Hi community! I'm considering joining the military after graduating from high school. I'm curious - for my own understanding - about what percentage of students make the same choice. Does anyone have recent numbers or a good estimate?
Sure, it's great to see you considering all possible paths after high school. According to the official Department of Defense data, about 150,000 individuals enlist in the active-duty military each year. This number includes both new high school graduates and those who have been out of school for years.
To put this in context, in 2019, approximately 3.7 million students graduated from high school, which means that about 4 percent of new high school graduates enlisted in the military that same year.
Remember, these are just averages and the actual percentages can vary year by year based on factors such as the strength of the economy, international events, military recruiting goals, and individuals’ personal circumstances and choices.
Enlisting in the military is a very personal decision and it depends on a number of factors such as your personal goals, career interests, and eagerness to serve the country. So while it helps to know such statistics, you should consider what's best for you based on your unique circumstances.
Hope this answers your question!
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