Military Opportunities

To serve... To protect.  Our service men and women are  invaluable whether they serve as an officer or an enlisted person.  Both are discussed below.

Serving as an Enlisted Person

  • Enlisting in the military is a contract. It is important that you know what this contract involves. Check carefully online for basic information as well as with your recruiter.
  • Enlisting provides the enlisted person with a job, an MOS, which will not be easily changed after signing the enlistment contract. Although you will have to be qualified for the job, you'll be happiest if you contract to do a job for which you are well-suited.  If you don't like the jobs available on the day you originally plan to enlist, wait.  You can come back another day.
  • Enlisted personnel usually take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (the ASVAB) to determine their ability to train for jobs. This test is offered at W.T. Woodson High School annually in December. Take advantage of this excellent, convenient testing opportunity. Retake rules are more advantageous when you take the test in your high school.

Learn about each of our service branches.  Find the option best for you.  

The Virginia National Guard provides educational tuition assistance to its members. The amount of tuition reimbursement varies at different stages of service (enlistment, basic training, or advanced training). For more information, contact the Virginia Army National Guard - Education Services Office at (434) 298-6222 / 3020 and online.

  • Air National Guard
  • Army National Guard
  • Discover all aspects of the military, including careers available, pay, benefits, and training available.
    Today's Military
     
  • NOTE: Our military recruiters serve a much-needed function, trying to match military needs with appropriate men and women. If a student does not wish recruiters to call, he/she, must tell the recruiter he/she is not interested. No parent can stop the recruiter from calling.

Serving as an Officer

Officers in the U.S. Armed Forces are required to have a Bachelor's Degree. One can become commissioned as an officer in one of three ways. Interested students are encouraged to attend our U.S. Military Academy and ROTC night during their Junior year or earlier. Learn what you need to know from the people who know!

  • U.S. Service Academy - Live a military life as you train and receive your bachelor's degree. The cost of an academy education is covered by the U.S. Government. Although attendees don't pay as they attend, attendance does result in a service obligation that will vary with the branch of service and the time spent at the academy. The application process for this educational opportunity begins the spring of the Junior year. The Career Center Specialist can give you contact information for your Academy Officer Liaison (AOL).
  • ROTC - The Reserve Officer Training Corps may provide scholarships that will hellp pay for college and may cover all costs. Although called a scholarship, there is payback military service that comes with this financial benefit. Students interested in ROTC must make dual applications: one to the ROTC program they want and one to the college they want - for each college. NOTE: not all colleges have ROTC. Search online for colleges offering the ROTC program you want.  Links are provided below.
  • Officer Candidate School - An opportunity for appropriate enlisted personnel to advance into officer ranks. This is the most competitive, difficult way to become an officer. If your goal is to become an officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, consider the other two options.

Learn more about the training offered by each branch.

U.S. Air Force Officer Training

U.S. Army Officer Training

U.S. Coast Guard Officer Training

U.S. Merchant Marines Officer Training

U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Training