enlist
v.v. to join the military or to ask someone for their help with a task. You use this when you officially sign up for a job or get others to support your plan.
v. to enroll or engage someone in the armed forces or to secure the support and help of others for a specific cause. Often implies a formal or official commitment to a collective effort.
He decided to enlist in the navy after finishing school.
The charity hopes to enlist local businesses to help provide food for the community event.
To ensure the success of the new environmental policy, the mayor sought to enlist the cooperation of several influential community leaders and local activists.
From en- + list.
The verb is transitive when seeking help ('enlist someone') and intransitive when joining the military ('enlist in').
He enlisted to the armyHe enlisted in the armyWhen joining a military branch, the verb takes the preposition 'in' rather than 'to'.