Career Paths In The Military

Annual Salary Bands For Enlisted Men In The 4 Major Services

Notice that for the first two categories , basic pay is flat. For enlisted personnel to attain the benefits of an increased rank and salary grade, they need to acquire more training.

The salary bands for officers begin at a much higher level and increases at a faster pace over the years. The pinnacle of an officers career, of course, would be to achieve the coveted rank of general.

Bachelor Of Science In Leadership

While serving, theres no confusion as to who your commanding officer is but as youll quickly learn, boss isnt always synonymous with leader. Leadership is an art and a science, and just like any discipline, its something that requires study, practice and motivation to master.

With Tridents Bachelor of Science in Leadership program, youll build on your military experience, studying how to effectively translate your military knowledge into civilian business leadership principles. Youll also explore how to effectively deal with change within organizations inside and outside of the military, critically think your way through challenging situations, and finely hone your communication skills. No matter where your career may take you, an education in the science of leadership can be a great asset.

What Is The Difference Between Officer And Enlisted Service

Officers and enlisted members can both be part of management in any unit, squadron, etc. But officers are specifically groomed from day one to be leaders and managers. Expectations are higher for officers for certain types of progress, career development, professional education, etc.

Enlisted members are basically the hands-on workforce of the military. That is NOT to say that officers dont do similar things, but they normally do so in a more supervisory capacity. If you have an interest in doing the hands-on work of a Civil Engineer, being an enlisted member is likely the best path.

If you are more interested in the planning, development, and execution of Civil Engineering work, on the other hand, becoming an officer in that career field is the path. The degree is required and each branch of service will need different skill sets in that capacity. Much could depend on the degree you have, but a specific kind of degree is not required to become an officer.

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Alternative Career Options For Military Service

Others choose a diagonal career path and move out of active military service for a period of time to work in government research facilities like the Army Research Laboratory or the Naval Research Laboratory. These well-funded scientific enterprises are the tip of the spear in innovative technologies that benefit not just the military but society at large as well.

Those who have invested in themselves and studied to increase their knowledge and skills during their years of military service can confidently rejoin the private sector should they choose to. Many of the specialized skills taught in the military are applicable to private industries and civilian life as well.

Still, others, after completing their military service contracts, or after retirement, pursue other areas of study and enroll in their new fields of interest prior to rejoining the private sector. Much of the in-service training they received can be credited at other institutions of learning as well, especially those that are military-friendly.

How To Choose A Military Specialty

Its good to make a personal inventory of your skills, interests, and even a list of jobs you DO NOT WANT to do. This list will help you identify career fields from your recruiters list that may be within your range of interests and expertise.

In this search it is very important not to make assumptions. Some people, for example, never dreamed they could enlist in the military in order to play a musical instrument. Military career fields include Air Force and Army bands and there are other arts-related career opportunities in uniform such as the Armys Multimedia Illustrator field.

Surprised? Thats one reason why you should ask a recruiter about any type of work you might be inclined to do. There are plenty of best-kept-secret jobs in all branches of military service including creative gigs.

Its critical to remember that in all of these careers, the applicant is still a military member first. They are subject to the rigors of military life, but not every opportunity in the military involves direct participation in combat, rescue, flying, etc.

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Tribal Or Urban Indian Program Benefits

Many transitioning military members find working directly for a Tribe or Urban Indian Program rewarding career paths because of the close integration with the community they serve and the opportunities for recreational pursuits nearby. While these positions are not part of federal personnel systems, employment benefits are comparable to them and are negotiated directly with the Tribe or Urban Indian Program facility.

Tribal and Urban Indian Program applicants should reach out to an IHS recruiter to learn more about working within a Tribal or Urban Indian Program facility. The recruiter will direct them to an appropriate contact within the Area where the Tribal or Urban Indian Program the applicant seeks to join is located. You can also search some Tribal and Urban Indian Program position vacancies on IHSJOBS.

How Do I Choose A Career Path

Choosing a career path after the military doesnt have to be a permanent decision. To decide what your next career move will be, make a list of two to three career interests and research what experience, education and skills are needed to pursue them. Even if your first civilian role after leaving the military turns out to not be the right fit, the learning experience in your interest helps grow a network of friends and career professionals that can help you reach your professional goals.

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Best Military Jobs That Transfer To Civilian Life

Dan Hamilton is a Marine Corps veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan who currently works in Texas public policy. He is an advocate for personal and professional development in the military and veterans community.

Joining the military is an impactful commitment. New recruits usually see the military as a career path or as a way to get a college education. When joining, it’s important to think about how military skills will transfer to civilian careers once you transition back to civilian life after service. In this article, we explore several military occupational specialty codes, or MOSs, whose technical skills transfer well to civilian life.

What Do Related Occupations Make

While some of the jobs in the Armed Forces are unique and not found in the civilian sector, many do crossover. As the chart below illustrates, the annual salary of three sample military jobs – Pilot, Mechanical Engineer and Electrician – fall around the median salary point when compared to their related civilian equivalents. Nurse and Truck Driver are closer to the Top 10 percent.

The above figures for the first three positions uses an officer O-3 with over 6 years as a standard for Base Pay and an average BAH. For the last two, an enlisted E-6 with over 6 years is used as the standard.

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How To Become A Member Of The Armed Forces About This Section

To join the military, applicants must meet age, education, aptitude, physical, and character requirements. These requirements vary by branch of service and for officers and enlisted members.

Although entry requirements for each service vary, certain qualifications for enlistment are common to all branches:

• Minimum of 17 years of age
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Never convicted of a felony
• Able to pass a medical exam

Applicants who are 17 years old must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian before entering the military.

Age limits for entering active-duty service are as follows:

• In the Army, the maximum age is 34.
• In the Navy, the maximum age is 34.
• In the Marine Corps, the maximum age is 29.
• In the Air Force, the maximum age is 39.
• In the Coast Guard, the maximum age is 27.

All applicants must meet certain physical requirements for height, weight, vision, and overall health. Officers must be U.S. citizens. Officers and some enlisted members must be able to obtain a security clearance. Candidates interested in becoming officers through training in the federal service academies must be unmarried and without dependents.

Service members are assigned an occupational specialty based on their aptitude, previous training, and the needs of their branch of service. All members must sign a contract and commit to a minimum term of service.

Women are now eligible to enter all military specialties.

Become an officer

Medical Specialists And Dentists

In the military, there is a clear need for medical personnel. Physicians have demanding education and training requirements. Generally, you need a bachelors degree, i.e. four years of medical school. Furthermore, training in a medical specialty, this varies between 3 to 7 years. The career of a specialist doctor can be very lucrative, both in the military and civil sector. For doctors and dentists, the median annual salary is $ 126,240 and the maximum annual salary is $ 208,000.

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Essential Skills For A Military Career Path

Requirements for specific skills will come into play when applying for specific roles within the military. For instance, if one wants to become an Air Force, Navy, or Marines pilot, one must first hold a bachelors degree, preferably in the sciences . Following this, he or she must undergo and pass a rigorous Class 1 Flying Physical, complete an Officer Commissioning course through a Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Branch Officer School, or through the Air Force Academy. A dental hygienist must have at least an associates degree and should be licensed in the state where he or she is practicing. Firefighters need only a high school diploma.

Fundamental and Crucial Skills

Over and above these skills, some traits might be considered essential for those aspiring to become members of the armed forces:

Do My Asvab Scores Influence My Military Career Options

Yes. While you can communicate your preferences to your recruiter during the enlistment process, your options will be limited by the results you get on the ASVAB test. In fact, the ASVAB measures the applicants skills and is a way to pair you with the MOS that will be better-suited to your natural abilities.

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Officer Or Enlisted What To Do When You Cant Decide What Specific Job You Want

Its ok to be undecided. Ask the recruiter what broader options may exist for the type of work you are considering. Its very important to quiz these recruiters about your specific ability to get these types of jobs and what is required.

Dont settle for a vague answer or that you should consider going into a completely different career field with an eye on retraining into a different one later. You may not be allowed to retrain when the time comes if you are steered by a recruiter into a critical career that needs more new recruits. These careers may have restrictions on who can train out of them and you likely wont know that until it is too late. Choose carefully.

In some cases recruiting goals and current recruitment policy may dictate sending a certain amount of new recruits into basic training in an open general status. This means a career field has not been assigned to the recruit yet.

When that happens, opportunities may be available in boot camp. Its best to see if other options are available rather than making such choices in a high-pressure environment.

One: Choose Your Career Path Wisely

In today’s job market the type of degree can make all the difference, especially if you are hoping to land one of the current “Hot Jobs” listed below.

New Career Path or Same Career Path?

You have two main career choices: you can stick with a civilian version of your military career field or venture out into a new career path. If you elect the former, you may need help translating your military occupation into a civilian job. Military.com’s online skills translator matches civilian jobs to your military occupation and training. The translator also features estimates on salaries, training required, and upward mobility.

Choosing a new career path isn’t a bad option either. In fact, your military training and experience may qualify you for a wide range of civilian careers you haven’t considered. Many military specialties give service members experience in human resource management, office administration, maintenance, data entry, and computer software engineering. This means that you might be able to pick and choose the civilian career field that best suits you and your goals.

Hot Jobs

If job security and good pay are important to you, then a good place to start is this “Hot Jobs” list. For example, here’s the Department of Labor’s 2019 forecast of the fastest growing and highest paying jobs:

• Physician assistants
• Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
• Phlebotomists

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How Can I Advance My Career In The Military

A bachelors degree in military science will give one an excellent start in the service but it need not be the end of ones upward movement in the military organization of choice. The military places importance on the continuing education of its personnel and provides postgraduate education free of charge to exemplary officers in the service. The Naval Postgraduate School and the Air Force Institute of Technology, for instance, support the best of their men and women in earning their masters and doctoral degrees in engineering, acoustics, nanomaterials, oceanography, space systems, climate, laser technology, and other advanced fields. Like their enlisted men counterparts, officers can also take advantage of tuition fee assistance from their branch of service, military financial aid offered at military-friendly colleges, as well as benefits provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Those with masters and doctoral degrees can assume important roles within their military units, such as information security manager , intelligence officer , or aerospace engineer .

Career Paths In The Armed Forces

Serving in the Armed Forces has always been a popular career option. The reasons for joining are as varied as the individuals themselves. Many serve to be part of something larger than themselves and to do what they feel is their patriotic duty. Others do it for the higher education financial aid benefits, such as the Student Loan Repayment program, Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Tuition Assistance and Tuition Top-Up. Still others want to be on the cutting edge of technology or pursue something that is challenging and life-changing.

* GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs . More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at.

Career paths can include serving at various grade levels: Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer or Enlisted. Within each level are several fields and numerous jobs within those fields. Below is a sampling of some of the jobs available:

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Job Outlook For Military Careers

BLS employment projections cover the civilian workforce only.

The goal of the Armed Forces is to maintain a force sufficient to deter, fight, and overcome various threats or conflicts in multiple regions at the same time. Emerging conflicts and global events, however, could lead to changes in the size of the military branches. Consequently, the nation is expected to maintain adequate personnel in the Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.

The 10 Best Career Paths For Veterans After Leaving The Military

Veterans value jobs that have competitive salaries, are mission-driven and utilize skills and experiences learned in the armed forces.

Reentering the workforce after serving in the military can be a tough transition for former service members and their families.

Navy Federal reported in 2019 that more than 250,000 military service members transition into the workforce each year. One of the greatest anxieties for veterans is being able to find stable, well-paying work that honors the skills and experiences they’ve gained while serving in the military.

Christopher Plamp, the CEO of Hire Heroes USA, said his own experiences looking for work after spending 26 years in the Air Force inspired him to begin working at the organization.

“When service members leave the military, they may have a gap in their skills or might have never even had a civilian job before,” he told Business Insider. “They might have never made a resumé, done a behavioral interview, or made a LinkedIn profile before. Hire Heroes helps them through this process, as well as connecting veterans and military spouses with companies that want to hire retired service members and their families.”

Here are the 10 best career paths for veterans.

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What Are The Different Branches Of The Military

Today, the U.S. armed forces includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps, all of which operate under the direction of the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard receives commands from the Department of Homeland Security. The National Guard usually receives its directives from state leaders.

Advance In Your Career

In year five, you have a decision to make. You can move ahead in your Army career by getting more advanced education and training. If so, you will prepare for higher levels of responsibility, leadership, and specialization required as commanders. Eventually, you may even go on to earn a graduate degree from a leading civilian university.

The Army pays for all of your training, travel, and advanced education. You could eventually work in the Pentagon, command a large troop unit, or serve as a military attaché in a foreign country.

The other option is choose to complete your commitment and return to civilian life.

Check out West Pointers-The Journey Continues to learn more about graduates currently working in their branches.

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