Sources: Occupational Information Network, O*Net Online,

http://online.onetcenter.org.** U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational

Outlook Handbook, http://stats.bls.gov/ocoeHow.com

Sponsors

DutiesThe military distinguishes between enlisted and

offi cer careers. Enlisted personnel make up about 82 percent of the Armed Forces and carry out military operations. The remaining 18 percent are offi cers - military leaders who manage operations and enlisted personnel. About 8 percent of offi cers are warrant offi cers, who are technical and tactical experts in a specifi c area. Army aviators, for exam-ple, make up one group of warrant offi cers.

Enlisted personnel typically do the following:• Participate in, or support, military operations,

such as combat or training operations, or human-itarian or disaster relief

• Operate, maintain, and repair equipment

• Perform technical and support activities

• Supervise junior enlisted personnel

Offi cers typically do the following:• Plan, organize, and lead troops and activities

in military operations

• Manage enlisted personnel

• Operate and command aircraft, ships, or armored vehicles

• Provide medical, legal, engineering, and other services to military personnel

To join the military, applicants must meet age, education, aptitude, physical, and character re-quirements. These requirements vary by branch of service and for offi cers and enlisted members.

Although entry requirements for each service vary, certain qualifi cations for enlistment are common to all branches:

• Minimum of 17 years of age • U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status• Have a high school diploma or equivalent • Never convicted of a felony• Able to pass a medical exam

Applicants who are 17 years old must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian before entering the military.

Age limits for entering active-duty service are as follows:• In the Army, the maximum age is 34. • In the Navy, the maximum age is 34.• In the Marine Corps, the maximum age is 29. • In the Air Force, the maximum age is 39.• In the Coast Guard, the maximum age is 27.

All applicants must meet certain physical requirements for height, weight, vision, and over-all health. Offi cers must be U.S. citizens. Offi cers and some enlisted members must be able to obtain a security clearance. Candidates interested in becoming offi cers through training in the federal service academies must be unmarried and without dependents.

Service members are assigned an occupational specialty based on their aptitude, previous training, and the needs of their branch of service. All members must sign a contract and com-mit to a minimum term of service.

A recruiter can help a prospective service member determine whether he or she qualifi es for enlistment or as an offi cer. A recruiter can also explain the various enlistment options and describe the military occupational specialties.

Women are now eligible to enter all military specialties.

Elyria City School DistrictEnsuring that

each childreaches hisor her fullpotential

THETHEFUTURE FUTURE OUTLOOKOUTLOOK

MILITARY RECRUITER

Career Profile

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How did you become interested in your particular fi eld?I was interested in going to college, but I wasn’t fi nancially prepared

for it. When weighing out my options, the National Guard was my best fi t. I wanted something that was going to challenge me physically and mentally, and give me a way to go to college debt free. I was an athlete all through high school and I wanted a way to continue to push myself.

How did you get to where you are today? What path did your employment journey take?

I had a great recruiter who guided me through the process. The mili-tary entrance test was a challenge for me. I got a tutor and a book to help me study. I selected the MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) 11c, indirect fi re infantry. The National Guard paid for my bachelor’s degree in business. I worked a couple professional jobs, but I did not enjoy the career path I was heading down. I took an opportunity to work full time for the Ohio National Guard and have loved it ever since.

What skills or certifi cations do you think are needed to be successful in this fi eld?

In order to join any branch of service, you have to take the Armed Ser-vices Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to identify what areas you are strong in. We take those scores and match them to careers in the National Guard that you will most likely excel in.

What changes have you seen in the last few years in your industry?

There are over 150 career paths in the Ohio National Guard. Lately there has been a big push for our engineering and trades.

What is the best part of your job?The National Guard has given me so much over the years. They paid for

my college degree. They have given me a career. The best part about my job is I get to share that with others.

Do you have any words of advice for someone consider-ing a career in your fi eld?

Be open minded to the process, study for the test, and if you are really interested, DO IT!

A weekly series providing information on career exploration

Robert Maldonado Recruiting and Retention Noncommission Offi cer, Career Counselor Ohio Army National Guard 3520 Grove Ave., Lorain, OH

Pathways to success:

A recruiter can help a prospective service mem-ber determine whether he or she qualifi es for enlistment or as an offi cer. A recruiter can also explain the various enlistment options and de-scribe the military occupational specialties.

For the next couple of weeks, we will feature...

Opportunities should be very good for qualifi ed individ-uals in all branches of the Armed Forces through 2026. All services have needs to fi ll entry-level and professional positions as current members of the Armed Forces move up through the ranks, leave the service, or retire.

Important QualitiesLeadership skills. Members of the Armed Forces work to-gether to achieve their missions. Those who want to advance ranks need to be able lead others in the completion of assigned duties or missions.

Mental preparedness. Members of the Armed Forces must be mentally fi t and able to handle stressful situations that can occur during military operations.Physical fi tness. Members of the Armed Forces must be physically fi t to participate in, or support, combat missions that may be diffi cult or dangerous.Readiness. Members of the Armed Forces must be ready and able to report for military assignments on short notice.

The military has been an all-volunteer force since the end of the draft in 1973. When the economy is thriving and civilian employment opportunities are

generally more favorable, it is more diffi cult for the military to meet its recruitment quotas. It is also more diffi cult to meet these goals during

times of war, when recruitment goals typi-cally rise. During economic downturns,

candidates for military service may face competition.

The goal of the Armed Forces is to maintain a force suffi cient to deter, fi ght, and overcome various threats or confl icts in multiple regions at the same time. Emerg-ing confl icts and global events, however, could lead to changes in the size of the military branches. Consequently, the nation is expected to maintain adequate personnel in the Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.Members of the U.S. military service maintain the U.S. national defense. Although some service members work in occupations specifi c to the military, such as fi ght-er pilots or infantrymen, many work in occupations that also exist in the civilian workplace, such as nurses, doctors, and lawyers. Members serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or in the Reserve components of these branches, and in the Air National Guard and Army National Guard.

EducationAll branches of the Armed Forces require their members to be high school graduates or have equivalent credentials. Offi cers usually need a bachelor’s degree. Some offi cers enter-ing the service may need to have education be-yond a bachelor’s degree. For example, offi cers entering as military lawyers need a law degree. Those who want to become an offi cer have several options to meet the education require-ments, including the aforementioned federal service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine), the Reserve Of-fi cers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs, Offi cer Candidate School (OCS), and other programs.