I want to join the army I'm a 20yr old female how long will it take to send me off?

Question

I want to join the army, how long will it take to be sent some where after i go through the 9 1/2 weeks basic training how much time will I have after that to be home or how does that work after im done with training? Is it better to serve 4 years , Im really wanting to serve 2 yrs ? How does the process work after Im done with the basic training? Thanks

Answer 1

After Basic Training (BCT), you will depart for job training (AIT) afterwards. You usually graduate BC^T on a Thursday or Friday and start AIT the next Monday. AIT depends on your job that you selected (MOS). The shortest is 3 weeks and the longest in 1 1/2 years. After AIT (during if it is over 6 months) you will be allowed to take some leave time to go home, before your first assignment.

Unfortunately, with the Army's reorganization we are undergoing, the Army has temporarily suspended most guaranteed first assignments. You will still be able to select your MOS.

I recommend no less than a 4 year enlistment. A 2 or 3 year limits job selection and a 2 or 3 year enlistment is years plus training time. You may enlist for 3 years and serve almost 4, with less incentives, less options. Some jobs require a 5 or 6 year enlistment. If you are going to a long AIT or a security clearance, the Army will want more out of you for a commitment.

Look at everything before you decide what your final selections are going to be. You may find an MOS that meets your needs with a sweet incentive, or you may find an MOS that you love, and do not care about the incentives. Expect a long day at MEPS while you decide.

Feel free to ask me any questions you may come up with along the way.

Answer 2

well first of all i would definately say to go with the 2 year enlistment, because if you dont like it you can get out or if you do like it you can always re enlist. after you are done with basic training you will go to AIT, which is specific training for the job that you choose. some are short some are long, it all depends on the job you choose. I was an MP, MPs do basic training and AIT together, where most people go to basic training at one post and AIT another. some people get a break in between basic and AIT and others get shipped right off. again, it all depends on the job you choose. when you are done with basic and AIT you will most likely get 2 weeks of leave where you can go back home or do whatever you want and then you go to your duty station. my basic training and AIT combined was 17 weeks long, then i got two weeks of leave and then i was sent to germany. the army will be a great experience for you, but a lot of people dont like it, so i strongly recommend enlisting for 2 years, so you are not miserable if you dont like it. oh and another point you may want to know, soldiers get a lot of 4 day weekends and block leave on holidays. if you want those 4 day weekends and leave times, dont be an MP, a cook, or a medic, they do not get that.

Answer 3

If you are going to join, you should do so with the full understand that you WILL be deployed. Your deployment length will vary depending on your branch and the job you ultimately do. You will not be relocated if you are National Guard. Typically you will report to a nearby base 1 weekend per month and 2 weeks per year. You can get called up for other training missions and deployments though. You should talk to recruiters from both Air Guard and Army Guard. They can provide you with detailed information. As for your partner, the military is still Don't Ask Don't Tell. I would NOT discuss that with your recruiter as it may disqualify you. Same sex partners are not currently allowed any spousal benefits through the military as far as I know. Good Luck.

Answer 4

It's gonna vary. Chance, and requirments will make things different for everybody. Generally, there's gonna be a delay of a couple months until a window opens up the training cycle for the job you decide on. Testing, physical exams, paperwork, etc in the process can take a week. (depending on where, when the asvabs are being given) background checks, physical is pretty quick. After that, the paperwork, opt in, or waiving benefit programs. etc.
When you've decided on your specialty, and the paperwork's done, they'll get with TRADOC for your basic training unit assgnment. This will be xamount of weeks before your advanced training cycle ends. (to sync your basic grad, with advanced school starting.) If you're doing One Station Unit Training it'll be simpler, but the delay will be the same.
Generally, you'll go directly from your basic to advanced, then advanced to other schooling you signed up for (ie: airborne, or air assault, language, ) After and if you finish, they'll try to give you a few days of leave time, to "catch your breath" and or visit home.
Towards, the end of your advanced, or secondary schooling, is when you'll recieve what's referred to as Permanent Party assignment. (depending, the "party" is more or less applicable) after schooling's done, you'll be out-processed, then given travel orders. You'll be sent to transitional housing and go through the post's reception unit. They do the paperwork, exams, and any equipment, and medical requirements. (vaccinations, etc.)
This is the "quick" version. lol if there's any complications, like injury, illness, or emergency at home, all bets are off.

Answer 5

First, have you considered the other branches?


Alright, the 2 year enlistment is 2 years plus training time. So, you can't actually serve two years,but they don't tell you that out right.

You'l be sent to AIT the day after you graduate from basic training. After you complete AIT, you'll get 10 days of leave if your first duty station is CONUS, and 14 if it is OCONUS. That is, assuming you have enough leave days to support it.

Answer 6

It all depends on your MOS. After my physical I had to choose one of the dates for the MOS I wanted... Unfortunately the only date they had was July 10th. So I have two weeks (8 days to go!) till I ship to basic. I qualified for the "quick ship" bonus but I already have the 20,000 enlistment bonus for doing a critical skills MOS and 20,000 is the most you can get.

I am doing Army National Guard, so after Basic Training and AIT (advanced individual training) I will go for one weekend a month and two weekends in the summer. Unless of course I am deployed. But I got a new program in my contract called College First. As long as I am enrolled in college before AIT I am undeployable for 2 years. I have an 8 year contract (6 active)

Good luck to ya!

Answer 7

After basic training you are usually sent right to your AIT unit for your advanced training in your MOS. It is usually after AIT that you are offered leave before reporting to your first active duty unit. The amount of leave you can take after AIT is usually limited to how much leave you have earned up to that point and since the time spent in AIT varies for each MOS it is hard to tell how much leave you would be eligible for. Remember though, the Army is only going to pay you for travel from your AIT unit to your first duty station, any leave travel would be at your own expense. Good luck in the military, and please, if you get a bad first assignment, don't base your opinion of the Army on that one assignment.

Answer 8

Well, I went in on 10th March 1969 and in four months I was sent over seas...... ( July 1969 ) So I will say if you go inot the military most likely you will be in Iraq in about 8 months.

Answer 9

after basics you normally go to a post first untill one year of tottal service then get leave.sometimes they will want you to wail untill they have a full slate of people when you join i had 2 weeks before

Answer 10

you'll get some leave after basic, but don't count on being state side too long...
2 years is okay, at least if you don't like it you don't have too long in.
Normally you get a better bonus for a longer enlistment