There are three categories. These three general categories of military peopleare:

active duty (full-time soldiers and sailors),

reserve & guard forces (usually work a civilian job, but can be called to full-time military duty), 

 veterans and retirees (past members of the military).

Recruit Basic Training, also referred to as "Boot Camp," If you have the courage to succeed, "Boot Camp" will help you develop into a mature, highly disciplined, and fully capable servicemember. During this time, Drill Instructors (DI) will teach you how to care for yourself and others, function as a member of a team and to achieve success together. Recruit Training includes first aid, water survival skills, marksmanship, tactics and other related topics. The other things that are important to know is:

• Boot camp is mostly a mind game. It's designed to take the civilian out of you and replace it with a top-notch military servicemember (Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman). 
• Keep a good attitude. Everyone gets chewed out in boot camp, even when they have done well. It won't be this way after you graduate Basic.
• Never, ever, make excuses. Unless you are asked to explain yourself, explanations are seen as excuses, so just say "Yes, sir" and take the chewing out.
• Do exactly what you're told to do, when you're told to do it, and how you're told to do it.
• If you're "on time," then you're late. Always be where you're supposed to be five minutes early.

A mentor can provide guidance, direction, and insight to other servicemembers just starting their educational journey. Understanding how to maneuver through college catalogs and degree requirements is invaluable information to someone who is just beginning their course work.

Mentors can provide solutions and guidance based on personal experience.

 Mentors act as a safety net of encouragement.

Mentoring is about taking care of recruits first and taking the time to be there for them when it starts getting tough. The one-on-one relationship provides the opportunity for a mentor to really know a [servicemember's] needs and interests, which results in more personalized guidance.