Employment after the Military: How to Ensure You’re Marketable
Once you’ve decided you’re not going to make a career out of the military, you should make sure you’re marketable before leaving the Armed Forces. Though some jobs have a direct connection to civilian jobs, you can’t always look at the job you’re doing in the military as something you’ll be doing as a civilian.
What you should consider is utilizing the schools that the military has to offer so you can increase your opportunity in civilian employment. These schools are: Ranger, Airborne, INIWIC, Sharp, Victim Advocate, Drill Instructor, and Recruiter just to name a few. The courses offered are free and they’ll put you in a position that a civilian employer might find useful.
Jobs That Have a Direct Correlation to the Military
The first military job that comes to mind is Military Police. Military Police is probably one of the quickest opportunities toward a civilian career. Attend the advanced schools such as the Army’s CID.
Of course the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines each have special forces units that can lead to employment with government agencies like Homeland Security, Border Patrol, FBI, and CIA.
Skills That Transfer to the Civilian World
Medicine
There’s always a need for medical personnel on the civilian side. The Army and the Air Force both offer training for emergency medical technicians. Training for corpsman is also offered by the Navy and that can lead to great opportunities as well. Additionally, the Army, Air Force, and Navy all offer courses for dental hygienists and dental assistants which offer incomes starting at $50,000 a year.
The Army’s 68 series offers trainings for x-ray techs, lab techs, and LPNs. These occupations are always in demand.
Construction
Construction is another field with great opportunities. For example, with the Navy Seabees you can work as a carpenter, an electrician, a heavy equipment operator, and more. The Army, in its 12 series, also offers training for heavy equipment operator, plumber, and carpenter. These occupations, especially equipment operators, can lead to great jobs as a civilian.
Having experience with the Navy or the Army can lead to an increased income over others because the military believes in hands on experience as well as occupational schools.
Pilots
Military pilots also have the opportunity to transfer their skills to the civilian sector whether it be helicopters or planes. If you ask any civilian pilot, most will tell you they began their career in the military. These jobs offer high incomes. Larger than what the military offers.
Logistics
Another route to consider is logistics. Truck drivers are always needed and military experience is always a plus. Therefore, you will start at a higher income than a person right out of truck driving school.
One of the hardest jobs, if not the hardest, in the military is a recruiter. As a recruiter there are many civilian companies you could gain employment with.
Technology
One of the newest occupations that the Army has started is Cyber Security. This is one of the fastest ways to gain employment with government agencies such as the FBI.
If You’re in the Navy
The Navy probably offers more opportunities that bring high-end employment and high-income, due to the experience, than any other branch. The Navy offers trainings for: boiler technicians, machinist mates, damage control, hull technicians, electricians, air traffic controllers (also offered by the Air Force), and EOD.
Think Ahead Before Taking the Plunge
As you can see, there are many military occupations that can lead to civilian employment. It’s important when you are in the Armed Forces to take advantage of all these schools that the military has to offer. It doesn’t matter if you’re going to make the military a career or if you only serve four to five years, any school you attend can increase your opportunity for civilian employment. It will also help you obtain a higher income when you become employed by a civilian company or organization.
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