Civilian Occupations For Military Occupational Specialties
Military Occupational Specialties and Possible Civilian Jobs
No matter what your MOS or AFSC, your time in the military can prepare you for your civilian career path. We cover some common military jobs below.
EOD
EOD or Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians are trained to detect, disarm, detonate, and dispose of explosive threats all over the world. After the military, you might want to work in law enforcement, with an average annual salary of $55,935, work as a UXO tech, with an average annual salary of $34,470, or go into government contracting for an average annual salary of $58,405. You can use the skills you learned in the military such as your experience with tactical operations, investigation techniques, and your ability to handle high-pressure situations into your next career.
Infantry
Serving in the Infantry means being trained, armed and equipped to be the ground forces. After the military, you can go into a variety of fields. Three of these are, becoming a police officer, with an average annual salary of $53,109, a border patrol agent, with an average annual salary of $85,338, and a personal trainer, with an average annual salary of $39,820. You can use your skills from training, PT, and your deployments to find that perfect after military career.
Military Intelligence
In Military Intelligence, a service member would collect information and analysis to provide guidance and direction to assist commanders in their decisions. After the military, you could become an Information Security Analyst, with an average annual salary of $80,865, a Detective, with an average annual salary of $53,894, or a Market Research Analyst, with an average annual salary of $57,599. You would use your skills of collecting, interpreting, and analyzing information in a new career.
Aviation
In Aviation, service members fly and maintain airplanes. As an after military career, you can look into becoming a commercial airline pilot, with an average annual salary of $72,327, an aircraft mechanic, with an average annual salary of $49,727, or an aviation meteorologist, with an average annual salary of $53,241. Your skills with airplanes and maintaining them can lead you to the right after military career.
Combat Medic
As a Combat Medic, service members are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. After the military, you could become an EMT, with an average annual salary of $29,291, an ER nurse, with an average annual salary of $74,973, or a surgical tech, with an average annual salary of $44,550. You can bring your background in medical as well as your experience with making quick decisions, to your new job.
Civil Affairs
Service members who are in Civil Affairs work as miliary liaisons to ensure the safety of both soldiers and civilians as well as working to make sure of the success of military operations. You can find a job as a public relations specialist, with an average annual salary of $45,498, a management consultant, with an average annual salary of $105,461, or an emergency management specialist, with an average annual salary of $71,851. You can use your skills of organizing and analyzing information, writing clearly and concisely, and being able to work with foreign governments and cultures to your future employment.
Military Police (MP)
MPs or Military Police in the military are trained in corrections and the confining of inmates, prisoners of war, investigations, and mobility security support. Beyond becoming a civilian police officer after you get out of the military, you can become a corrections officer, with an average annual salary of $38,187, a DEA agent, with an average annual salary of $67,407, or a border patrol agent, with an average annual salary of $85,338. You can use your experience with maintaining the law and order in an area and working with different types of people to your civilian job.
Combat Engineer
Combat Engineers work to build fighting positions, fortifications, and roads while in the military. After the military, you can find a job as an electrician, with an average annual salary of $47,033, work in construction, with an average annual salary of $40,187, or be a civil engineer, with an average annual salary of $76,540. You can use your experience of figuring out obstacles and using heavy equipment, as well as your interest in engineering to a good after military job.
Interpreter or Translator
As an Interpreter or Translator, service members would work to train military personnel in foreign language familiarization as well as foreign cultural awareness. After the military, you can get a job as a foreign language teacher, with an average annual salary of $46,276, a historian, with an average annual salary of $47,042, or an interpreter in the civilian sector, with an average annual salary of $47,123. You can use your skills of being able to speak and write in another language and your problem-solving skills to a new career.
Special Operation Forces
SF or Special Operation Forces, or Special Forces is one of the most elite positions in the military. They are the ones that go after the high-value targets, are involved in reconnaissance missions, humanitarian assistance, and more. After the military, you could find a job as a personal security guard, with an average annual salary of $26,520, an intelligence officer, with an average annual salary of $87,363, or a business manager, with an average annual salary of $63,388. You can use your strength, intelligence, and bravery, all of which you needed in the military, for your new career path.
No matter what you did in the military, you can find a good career after the military. College Recon can help you find your path.
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.