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Special Operations Forces Jobs after the Military

Updated | Julie Provost
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Civilian Jobs After Serving in the Military: Special Operations Forces

There are a lot of skills that those serving in the special operations forces can bring to a post-military career. Specific careers can also be a perfect fit and would be worth pursuing. Here are a few civilian job options for those who have served in special operations forces.

Units such as the Army’s Green Berets, Marine Corps Raiders, Air Force Special Warfare, and Navy SEALS are well known both in and outside the military world. These groups are known for their strength, leadership, focus, intelligence, and, of course, bravery.

Note: Although the Coast Guard is not part of the DoD’s Special Operations Command (SOC), they do have an elite special tactics team known as the Deployable Specialized Forces. The DSF’s mission focuses on maritime law enforcement, force protection, and anti-terrorism intervention, both stateside and worldwide.

Special operations forces service members have also been known to go after high-value targets such as Osama Bin Laden. They are involved in reconnaissance missions, humanitarian assistance, counterinsurgency operations, and other highly specialized activities.

Healthcare and Medical Fields

The Air Force Special Warfare teams include Pararescue (PJ) specialists who are uniquely qualified medics who have been trained for special warfare rescue work.

The medical field can be perfect for special forces service members with medical training as well as those who want to go into that for the first time. There are indeed a lot of options from becoming a nurse to a Physician Assistant, a medical doctor, or even a surgeon.

During your time in the special forces, you might have learned about how to treat battlefield injuries, how to do minor surgery, how to deliver babies, how to treat infants and children, how to bandage wounds, and set broken bones. You might have had to do some of this is a stressful situation under a lot of pressure, and those skills will help you in a civilian medical field.

You can use your GI Bill to go to nursing school, work towards becoming a doctor by going to medical school, or even do a certificate program to become a medical assistant. There are numerous options available, depending on your career goals and the experience and education you already possess.

Personal Security

Working as a personal security guard can be a suitable choice for individuals who have served in special forces. As a personal security guard, you will protect people and property from criminal activities and events. You might work for a celebrity, CEO, or anyone who needs personal security.

You would escort people to and from various locations, monitor activity, conduct surveillance, contact law enforcement as needed, and remain vigilant at all times. You would also need to be in good physical shape to be prepared for anything that can happen.

You will need to be licensed in your state, which can vary depending on your location. You can also obtain Certified Protection Professional or Physical Security Professional certificates. These can put you ahead in the job market, and you may be able to receive reimbursement for the certification exams through the GI Bill.

Having a special forces background will look good when applying for this type of job. People want to feel safe with their security guard, and knowing you have a background in special forces will help with that. You already know what it is like to have to be on guard and aware of what is going on around you at all times, and you can bring that skill to the job.

Intelligence Officer

Becoming an intelligence officer after special forces can be the right fit. In this type of job, you would be employed by an organization and then work to collect, compile, and analyze information for them. You can work in a variety of different fields from working with the police, with the CIA or FBI, or even private corporations.

The discipline, strength, training, sense of mission, and dedication to duty will all be traits you have learned while in the special forces that can help you with a career in intelligence.

You will need to have a four-year degree if you don’t already have one. While you probably don’t need to have one specific major, getting a degree in politics, international relations, law, or criminology can be a good choice.

The Business World

After serving as a special forces service member, you might want to go into the world of business. While you won’t be doing the same types of things you did while in the service, the leadership skills you learned during your time there will help.

There are different ways to be involved in business, ranging from securing a job and advancing within a well-established company to starting your own venture. If you have been in the special forces, you should have the drive to succeed as an entrepreneur in your own business.

There are several ways to obtain the education you need to succeed in the business world. You can attend school to earn a two- or four-year degree in subjects such as business administration, human resources, communications, or finance.

You can also go to business school and receive your MBA (Masters in Business Administration.) You can go to school online or in-person or a combination of the two using your GI Bill and other VA funding options.

Many schools recognize the leadership and experience veterans bring.  Some schools offer GMAT waivers to military personnel in recognition of their service.

More about details on Special Operations Army and Marine Corps MOS, Air Force AFSC, and Navy and Coast Guard Ratings:

Army Special Forces (Green Beret) MOS includes:

Special Forces Officer

The Special Forces Officer is a captain who is responsible for planning, coordinating, directing and participating in Special Forces operations. He has several duties, including training, resource management, mission, and logistics planning, and working with the U.S. and foreign government agencies.

Special Forces Weapons Sergeant

Special Forces Weapons Sergeants employ U.S. and foreign small arms, light and heavy crew-served weapons, anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapons.  They are also relied upon to control and supervise tactical offensive and defensive operations as well as perform various airborne operations.

Special Forces Engineering Sergeant

The Special Forces Engineer Sergeant is a construction and demolition specialist. As a builder, the engineer sergeant can create bridges, buildings, and field fortifications. As a demolitions specialist, the engineer sergeant can conduct demolition raids against enemy targets, such as bridges, railroads, fuel depots, and critical infrastructure components.

Special Forces Communications Sergeant

Special Forces Communications Sergeants operate many kinds of communications gear, from encrypted satellite to high-frequency burst communications systems. They also have advanced computer and networking skills. The communications sergeant is responsible for establishing and maintaining tactical and operational communications.

Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant

The Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant collects and processes intelligence, plans force protection, conducts threat vulnerability assessments, and is trained in photography, digital intelligence systems, biometrics, forensics, and digital media exploitation.

Marine Corps Raiders (MARSOC) MOS Details

Critical Skills Operator

All Marines, regardless of MOS, must successfully complete MarSOC Assessment & Selection (A&S), Individual Training Course (ITC), and must request and be granted a lateral move from their original MOS to the new Critical Skills MOS – 0372.

Air Force Special Warfare specialty classifications (AFCS)

Combat Controller (CCT)

Specialists who operate in remote, often hostile areas. Acting as a one-man attachment to other special forces teams, these highly specialized Airmen are trained in a wide range of skills, including scuba diving, parachuting, and snowmobiling, as well as being FAA-certified air traffic controllers, to establish air control and provide combat support on missions worldwide.

Pararescue (PJ)

Specialists rescue and medically treat downed military personnel all over the world. These highly trained experts participate in every aspect of the mission and are skilled parachutists, scuba divers, and rock climbers. They are also Arctic-trained, enabling them to access any environment to save a life when called upon.

Special Reconnaissance (SR)

Deploy by any means – from airborne, maritime, or land-based platforms – deep behind enemy lines to collect and exploit key information, develop targets, and tilt the battlespace in our favor. Performing at the cutting edge of technology, SR surveils and prepares the battlespace to provide global access, air, space, and cyberspace superiority.

Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

Specialists embedded with Army and Marine units on the frontline with the incredible responsibility of calling in an airstrike on the right target at just the right time. These highly trained experts undergo intense physical, mental, and technical training to withstand the demanding conditions of battle and provide their team with the firepower they need for continued success on the battlefield.

Navy Special Warfare Teams aka SEAL Ratings

Special Warfare Operators (SO)

Perform maritime and land-based Special Operations in urban, desert, jungle, arctic, and mountain environments. Duties include combat diving, parachute operations, small boat operations, tactical ground mobility, small arms and crew-served weapons, fast roping, rappelling, explosives, communications, trauma care, intelligence gathering and interpretation, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense measures.

Special Warfare Boat Operators (SB)

Support and perform maritime Special Operations in open ocean, littoral, and riverine environments; provide maritime insertion and extraction of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and others; possess unique skills in the operation, maintenance, and repair of specially configured combatant craft; operate small arms and crew-served weapons, operate, maintain and repair tactical communications equipment, and use paradrop techniques to insert combatant craft.

Other skills include small boat tactics, tactical ground mobility, trauma care, intelligence gathering and interpretation, and chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear defense measures.

The Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces

These are open to a variety of Coast Guard Ratings.

Maritime Enforcement Specialists (ME)

A cadre of professionals well-grounded in knowledge and skills pertaining to law enforcement and security duties. ME are responsible for protecting America’s ports, waterways, and interests at home and abroad. Maritime Enforcement Specialists are trained in maritime law enforcement, Anti-terrorism, Force Protection, and Physical Security.

Gunner’s Mate (GM)

One of the oldest ratings in the Coast Guard. GMs work with all types of ordnance, from 9mm small arms to shipboard 76mm cannons. As a GM, you will be responsible for training personnel in the proper handling of weapons, ammunition, and pyrotechnics. Additionally, GMs receive training in maritime law enforcement.

Boatswain’s Mate (BM)

Rating sits at the operational core of every Coast Guard mission. BMs are the service’s experts in all aspects of deck seamanship and navigation. Additionally, BMs can receive training in maritime law enforcement.

Machinery Technician (MK)

Offers opportunities for assignment at every Coast Guard cutter, boat, and shore station. Many MKs are also called on to act as federal law enforcement officers.

 

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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.

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