JOB OPPORTUNITIES
WHAT KINDS OF JOBS ARE AVAILABLE?
A common misconception about the Army is that Soldiers are trained only for combat situations, and are ill prepared for jobs in the civilian world. While it’s true that the Army prepares each and every Soldier with the tools and abilities to defend the country in times of need, it also prepares them for much more.
In fact, the U.S. Army is one of the most diverse career training institutions in the United States, with support for thousands of jobs in more than 150 career fields. Through the Army Medical Department alone, a Soldier could train to become a family doctor, a dentist, a nurse, a veterinarian, or a surgeon among a plethora of other medical specialties. Is your son or daughter interested in law, computer programming, logistics, public affairs, aviation, or financial managing? The Army provides training for all of those careers and many, many more. Click here to learn more about Army Careers.
CHOOSING A JOB
Just like a civilian college degree program, job placement in the U.S. Army is determined by how well a potential recruit has performed in school. This is determined through a standardized test called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
The ASVAB tests recruits in 10 subject areas: general science, arithmetic reasoning, word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, mathematics, electronics, auto shop information practices, mechanical comprehension, and assembling objects. A recruitâs performance on the test will help the Army determine which Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) he or she would be best suited to perform.
MOS placement is also determined by several other factors, including:
“I just tried to tell him that if you’re going to go do something in the Army, it’s really a good idea to get something that you could use on the outside. So the thing that you learn while you’re in there, make sure that you could use it when you get out.”
— David, father of Staff Sergeant Ryan Yates
AFTER THE ARMY
Soldiers that have finished their service commitment in the Army will have many opportunities to further their civilian careers. The Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) is a program that connects Soldiers with civilian employers who are interested in hiring individuals with military experience. Upon completion of their Army service, Soldiers participating in the PaYS program will be guaranteed a job interview with the PaYS partner company of their choice.
ARMY JOB SPECIALTIES
The Army offers a broad range of opportunities in these categories:
Intelligence & Combat Support
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Military Intelligence Officer (35A)
The Army’s military intelligence is responsible for all collected intelligence during Army missions. They provide essential information that often save the Soldiers fighting on front lines.
Military Intelligence Officers specialize in these specific areas:Imagery Intelligence: Collection and analysis of imagery using photogrammetry and terrain analysis.
All-Source Intelligence: Performs collection management/surveillance/reconnaissance and provides advice.
Counterintelligence: Provides coordination and participation in counterintelligence investigations, operations and production.
Human intelligence: Controlled collection operations and interviews.
Signals intelligence/electronic warfare: Collects signal intelligence and engages in electronic warfare.
All-source intelligence aviator: Performs duties as an aviator/MI officer and participates in special electronic mission aircraft missions.
CATEGORY:Intelligence & Combat Support
DETAILS: Officer, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer (74A)
A Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer commands the Army branch that specifically defends against the threat of CBRN weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction. These officers lead an extraordinary chemical unit that is completely dedicated to protecting our nation.
CATEGORY:Intelligence & Combat Support
DETAILS: Officer, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (18C)
The Special Forces Engineer Sergeant is a construction and demolitions specialist. As a builder, the engineer sergeant can create bridges, buildings, and field fortifications. As a demolitions specialist, the engineer sergeant can carry out demolition raids against enemy targets, such as bridges, railroads, fuel depots, and critical components of infrastructure.
CATEGORY:Intelligence & Combat Support
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst (35G)
The geospatial intelligence imagery analyst is responsible for analyzing overhead and aerial imagery developed by photographic and electronic means. They provide Army personnel with critical information about enemy forces, potential battle areas and combat operations support.
CATEGORY:Intelligence & Combat Support
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
Medical & Emergency
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Operating Room Specialist (68D)
The operating room specialist assists the nursing staff in preparing the patient and the operating room environment for surgery and for providing assistance to the medical staff during surgical procedures.
They also operate the centralized material service and are responsible for preparing and maintaining sterile medical supplies and special equipment for medical treatment facilities.
CATEGORY:Medical & Emergency
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Veterinary Corps Officer (64)
As an Army veterinary officer, you can practice in three primary areas: animal medicine, veterinary public health, and research and development. You will be responsible for treating government-owned animals and the valued pets of service members and their families.
Army Veterinary Corps officers are also responsible for programs ensuring the safety and security of Department of Defense food supplies, both here and abroad. Approximately one-third of Veterinary Corps officers are involved in research and development in an incredible range of focus areas, from basic breast cancer research to vaccine development.
Many times, Army veterinarians deliver public health programs around the world such as vaccination programs in Ecuador, teaching Thai veterinary technicians, or supporting foot and mouth disease eradication efforts in Mongolia.CATEGORY:Medical & Emergency
DETAILS: Officer, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Dental Specialist (68E)
The dental specialist is primarily responsible for assisting Army dentists in the examination and treatment of patients, as well as helping to manage dental offices.
CATEGORY:Medical & Emergency
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Firefighter (12M)
Army firefighters are responsible for protecting lives and property from fire. They control fires and help prevent them in buildings, aircrafts and ships.
CATEGORY:Legal & Law Enforcement
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
Computers & Technology
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Signal Officer (25A)
The signal officer leads the Signal Corps, which is responsible for the Army’s entire systems of communication. Officers plan and execute all aspects of communication on a mission and are critical to the Army’s continued success.
CATEGORY:Computers & Technology
DETAILS: Officer, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer (25S)
Satellite communication systems operator-maintainers are responsible for making sure that the lines of communication are always up and running. They maintain the multichannel satellite communications for the entire Army.
CATEGORY:Computers & Technology
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Warrant Officer Pilot Jobs (09W)
Warrant Officer pilots are tasked with commanding the Army's fleet of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
In order to become an Army pilot, you must first past Warrant Officer Flight School, where you will learn to fly a variety of missions, depending on the type of aircraft in which you choose to specialize.
Warrant Officer Flight School candidates are commonly recruited from the civilian world and high schools in a policy known as "high school to flight school" and "from street to seat".
What is a Warrant Officer?
As the technical experts in the Army, warrant officers manage and maintain many of the Army’s combat systems, vehicles and networks. Once they reach the rank of chief warrant officer two, they are commissioned by the president and receive the same status as a commissioned officer.
CATEGORY:Transportation & Aviation
DETAILS: Officer, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Information Technology Specialist (25B)
Information technology specialists are responsible for maintaining, processing and troubleshooting military computer systems/operations.
CATEGORY:Computers & Technology
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
Legal & Law Enforcement
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Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps Attorney (27A)
Judge Advocates (i.e., lawyers in the Army) are responsible for offering legal support that involves military operations. They primarily focus on the areas of criminal law, legal assistance, civil/administrative law, labor/employment law, international/operational law, intelligence law and contract/fiscal law.
Duty locations include the continental United States and installations worldwide such as Germany, Korea, Japan and Italy.
CATEGORY:Legal & Law Enforcement
DETAILS: Officer, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Criminal Investigations Special Agent (31D)
CID special agents are primarily responsible for conducting criminal investigations in which the Army is, or may be, a party of interest. They handle felony-level crimes that involve Army property and Army personnel.
CATEGORY:Legal & Law Enforcement
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Paralegal Specialist (27D)
The paralegal specialist is not like being a legal assistant, they are expected to provide legal/administrative support in all areas of criminal law, international law, civil/administrative law, contract law and fiscal law. They assist judges, Judge Advocates and unit commanders with a wide range of legal matters and judicial work.
CATEGORY:Legal & Law Enforcement
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
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Military Police (31B)
Military police protect the lives and property on Army installations by enforcing military laws and regulations. They also control traffic, prevent crime and respond to all emergencies.
CATEGORY:Legal & Law Enforcement
DETAILS: Enlisted, Active Duty, Army Reserve
All Job Categories:
Army job training not only prepares your young adult for a career in the Army but it carries over into a civilian career as well. This will give your son or daughter an enormous advantage in life after the Army. From a resume, prospective employers can recognize just how valuable Army experience is.
