/ Aug 5 2021

Active Duty

An Afghan interpreter who became an American soldier has one final mission: Saving his family An Afghan interpreter who became an American soldier has one final mission: Saving his family

By Drew Lawrence

/ Jul 23 2021

Army

Self-proclaimed ‘incel’ allegedly joined Army to train for mass shooting of women but washed out after 4 months Self-proclaimed ‘incel’ allegedly joined Army to train for mass shooting of women but washed out after 4 months

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 23 2021

Active Duty

Son of legendary soldier Alwyn Cashe follows in his father’s footsteps Son of legendary soldier Alwyn Cashe follows in his father’s footsteps

/ Jul 23 2021

Air Force

New Air Force recruiting pitch: It doesn’t matter what you look like, just that you can kick enemy ass New Air Force recruiting pitch: It doesn’t matter what you look like, just that you can kick enemy ass

/ Jul 19 2021

Enlisting

6 surprising medical conditions that will disqualify you from military service 6 surprising medical conditions that will disqualify you from military service

By Sarah Sicard

/ Jul 19 2021

Branch

New USMC Recruiting Commercial Spotlights Women For The First Time New USMC Recruiting Commercial Spotlights Women For The First Time

/ Jul 19 2021

Army

This is the Army’s updated policy for transgender soldiers This is the Army’s updated policy for transgender soldiers

By Haley Britzky

/ Jun 24 2021

Branch

WWII Marine Medal of Honor recipient welcomes great-grandson to the Corps WWII Marine Medal of Honor recipient welcomes great-grandson to the Corps

/ Jun 23 2021

Branch

As a child in Baghdad, he watched US Marines on patrol. Now he’ll make Marines as a drill instructor As a child in Baghdad, he watched US Marines on patrol. Now he’ll make Marines as a drill instructor

By Paul Szoldra

/ Jun 17 2021

Active Duty

He followed his mom into the Air Force. Now he’s administering her final reenlistment oath He followed his mom into the Air Force. Now he’s administering her final reenlistment oath

/ Jun 9 2021

Army

What Ted Cruz doesn’t understand about those ‘woke’ Army recruiting commercials What Ted Cruz doesn’t understand about those ‘woke’ Army recruiting commercials

By Paul Szoldra

/ May 24 2021

Army

The Army disabled comments on new recruiting commercials amid criticism it’s too ‘woke’ The Army disabled comments on new recruiting commercials amid criticism it’s too ‘woke’

By Haley Britzky

/ May 20 2021

Active Duty

Military leaders worry America’s youth are still too fat or dumb to fight Military leaders worry America’s youth are still too fat or dumb to fight

By Jared Keller

/ May 20 2021

Branch

This photo of Marine recruits on their first day at boot camp is begging for a caption contest This photo of Marine recruits on their first day at boot camp is begging for a caption contest

/ May 13 2021

Analysis

The Marine Corps doesn’t care if this image upsets you The Marine Corps doesn’t care if this image upsets you

By Paul Szoldra

/ Apr 29 2021

Air Force

The Air Force just let in a white supremacist that a Google search could have caught The Air Force just let in a white supremacist that a Google search could have caught

/ Apr 13 2021

Benefits & Pay

A beginner’s guide to earning your citizenship through military service A beginner’s guide to earning your citizenship through military service

By Margaret D. Stock

/ Apr 13 2021

Active Duty

How this Army lieutenant pulled off an elaborate scheme to join the military without his family knowing How this Army lieutenant pulled off an elaborate scheme to join the military without his family knowing

By Haley Britzky

/ Apr 8 2021

Enlisting

Pentagon allows transgender troops to serve openly under new policy Pentagon allows transgender troops to serve openly under new policy

By Jeff Schogol

/ Apr 1 2021

Branch

Leader Of Charlottesville White Nationalist Group Was A Marine Corps Recruiter Leader Of Charlottesville White Nationalist Group Was A Marine Corps Recruiter

By Adam Linehan

/ Mar 30 2021

Enlisting

He came to America to join the military. Then he sacrificed his life and became a community hero He came to America to join the military. Then he sacrificed his life and became a community hero

By Esther Bergdahl

/ Mar 26 2021

Branch

That time Hitler’s nephew joined the US Navy to fight his evil uncle is the ultimate family drama That time Hitler’s nephew joined the US Navy to fight his evil uncle is the ultimate family drama

By Haley Britzky

/ Mar 9 2021

Branch

Meet the master helmsmen, the Navy ship drivers that are barely out of high school Meet the master helmsmen, the Navy ship drivers that are barely out of high school

/ Mar 9 2021

Enlisting

Trump’s Ban On Transgender Troops Is Reckless, Misguided, And, Frankly, Pretty Dumb Trump’s Ban On Transgender Troops Is Reckless, Misguided, And, Frankly, Pretty Dumb

By Adam Linehan

/ Mar 4 2021

Army

The Recruiters: Searching for the next generation of warfighters in a divided America The Recruiters: Searching for the next generation of warfighters in a divided America

By Adam Linehan

/ Mar 4 2021

Army

The path from immigrant, to soldier, to officer The path from immigrant, to soldier, to officer

By Maj. Khoran Lee

/ Mar 4 2021

Analysis

Why it’s so difficult for the military to weed out extremists Why it’s so difficult for the military to weed out extremists

By Jeff Schogol

/ Feb 28 2021

Branch

Female Marine recruits have arrived at Recruit Depot San Diego for training for the first time ever Female Marine recruits have arrived at Recruit Depot San Diego for training for the first time ever

By Jared Keller

/ Feb 16 2021

Branch

This service member just enlisted in the Space Force with his alien pal by his side This service member just enlisted in the Space Force with his alien pal by his side

/ Feb 13 2021

Air Force

Iraqi Translator Becomes U.S. Airman Iraqi Translator Becomes U.S. Airman

By Alyssa Van Hook

/ Feb 10 2021

Branch

The National Guard’s new recruiting pitch: The world is a dumpster fire, but you can fix it The National Guard’s new recruiting pitch: The world is a dumpster fire, but you can fix it

/ Feb 3 2021

Army

From civil war to citizenship: A soldier’s journey from El Salvador to US Army service From civil war to citizenship: A soldier’s journey from El Salvador to US Army service

By Meredith Mathis

/ Feb 2 2021