Hardest branch to get into the military

Hey folks, I'm considering a military career and love a good challenge. Which branch of the military is considered the hardest to get in? I'm looking for selection criteria, competitiveness, anything like that. Appreciate any info!

The different branches of the U.S. military have distinct missions, training methods, and unique career opportunities which might affect their selection criteria and thus, the level of difficulty to get in.

Often, the U.S. Air Force has been considered as the hardest to get into due to its technical nature and high academic standards. Applicants undergo a rigorous selection process, including a thorough review of academic records, scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), physical fitness standards, and medical qualifications. Moreover, the Air Force typically has the highest AFQT (Armed Forces Qualifying Test) score requirements among the branches, which can make it more competitive.

The U.S. Coast Guard is another branch that can be challenging to enter since it is one of the smallest branches and positions are highly contested. The Coast Guard's mission is unique because it involves maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and homeland security—thus, they're very selective when it comes to new recruits.

Additionally, if you're interested in going to a service academy ,the U.S. Naval Academy has a lower acceptance rate (usually around 8-10%) compared to other service academies, which could reflect increased competitiveness.

However, it's important to note that the "hardness" of getting into a military branch can also depend on your personal qualifications and career aspirations, rather than just generalizing based on the branch. So, it would be beneficial to further research each branch, their selection criteria, their missions and the job opportunities they offer to see which one aligns best with your interests and skills.