My 9 year old son is doing a very basic research paper on his chosen
career, Army General.  We need to know the special training and
educational requirements and the major responsibilites of the job. 
Again, information needed should be very basic for a 2nd grader. 
Thank you, Texas Mom

What qualifications must I meet in order to join the Military?
It's simple. In general, the services require U.S. citizenship or
permanent residency (i.e., a green card if a non-citizen), a high
school diploma or equivalent, good health, and minimum scores on the
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

You should be between the ages of 17 and 35 and have no criminal
record. As for physical requirements, the services require that
minimum and maximum heights fall between 5'0'' to 6'8" for men and
4'10'' to 6'8" for women. Weight standards vary among the services, so
talk to a recruiter about them. Some job specialties have additional
standards, and some qualifications may be waived on a case-by-case
basis. These are general guidelines, and they can?and do?vary by
service. To be 100 percent sure, discuss these details with a
recruiter.

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I'm not sure which service I'd like best. How do I decide?
Like any endeavor or adventure you hope to embark on, it's best to
talk to people who have already had a similar experience. To determine
which service would be the best fit for you, find friends or relatives
who have been in the Military, and pick their brains! Visit the
services' Web sites and request information from them (Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Air National
Guard).

? Army
? Marine Corps
? Navy
? Air Force
? Coast Guard
? Air National Guard
? Army National Guard

Each of the services offering active duty?Army, Marine Corps, Navy,
Air Force, Coast Guard?has its own character and spirit. And each
service offers great benefits and many job opportunities, many of them
high tech. Visit Military Career Guide Online for descriptions of 152
military occupations and which services offer them.

Using search engines to ask about military subjects is another
effective way to gather information. If you're rusty, these Web
searching tips are bound to help. Finally, visit local recruiters who
can help you match up your abilities and interests with current active
duty openings in their services. Don't forget to ask about part-time
service in the Reserves and National Guard if that interests you. This
entails one weekend a month plus two weeks of active duty per year.

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How do I go about joining the Military?
Step one: Once you've pinpointed the service or two that most interest
you, start gathering information. The Web sites for these services are
indispensable and a great place to start.

Step two: If you go to www.militarycareers.com, you'll see most jobs
the Military has to offer. From there, develop questions the
information doesn't cover.

Step three: Call a recruiter and make an appointment. Come armed with
your questions, and do not allow yourself to be pressured into
anything. Arrive at your meeting knowing what you want... what's
important to you. More than one visit is entirely okay.

For recruiter numbers, look in the local white pages?the U.S.
Government section?where you'll find them listed under the service's
name. To get a head start if you're still in high school, you can also
sign up for the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery),
offered at many high schools. The ASVAB's results will help you
identify your career interests and abilities.

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How long do I have to serve if I join?
Good question. Most first-term enlistments are four years, but there
are also programs with two, three-, and six-year enlistments. It
depends upon the service and the job to which you're applying. Be sure
to ask about enlistment bonuses?some services offer them. And don't
forget part-time opportunities in the Reserves and National Guard?
your obligation is generally one weekend a month plus two weeks of
active duty a year. Your recruiter has all the details you'll need
about terms of service.

more info:
http://www.careersinthemilitary.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=services.army
http://www.todaysmilitary.com/wyg/t11_wyg_militarycareers.php
http://www.myfuture.com/t3_milops/t3milops_armytraining.html
http://www.todaysmilitary.com/wyg/t11_wyg_militarycareers.php

Regards, s3com

Whoa there!  I hope that didn't scare your nine year old!

Here is a site that breaks down the progression of an Army officer's
career into manageable groupings from Lieutenant to General.  I'm
certain that this is about as basic as it can get.  I will try to
simplify what I can:
http://armyrotc.boisestate.edu/OfficerProgression.htm

Educational requirements for mitary personnel include civilian
education as well as military education.  The military education is
comprised of required classes as well as non-essential classes. 
Civilian education is your typical university or college education. 
The typical officer enters the military ranks with a four year degree
in hand.  Any additional civilian education assists an officer in
advancing ahead of his or her peers, and while it is often not a
requirement it is considered by most to be necessary to advance. 
Often times it is only the additional schooling that makes one officer
stand apart from his classmates.

required military classes that an officer must obtain include the
Officer Basic Course (OCS), the Officer Advanced Course (OAC), and the
Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS^3--usually pronounced
"CAS Cubed") (The Army loves acronyms!).  Many officers separate from
the military prior to going to any other required military schools. 
Most schools after this point are only awarded to those officers that
show interest, aptitude, and ability to serve the Army well into the
future.  Those that do so may attend Command and General Staff College
(CGSC) and then the Army War College (I'm not familiar with any
acronym).

To become a General in the US Army, an officer will typically complete
all of the before mentioned classes.  During the progression through
the ranks, the officer must show greater knowledge and expertise in
the many areas of influence.  There are key steps that must be
completed in order to advance to the next rank.  These are discussed
clearly in the given website.  This system is often called "getting
your card or ticket punched".  Just as you can't transfer to a new bus
without having your ticket punched on the previous bus, there are no
free rides to the position of General.  You cannot gain the necessary
experience in the civilian realm of the workforce and then enter the
Army as a General.  Generals are molded, shaped, and formed in the
military.

I hope this helps!  Good luck!