The U.S. Armed Forces offer both men and women the opportunity to serve as enlisted personnel or officers.

Enlisted Personnel
Enlisted personnel begin at the lowest rank in the military and serve as the main workforce. The military prefers candidates with a high school education. With time, good service, and education, advancement can be expected.

Officers
Officers begin at a supervisory rank. They must have a four-year college degree from an accredited institution before being commissioned; however, the military has several programs that lead to becoming a commissioned officer:
• Military Academies
• Officer Candidate Schools
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Direct Appointments