Can you be in the military while you are still in high school?

I'm interested in pursuing a military career, and I was wondering if there's any way to start while I'm still in high school? Does anyone have information about this?

Absolutely, you can begin preparing for a military career while still in high school – primarily through the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program.

The JROTC is a program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the country, and it can be a fantastic opportunity to get a sense of what a military career might look like, strengthen leadership skills, and even earn college ROTC scholarships. The program focuses primarily on character education, student achievement, leadership development, and physical fitness.

However, active military service - actually being enlisted in the military - is generally not possible until after high school graduation, as the minimum age to enlist in the U.S. military is typically 17 (with parental consent) or 18 (without parental consent). If you're 17, you can participate in something called the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), where you can sign up to join the military before finishing high school, but you won't officially become an active member until after graduating.

Finally, service academies like the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy also offer an opportunity to prepare for a military career while concurrently achieving a college education immediately after high school. Admissions to these academies are highly competitive and require a nomination, often from a member of Congress.

Do note that all of these options not only prepare you for a military career, but they also provide life skills, discipline, and leadership opportunities that can be beneficial even if you ultimately decide not to go forward with a military career.