Mlitary Jobs & Education	 (page 1 of 2)	
What jobs are available in the military today?	 	
Over 4,100 jobs in over 150 career fields are available.  Each military job has a Military Occupation 
Specialty (MOS) code.  Military recruits know MOS codes assigned to their job and other jobs.  Search for 
job areas at TodaysMilitary.com (click Careers & Benefits).  Your job assignment depends on: 1) Your 
ASVAB scores; and 2) Need of military at time of your enlistment.  If the job you want is 	not	 open at time 	
of enlistment, ask your recruiter about Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP).  DEP allow you to 
delay your enlistment date to wait for a job opening in your preferred job assignment. 
Career fields include: Transportation, Supply & Logistics; Culinary Services; 
Medical; Mechanics & Repair; Legal; Law Enforcement; International Relations; 
Information Technology; Intelligence; Human Resources; Health Care; Environmental 
Safety; Engineering & Science; Education & Training; Construction; Communications; 
Combat Operations; Business Operations; Aviation; Arts & Design; and Finance. 
How do military jobs compare with civilian jobs?	 	
Military life is like civilian life in many ways.  You work a regular job, need to keep 
your life, bills, housing, car, and other things in order.  You work with others, have a 
supervisor, and must show initiative (self-starter) if you want to get ahead.  But military 
life is different in many ways.  There is always threat of heading to combat zone and 
risking your life.  You must get to work on time (no excuses) or face punishment.  You 
must be well-groomed, do quality work, and talk to others according to rules of 
behavior.  You do not have the option of saying "no" and quitting when you feel like it.
How transferable are military job skills to civilian life?	 	
88% of military jobs have civilian (non-military) counterparts (matches) according to Defense Manpower 
Data Center.  Jobs that do not have counterparts provide valuable experience.  For example, organization, 
communication, and leadership skills that it takes to lead others in a platoon or infantry company are 
valuable skills for many civilian jobs in management, business, and technology.  
What are the opportunities for women in the military?	 	
In 2016, the Defense Department removed all gender-based restrictions on military jobs, except for the 
Marines. Then, Marine Corps opened all jobs to women in 2018.  Therefore, female service members are 
allowed to serve in any job for which they meet performance standards, skills, and other requirements. 
What are the military’s educational benefits?	 	
1)   Tuition Assistance 	pays for 100% of cost of college tuition or expenses up to a maximum of $4,500 per 	
year.  	2)  Post 9-11 GI Bill 	pays: a) Full tuition and fees to any public in-state college for four school years. 	
b) Housing allowance. c) Yearly book allowance of $1,000.  If you do not use all four years of Post 9-11 GI 
Bill, you may give your remaining benefit years to a spouse or child. 	
Military Jobs & Education	
Military service offers good career opportunities but also includes active duty dangers to your life, em
otions, body parts.

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QUICK CHECK:
1. What number of career fields are available?
2. For what do the initials MOS stand? 
3. At what website may you search for job areas?
4. What 2 factors affect your job assignment?
5. a) For what do the initials DEP stand?  
 b) What does DEP allow you to do?
6. List 2 career fields that may interest you.
7. a) List 5 ways military life is like civilian life.
 b) List 5 ways military life is different.
8. What percent of military jobs have civilian 	
matches?	
9. Skills to manage a platoon or infantry may 
 transfer to what 3 types of civilian jobs?
10. a) What did the Department of Defense remove 	
in 2016?  b) When did Marines open all jobs?	
11. Up to what amount will Tuition Assistance pay?	
Military Jobs & Education	 (page 2 of 2)	
3)  Military School Credits. 	 You can earn college credit while training in your career specialty.  Over 	
60% of military training courses will give you college credit from  American Council On Education (ACE).  
4)  Service Member Opportunity Colleges (SOC).	  SOC is a group of 1,418 colleges that allow active 	
military personnel to enroll in the college.  Classes are completed on the college campus or by internet.
What are the pathways to become a military officer?	  	
1) Graduate from military academy	 — U.S. Military Academy at West Point (New York); U.S. Naval 	
Academy at Annapolis (Maryland); U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado); U.S. Coast Guard Academy 
(Connecticut).  Marines attend the Naval Academy.  Space Force attends the Air Force Academy.	
2) Graduate from Officer Candidate School 	(OCS for Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army) or 	
 Officer Training School (OTS for Air Force and Space Force).  OCS and OTS train: 1) college 
 graduates, and 2) recommended non-college graduates — 	to earn commissions (appointments) as 	
	 military	officers.	  OCS is located 	at a) Newport Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island; b) Coast 	
Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut; c) Quantico Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia; 
and d) Fort Benning Army Base in Fort Benning, Georgia.	  OTS is 	
located	 at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. 	
3) Apply for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps	 (ROTC) at college.  	
After you are accepted into ROTC, you take college classes for your 
major plus military classes.  ROTC pays your college tuition, and 
sometimes living expenses.  After graduation, you report for active 
duty as an officer.  	
4) Apply for acceptance into Enlisted Commissioning Program. 	
Enlistees may apply who are: 1) Near completion or completed their 
bachelor (4-year) college degree;  and 2) Recommended by their 
commanding officer.	
12.  a) For what 3 things will the Post 9-11 GI Bill 	
pay?  b) What may you do with Post 9-11 GI 
Bill benefits if you do not use all four years?	
13. a) What is SOC?  b) How are classes 
 completed?
14. a) List the 4 military academies.  b) Which 
 military academy do Marines attend?
15. a) Who does OCS and OTS train?  b) For what?
16. List 4 cities with Officer Candidate School 	
(OCS)	
17. List 1 city with Officer Training School (OTS)
18. If you join ROTC in college, for what does 	
ROTC pay?  b) After graduation, for what do 
you report?	
19. What 2 things do enlistees need for acceptance 	
into Enlisted Commissioning Program?