I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at US Army (Atlanta, GA)
Interview
Extensive background check. Rigorous tests - physical and mental. I met guys who had been planning to be in the Army their whole life who couldn't pass and get in for various reasons, mostly physical inadequacies.
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at US Army (Baltimore, MD) in Jan 2010
Interview
Meet the local recruiter, pass drug test, ASVAB test, physical and medical test. Choose Military Occupational specialty(MOS) that you would enjoy. Better ASVAB score means more choices of MOS's. Sign up the contract paper. Get the shipping date. Do your Basic combat training and Advanced Individual Training. You will have your first duty station assigned once you graduated from these training schools.
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at US Army (Panama City, FL) in Oct 2010
Interview
simple, if i had a pulse, wasn't on drugs, and no felonies i was hired.
i signed a contract and was sent back out in the real world to wait until my basic training date