This page answers some of the most common questions applicants and families ask about joining the U.S. Army.
It covers basic eligibility, Green Card holders, ASVAB/PiCAT, job selection, Active Duty vs. Reserve, benefits, BAH, TRICARE, MEPS, waivers, legal/medical history, and common deployment misconceptions.
The information on this page is for general guidance only. Actual eligibility and available options may vary depending on your citizenship or immigration status, age, education, ASVAB score, medical history, legal history, physical exam results, and current job availability.
Hello,
My name is SSG Lee, Ho Yong, and I am a U.S. Army Recruiter currently serving at the Fairfax Recruiting Center in Virginia.
Many people search online before speaking with a recruiter. However, military information online can be outdated, incomplete, or based only on someoneβs personal experience.
Applicants often ask questions such as:
βCan Green Card holders join the Army?β
βCan I choose my Army job before I enlist?β
βDo I have to go to a combat zone?β
βWhat is the difference between Active Duty and Reserve?β
βDo Reserve Soldiers receive BAH?β
βWhat happens at MEPS?β
βDo I have to sign a contract right after talking to a recruiter?β
This FAQ page was created to help applicants and families understand the basic information before making a decision.
Yes. In general, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, also known as Green Card holders, may be eligible to apply for U.S. Army enlistment.
However, having a Green Card does not automatically mean you are fully qualified to enlist. You must also meet other requirements such as age, education, ASVAB score, medical qualifications, legal history review, and required documentation.
Some Army jobs may require U.S. citizenship, especially jobs that require a security clearance. For that reason, Green Card holders may have fewer job options compared to U.S. citizens.
You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to apply if you are a lawful permanent resident with a valid Green Card.
However, individuals who only have a student visa, tourist visa, work visa, pending immigration status, or no legal status are generally not eligible to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Your current immigration status must be reviewed before determining whether you can begin the enlistment process.
Yes, you do not need perfect English to start a conversation with a recruiter.
However, the ASVAB, paperwork, MEPS process, Basic Training, and daily military life are conducted in English. A basic level of English understanding is important.
If you are concerned about your English level, it is best to speak with a recruiter first and find out what you need to prepare.
The ASVAB is the test used to help determine whether you qualify for enlistment and which Army jobs you may be eligible for.
The PiCAT is an online version of the ASVAB that may be taken before going to MEPS. In many cases, a verification test is required afterward.
It is important to understand that the ASVAB is not only about βpassing.β Your score can affect which jobs are available to you.
One of the advantages of joining the U.S. Army is that you may be able to review available jobs and choose your job before signing your enlistment contract.
However, you cannot choose any job you want without meeting the requirements.
Your available job options depend on several factors, including:
Citizenship or Green Card status
ASVAB score
Education level
Medical qualifications
Physical requirements
Security clearance eligibility
Current Army job availability
No. The Army has many different types of jobs.
While the Army does have combat arms jobs, there are also many non-combat and support-related jobs in fields such as healthcare, information technology, administration, logistics, maintenance, communications, intelligence, aviation support, legal support, and more.
Many people think βArmyβ only means combat, but the Army has a wide range of career fields.
No. Joining the Army does not mean you will automatically deploy to a combat zone.
However, because you are joining the military, it is not possible to say that deployment or overseas duty will never happen. Duty location and deployment possibilities can depend on your job, unit, Army needs, world events, and other factors.
It is important to make decisions based on accurate information, not rumors. Your job selection, Active Duty or Reserve choice, and personal qualifications can all affect your path.
KATUSA stands for Korean Augmentation to the United States Army. It is a Republic of Korea Army program, not a U.S. Army enlistment option.
If you enlist directly into the U.S. Army as a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder, you do not become KATUSA.
There may be opportunities to serve in Korea depending on your job, unit, and Army needs, but assignment to Korea is not guaranteed.
Active Duty is full-time military service. The Army becomes your full-time job, and you may receive full-time pay, housing benefits, healthcare benefits, and other Active Duty benefits.
The Army Reserve is part-time military service. Reserve Soldiers usually live in their local area, attend school or work a civilian job, and serve on a part-time schedule.
Pay, benefits, healthcare, BAH, education benefits, and lifestyle can be very different between Active Duty and Reserve.
If healthcare coverage, BAH/BAS, stable full-time income, family benefits, or long-term education benefits are major priorities, it is important to compare Active Duty as well instead of looking only at the Army Reserve.
It depends on the situation.
Reserve service is normally part-time, so Reserve Soldiers do not receive BAH the same way Active Duty Soldiers usually do.
However, during certain periods such as Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, or other active-duty status, housing-related benefits may apply depending on the Soldierβs orders, family status, training length, and other factors.
Yes. Having a spouse or dependents can affect how some benefits are experienced.
For Active Duty Soldiers, benefits such as housing allowance, healthcare, family coverage, and education benefits can make a significant difference.
However, BAH does not increase based on the number of children or family members. BAH is generally based on location, pay grade, and dependent status.
When comparing Army benefits, it is important to look beyond base pay and consider BAH, BAS, TRICARE, GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, and family healthcare.
TRICARE is the military healthcare system.
The type of TRICARE coverage and cost can vary depending on whether you are Active Duty, a family member, a Reserve Soldier, or a Reserve family member.
Active Duty and Reserve healthcare benefits are not the same, so it is important to compare the options based on your service status.
MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station.
At MEPS, applicants may complete medical screening, height and weight check, vision and hearing screening, background review, ASVAB-related processing, job reservation, and enlistment contract steps.
Online or phone consultations may be available from anywhere in the United States, but the actual MEPS process is usually completed at the MEPS location near the applicantβs residence.
It depends on the situation.
A medical history, surgery, diagnosis, medication history, counseling history, or other health-related records may affect enlistment eligibility.
Some cases may require additional medical documents. Some cases may require a waiver review.
The most important thing is to be honest and provide accurate information during the process.
It depends on the type of record.
A legal history does not always mean you are disqualified. However, arrests, charges, court cases, fines, probation, dismissed cases, expunged records, and certain traffic violations may need to be reviewed.
Even if the issue seems minor, it is best to tell your recruiter early. In some cases, court documents or final dispositions may be required.
Prior service in the Republic of Korea military does not automatically guarantee a higher entry rank in the U.S. Army.
Entry rank may depend on education, college credits, special programs, certifications, and current Army regulations.
Korean military service may be helpful background information, but it does not automatically transfer as U.S. Army rank.
Age is one of the important eligibility factors for enlistment.
The Army has age requirements, and in some cases an age waiver may need to be reviewed.
To determine your options, a recruiter would need to review your date of birth, citizenship or immigration status, education, medical history, legal history, and any prior military service.
No.
Speaking with a recruiter does not mean you must enlist.
A consultation is a chance to review your qualifications, available options, job interests, Active Duty vs. Reserve, benefits, required documents, and next steps.
Enlistment is an important decision, and you should understand your options before signing a contract.
Yes. Basic consultation may be available by phone, text, or online even if you live outside Virginia.
Applicants in all 50 states may ask questions and receive general guidance.
However, the actual MEPS process is normally completed near the applicantβs residence.
Whether you live in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Washington, Illinois, or another state, you can still reach out for basic guidance.
Basic information may be provided, but if you currently live in Korea, the actual enlistment process may need to be handled by the Army recruiter responsible for that area, often through the local recruiting office in Korea.
If you live in the United States, support may be available regardless of state. However, Korea is a different situation, and the process may need to be handled locally.
Required documents can vary depending on your situation.
Common documents may include:
Government-issued ID
Social Security card
Green Card or proof of citizenship
Passport, if applicable
High school diploma or college transcripts
Marriage certificate, if applicable
Birth certificates for dependents, if applicable
Medical records, if needed
Court documents, if needed
You do not need to have every document ready before the first consultation, but it is helpful to know your current status, education history, medical history, and legal history.
Applicants have different interests and goals.
Some commonly discussed fields include healthcare, information technology, administration, intelligence, legal support, aviation maintenance, logistics, and mechanical maintenance.
Examples of Army jobs that many applicants ask about include:
68W Combat Medic Specialist
25B Information Technology Specialist
35F Intelligence Analyst
27D Paralegal Specialist
42A Human Resources Specialist
15T Black Hawk Helicopter Repairer
Actual job availability depends on your qualifications, ASVAB score, citizenship status, medical qualifications, and current Army needs.
The process may vary, but a general enlistment process often looks like this:
Consultation β Basic eligibility review β ASVAB or PiCAT β Document preparation β MEPS physical exam β Job review and selection β Contract β Ship date coordination β Basic Training
The timeline can vary depending on your documents, medical history, legal history, waiver requirements, ASVAB preparation, and job availability.
Army benefits may include:
Basic Pay
BAH
BAS
TRICARE healthcare
GI Bill
Tuition Assistance
Job training
Career experience
Family healthcare benefits
Benefits can differ between Active Duty and Reserve. They may also depend on your contract, family status, duty location, and service status.
When comparing Army benefits, do not look only at base pay. Housing allowance, food allowance, healthcare, education benefits, and long-term career opportunities may all matter.
If you are interested in joining the U.S. Army, you can start by sharing basic information about your situation.
Helpful information includes:
Citizenship or Green Card status
Age
Current location
Education level
English level
Job interests
Active Duty or Reserve interest
Medical history
Legal history
Family status
A consultation is free, and asking questions does not mean you have to enlist.
SSG Lee, Ho Yong
U.S. Army Recruiter
Fairfax Recruiting Center
Phone / Text: 703-594-6878
Email: hoyong.lee4.mil@army.milΒ
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Army Benefit Summary
Full Army Benefits Guide
Green Card Holder Army Enlistment Guide
Active Duty vs. Reserve Comparison
Army BAH Guide
ASVAB / PiCAT Guide
Army Enlistment Process
Army Enlistment Document Checklist
MEPS Physical Exam Guide
Army Waiver Guide
Army Jobs and Careers Guide
TRICARE Prime vs. Select vs. Reserve Select
TRICARE Dental Program Guide
Fairfax Recruiting Center, Virginia
π Fairfax Recruiting Center
11240 Waples Mill Rd STE 110
Fairfax, VA 22030
Army MOS / Army Benefits / Enlistment Information for Korean Applicants
I currently serve at the Fairfax Recruiting Center in Virginia, where I assist applicants in the Northern Virginia area.
Because many parts of the U.S. Army enlistment process can be coordinated through online consultation, I also assist Korean applicants from other states across the United States, not only those living in Virginia.
Note: Actual MEPS processing and shipping procedures are generally handled based on the applicantβs residential area.