Anyone out there who can share some stats on the number of high school graduates that join the military? Like, what percentage of us typically chooses to serve after graduation?
Sure, I can provide some general information! As of data collected from the Department of Defense in recent years, typically just under 0.5% of American high school graduates enter the military each year. This might seem like a low percentage, but remember that we are talking about a quite large population, so this still represents tens of thousands of individuals.
An interesting trend is that the percentage of high school graduates who transition straight to the military has been relatively stable over time, although it does see slight fluctuations depending on various factors, such as the economic conditions of the country.
These stats can depend a bit on where in the U.S. you're looking at, as well as by the branch of the military. Regions with more military presence, such as the South, see higher enlistment rates. In terms of branches, the Army has the highest number of active-duty enlistees, followed by the Navy, the Air Force, and then the Marines.
Keep in mind that these numbers represent immediate enlistment and don't account for individuals who may opt to join the military after a gap year, attending college, or starting a job.
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