The acronym RA stands for Regular Army. This is what everyone initially thinks of when someone says �Army�. When you enlist in the RA, you will go to Basic Training, Advanced Job Training, then report to a duty location to serve your period of enlistment.

The acronym USAR stands for United States Army Reserves. This is a part time commitment. When you enlist in the USAR, you will go to Basic Training, Advanced Job Training, then report to a unit that is close to where you enlisted. In the USAR, you serve your period of enlistment for two days a month and two weeks out of the year.

The acronym OCS stands for Officer Candidate School. To qualify for Officer Candidate School, you must have either have a Bachelor�s Degree or be in your Senior Year of College and projected to Receive your Bachelor�s Degree within 365 days. You must also appear before a selection board and be accepted as either an OCS candidate in the RA or the USAR. When enlisting for OCS, you will first attend Basic Training, then attend OCS. Once you complete OCS, you will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and receive additional training in your career field.

The acronym WOFT stands for Warrant Officer Flight Training. To qualify for Warrant Officer Flight Training, you must have at least a High School Diploma, but an Associate�s Degree is recommended. You must also appear before a selection board and be accepted as either an WOFT candidate in the RA or the USAR. When enlisting for WOFT, you will first attend Basic Training, then attend the Warrant Officer Course. Once you complete Warrant Officer Course, you will receive additional flight training.

The acronym MOS stands for Military Occupational Specialty. Your MOS is another name for the job that you select, based on your physical, mental, moral and administrative qualifications. All MOS Codes in the Army consist of two numbers, which designate your career field, and one letter, which designates your individual job. For example, the MOS Code 88M shows that some is in the Transportation career field (88) and the Motor Transport Operator occupation (M).

Basic Training is the initial entry training that you will be going through when you enlist. During Basic Training, you will be taught the basic Soldier skills that every Soldier in the Army has to learn.

The acronym AIT stands for Advanced Individual Training. AIT is the period of training that immediately follows Basic Training, during which you are taught your individual skill.

The acronym OSUT stands for One Station Unit Training. OSUT is the type of initial entry training that combines both Basic and Advanced Individual Training. For most support and service support jobs, you will attend Basic Training with one set of Drill Sergeants, and AIT with a different set of Drill Sergeants. In OSUT, you will attend both Basic Training and AIT with the same set of Drill Sergeants for the duration of your training.

The acronym ASVAB stands for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. This is the entrance exam that all applicants from all services must take to determine their initial eligibility for entrance into any branch of the military. The ASVAB is an aptitude test that determines if you are eligible for entrance into the Army, what jobs you are qualified for, and whether or not you are eligible for alternate enlistment options.

The acronym MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. This is the location that applicants from all services go to when processing into their prospective military services. The MEPS, or alternate testing locations supervised by the MEPS, is where you will go to take the ASVAB. The MEPS is always the location you will go to when you are conducting the entrance physical, selecting your job, and swear in to the Army or Army Reserves.

Your Recruiter is the first individual you will come in contact with when you have questions about joining the Army or Army Reserves. This is a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) that has been trained and is the subject matter expert on the programs that the Army has to offer and the qualifications that are required for enlistment. Your Recruiter is the individual who will discuss your options, and ensure that all of your questions are answered.

The Station Commander is the individual who is in charge of the Recruiting Station, and he is your Recruiter�s supervisor. Generally, the Station Commander has many years of experience in answering the many questions that young men and women may have, and any questions that your Recruiter may not be able to answer, the Station Commander should be able to clarify it for you. It is also the Station Commander�s responsibility to ensure that you are fully qualified for enlistment.

The Guidance Counselor is the individual who will assist you the selection of your MOS. This is the NCO that you will see after you have become test and physically qualified, and his job is to inform you about your options and any incentives that are available to you, as well as ensuring that your Recruiter and Station Commander have accurately assembled your enlistment application.