<p>Do graduates usually join the military immediately after graduation or do they work or go to graduate school?</p>
<p>The vast majority attend some kind of training for their branch, which can last from just 2-6 months or much longer in the case of aviation or medical branches, after which they join their units. Many are on their first deployment within 1 to 2 years. iam not aware of any that go straight to grad school with the exception of those that were granted acceptance to med school. Even the ones that will go to law school have to wait several years first. There are probably a few exceptions based on some of the scholarship awards givenout while at West Point, but those are few and far between.</p>
<p>Do they join the military? Unless some very unusual event has happened that prevents them from being commissioned, they all are read their ‘oath’ at the end of graduation. Graduating from USMA, USNA, USAFA or USCGA is a committment to their country. </p>
<p>No one should even apply to a Military Academy if they don’t totally understand this concept.</p>
<p>They all serve their country in various roles with almost all starting active duty for 5 years. A small percentage go on to elite scholarships like Rhodes or Truman for a year, but they then return to service after completion. A handful go on to medical school before serving for even longer contractual time. Those who go on to active service go to their branch advance training they selected in the fall of their Firstie year. Forexample if one branched artillery one would head down to Fort Sill, OK. And then after their advanced training they report to their posting - again given to them in the Firstie year - for example the FA branched (field artillery) may then report to Ft Drum, NY for his/her posting with the 10th Mtn Division. Then after a minimum of 5 years most will decide, likely after reaching CPT by that time, whether they wish to carry on in the US Army or retire. The US Army wil determine whether they wish to offer you a position. And at that time, if you stay in the army, you may request and be granted graduate school which will require upon completion another 3 years of duty - but it will be on the army tab.</p>