Many people mistakenly think that all military members do is fly planes, sail boats and shoot guns. The truth is that all forces run an extremely complicated mission.
As such, the jobs to keep things going are diverse and challenging. And though everyone must be prepared to fight, you will do something else most of the time.
Below are the areas under which most military jobs fall. Within these categories, there is a considerable breadth of actual jobs. There is something in the military for everybody, so if you aren't satisfied with one job, look again!
You might want to work in security/policing or health care. Maybe you would like to be a journalist, read maps or rescue injured people. Then again, perhaps you want to fly, train animals or even play in a band. You can do all of these things in the military!
Enlisted job categories (scroll to a category to see a breakdown of jobs):
| Administrative | Machine operator and production |
| Combat specialty | Media and public affairs |
| Construction | Protective service |
| Electronic and electrical equipment repair | Support services |
| Engineering, science and technical | Transportation and material handling |
| Health care | Vehicle and machinery mechanic |
| Human resource department |
Officer job categories (scroll to a category to see a breakdown of jobs):
| Combat specialty | Media and public affairs |
| Engineering, science and technical | Protective service |
| Executive, administrative and managerial | Support services |
| Health care | Transportation |
| Human resource development |
ENLISTED JOBS
Administrative
Administrative support specialists
Finance and accounting specialists
Flight operations specialists
Legal specialists and court reporters
Preventive maintenance analysts
Sales and stock specialists
Combat specialty
Armored assault vehicle crew members
Artillery and missile crew members
Infantry
Special forces
Construction
Building electricians
Construction equipment operators
Construction specialists
Plumbers and pipe fitters
Electronic and electrical equipment repair
Avionics technicians
Electrical products repairers
Electronic instrument and equipment repairers
Power plant electricians
Precision instrument and equipment repairers
Ship electricians
Weapons maintenance technicians
Engineering, science and technical
Communications equipment operators
Computer systems specialists
Divers
Environmental health and safety specialists
Intelligence specialists
Meteorological specialists
Non-destructive testers
Ordnance specialists
Radar and sonar operators
Space operations specialists
Surveying, mapping and drafting technicians
Unmanned vehicle (UV) operations specialists
Health care
Cardiopulmonary and EEG technicians
Dental and optical laboratory technicians
Dental specialists
Medical care technicians
Medical laboratory technicians
Medical record technicians
Medical service technicians
Optometric technicians
Pharmacy technicians
Physical and occupational therapy specialists
Radiologic (X-ray) technicians
Human resource development
Personnel specialists
Recruiting specialists
Training specialists and instructors
Machine operator and production
Machinists
Power plant operators
Printing specialists
Survival equipment specialists
Water and sewage treatment plant operators
Welders and metal workers
Media and public affairs
Audiovisual and broadcast technicians
Broadcast journalists and news writers
Graphic designers and illustrators
Interpreters and translators
Musicians
Photographic specialists
Protective service
Emergency management specialists
Firefighters
Law enforcement and security specialists
Support services
Caseworkers and counselors
Food service specialists
Religious program specialists
Transportation and material handling
Air crew members
Air traffic controllers
Aircraft launch and recovery specialists
Cargo specialists
Flight engineers
Petroleum supply specialists
Quartermasters and boat operators
Seamen
Transportation specialists
Vehicle drivers
Warehousing and distribution specialists
Vehicle and machinery mechanic
Aircraft mechanics
Automotive and heavy equipment mechanics
Heating and cooling mechanics
Marine engine mechanics
Powerhouse mechanics
OFFICER JOBS
Combat specialty
Armored assault vehicle officers
Artillery and missile officers
Combat mission support officers
Infantry officers
Special forces officers
Engineering, science and technical
Aerospace engineers
Civil engineers
Communications managers
Computer systems officers
Electrical and electronics engineers
Environmental health and safety officers
Industrial engineers
Intelligence officers
Lawyers and judges
Life scientists
Marine engineers
Nuclear engineers
Ordnance officers
Physical scientists
Space operations officers
Executive, administrative and managerial
Administrative officers
Finance and accounting managers
Health services administrators
International relations officers
Logisticians
Management analysts and planners
Purchasing and contracting managers
Store managers
Supply and warehousing managers
Health care
Dentists
Dietitians
Optometrists
Pharmacists
Physical and occupational therapists
Physician assistants
Physicians and surgeons
Psychologists
Registered nurses
Speech therapists
Human resource development
Personnel managers
Recruiting managers
Teachers and instructors
Training and education directors
Media and public affairs
Audiovisual and broadcast directors
Music directors
Public information officers
Protective service
Emergency management officers
Law enforcement and security officers
Support services
Chaplains
Food service managers
Social workers
Transportation
Air traffic control managers
Airplane navigators
Airplane pilots
Helicopter pilots
Ship and submarine officers
Ship engineers
Transportation maintenance managers
Transportation managers
Information courtesy U.S. Defense Department, todaysmilitary.com
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