Fifty future soldiers took the Oath of Enlistment on June 13 during a ceremony marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.

The event was held at 11 a.m. at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District Auditorium.

Family members, friends and local dignitaries attended to honor the recruits as they formally joined the U.S. Army.

The next step for the future soldiers is 10 weeks of basic training and then learn about the assignments they’ve chosen.

Where they may land depends on their profession and area of demand. All 50 states and international places such as South Korea, Japan, Germany, and more are in consideration.

Future soldier Johan Valdez says job opportunity is the main reason he joined the army.

“If you’re thinking of a job that you want to do outside of the military, I’m sure that the army has it for you,” said Valdez, “The army has a lot of jobs and I recommend to join this branch because they’re an amazing branch.”

The ceremony celebrated the army’s long history while recognizing the commitment of a new generation stepping into service.