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to go talk to the Air Force - he'll quickly change his tune.

It's important that this appears in your enlistment contract. Recruiters will often tell you that you'll be allowed to submit a "wish list" once you get to Basic Training. While this is true, your chances of getting stationed in a place that's on your "wish list" are slim to none. If your duty station isn't in your contract, you're not going there - no matter what the recruiter tells you.

(Note: Hawaii's not all it's cracked up to be - that was my first duty station.)

YOUR RANK
It is very inadvisable to join as an E1 Private. Most people can join as, at the minimum, an E2 Private Second Class. To be an E3 (Private First Class), you must either have some college or some really good negotiation skills. If you have an Associate's degree, you can enlist as an E4 Specialist. Make sure that you discuss all your options with your recruiter so that you can make the extra pay (although it's not much) once you're in.

YOUR ENLISTMENT CONTRACT
Your contract will be a huge packet of paper. You'll be required to sign in many different boxes, so read everything THREE TIMES before you sign. Make sure it includes the right rank, your duty station (if you requested one), and the correct amount of your enlistment bonus. If any of these things are not included in your contract, you may as well kiss them goodbye.

THE DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM
If you sign up for the Army, you don't have to leave right away. You can negotiate so that you have up to a year before your departure date - which is usually a good idea. You may change your mind about military service, so don't jump in with both feet right away.

Most people don't know that once you've enlisted, you don't actually have to show up to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Yes, you've signed a contract saying that you will - but the Army doesn't have control of you yet.

If you don't show up at MEPS on your leave date, all they will do is put you in the Inactive Reserves for eight years - which means that you don't go to Basic Training unless there's a draft instated. You'll be barred from future enlistments, but that's the worst that will happen to you. You won't be considered a "deserter" or "AWOL" or anything like that - although your recruiter will insist that you will.

Assuming you do show up to ship out for Basic Training, the last thing you need to know is that you're a part of a team. Although there is no "I" in team, you can still be an individual and be yourself. As long as you conduct yourself with self-respect, a "can do" attitude, and keep a positive outlook, you're in for a wild ride. Some days you'll love it, some days you'll hate it - but the Army is always there for you, and as your sister in arms, I thank you for your commitment to defending our great country.

Learn more about this author, Angie Papple.
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