Military Careers

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Lesson Overview

• Military service as a career option• The Air and Space Expeditionary

Force• How to enter the Air Force as a

member of the enlisted corps• How to enter the Air Force as a

member of the officer corps

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Quick Write

Write a short paragraph about why, or why not, a military career might interest you

Photo courtesy of U.S., Air Force

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Military Service as Career Option

• The armed forces include four branches:– Air Force– Army– Navy– Marine Corps

• The armed forces have more than 4,100 career specialties

• The US Air Force consists of approximately 325,000 men and women

• Men and women of the US Air Force fly, maintain, and support the world’s most technically advanced air and space vehicles

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Why Choose a Military Career?

• Military careers are challenging• They require hard work and

intelligence• The work offers great responsibility• You may apply the skills gained in the

military to a job as a civilian• Families often find the military service

to be a calling, a family tradition

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

What Military Life Is Like

• Earnings: Pay starts low, but increases quickly as you are promoted

• Working Conditions: Much of the work is outdoors – deployed in many locations around the world

• Hours: Vary, depending on your job• Age: You must be 18 years old (or 17 with

consent of a parent or guardian) • Physical requirements: You must be in

good physical shape

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Other Benefits of Military Life

• You’ll be serving your country!

• Job security is great• Health care for you, your

spouse, and children• 30 days of paid vacation

each year• Low-cost life insurance• Travel abroad • Retire with full benefits

after only 20 years of service

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Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Military Training in Civilian Life

• Each branch of the military offers the opportunity to gain different types of skills

• Many positions have civilian equivalents

• 80 percent of armed services career specialties have similar job functions in the civilian world

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Air and Space Expeditionary Force

• The Air Force is organized into 10 Air and Space Expeditionary Forces (AEFs) and five Mobility Leadership Wings

• At any given time, two of the 10 AEFs will be deployed overseas

• Units serve in 20-month cycles• The purpose of this is to meet the country’s

national security needs while allowing personnel and their families to plan their personal lives

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Enlisted Corps• Young men and women

who enter the armed forces with a high school diploma or equivalent

• Make up 85 percent of military personnel

• Fill office, transportation, mechanical, human services, and combat jobs

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Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Air Force Enlisted Corps

• Airman: Enters at the beginning level and focuses on learning skills (note: when used generically, Airman can refer to any member of the Air Force)

• Noncommissioned Officer (NCO): Has advanced technical skills and can serve in some leadership positions

• Senior NCO: Highly skilled and serves among the top enlisted leaders and managers

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Requirements for USAF Enlisted Corps

• Must be in good health• Must have at least a high school

diploma or equivalent• High school graduates must score at

least 36 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB); persons with a general equivalency diploma must score at least 64

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Security Investigations

• All prospective enlisted members of the Air Force undergo a preliminary security investigation

• A security investigation involves providing information on any past arrests or questioning by law enforcement officers

• Air Force member must maintain high standards of behavior

• They handle secret national security information and equipment

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Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Air Force Enlistee Occupations

• Administrative• Combat specialty• Construction• Electronic and

electrical equipment repair

• Engineering, science, and technical

• Health care• Human resources • Machine operator• Media and public

affairs• Protective service• Support service• Transportation

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Educational Opportunities for Enlisted Corps

• Job training, technical education, and college-level work

• Most Air Force bases offer off-duty programs that lead to professional certificates or associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees

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Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Testing Programs

• Enlistees may earn college credits by passing certain tests

• The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

• The test covers English composition, social sciences, history, natural sciences, humanities, math

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Chapter 1, Lesson 2

USAF Community College

• The largest multicampus, two-year college in the world

• Offers an associate of applied science degree in AF specialties

• All active-duty personnel are eligible for admission after they pass the ASVAB and complete basic training

Photo courtesy of www.airforce.com/education/enlisted/ccaf.php

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Education and Commissioning

• Allows Airmen on active duty to earn degrees in technical fields that the Air Force needs

• These include meteorology, nursing, foreign languages, foreign area studies, mathematics, physics, computer science, and engineering

• Attend a civilian college or university full-time and earn second lieutenant’s commission through the Officer Training School (OTS)

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Delayed-Entry Program

• You can enlist in the Air Force before you graduate from high school and report to training after you graduate

• You will not be required to participate in any activities or receive pay or benefits during the waiting time

• You must agree to enter active duty on a certain date

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Officer Corps

• Commissioned officers are personnel who enter the armed forces with a four-year college degree

• Some commissioned officers compete to enter and earn a commission from the President after confirmation by Congress

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Commissioned Officers

• Fill managerial, professional, and technical jobs

• Include doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, and pilots

• Make up 15 percent of the armed forces

U.S. Air Force Capt. (Dr.) James Garman, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, examines an Afghan boy during a Medical Civil Assistance Program

Photo courtesy of :www.defendamerica.mil/.../ 2002-12/20021204.html

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Air Force Officer Benefits

• Officers receive the same benefits as enlisted personnel, but their pay and housing allowances are higher because of their higher rank and responsibility

Photo courtesy of www.airforce.com/life/officer/livingQuarters.php

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Officer Requirements

• Must be a US citizen and have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college

• Must successfully complete an officer-commissioning program

• Must achieve the required scores in each of the five areas (pilot, navigator, verbal, quantitative, and academic aptitude) on the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT)

• Must be physically fit and of high moral character

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Air Force Officer Occupations

• Combat specialty• Engineering,

science, and technical

• Executive, administrative, and managerial

• Health care

• Human resources • Media and public

affairs• Protective services• Support services• Transportation

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Four Paths to Becoming an Officer

1. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

2. The service academies3. Officer Training School

(OTS)4. Direct appointment

Graphic available http://www.defenselink.mil/multimedia/web_graphics/airforce

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Reserve Officer Training Corps

• Train for two, three, or four years• Receive scholarships for tuition,

books, fees, and uniforms• Get a monthly allowance, or

stipend• Perform leadership-building

activities• Take part in military training

exercises• Graduating ROTC candidates

receive commissions as military officers

Graphic Available: http://www.af.mil/art/index.asp?galleryID=70&page=22

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Service Academies

• United States Military Academy at West Point, New York (Army)

• United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland (Navy and Marine Corps)

• United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado (Air Force)

Graphic available:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4d/US_Navy_NRTOC_040508-N-2383B-377.jpg

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Requirements for the Academies

• Only the highest-qualified candidates are accepted

• Must be at least 17 years old, a citizen of the US, of good moral character, and academically and physically qualified

• Must be nominated by a US senator or representative; sometimes by the vice president or the president

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

USAF Academy

• Established in 1954• Prepares cadets for

careers as Air Force officers

• Receive a broad education

• Receive a bachelor of science degree

• Receive a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force

• Maintain a vigorous daily schedule, conform to discipline, and live by an honor code

Photo courtesy of http://

www.academyadmissions.com/intro/index.php

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Officer Training School

• Trains and commissions officers for the Air Force

• The goal is to instill high standards of conduct and provide officer candidates with military knowledge and skills needed for effective performance

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Direct Appointments

• Professionals in medicine, law, biomedical, engineering, and religion who are fully qualified in their fields may apply to receive direct appointments as military officers

Graphic courtesy of :http://www.afoats.af.mil/OTS/index.asp

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Air Force Assignments

• Assignments are based on the needs of the Air Force

• All officers are eligible for and subject to assignments anywhere in the world

• Officers may volunteer for service in certain areas, but there is no guarantee

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Educational Leave of Absence Program

• Under the Air Force Educational Leave of Absence (AFELA) program, enlisted or officers are temporarily released from military duty to attend a college or university

• To be eligible, you must be working toward a bachelor’s or higher degree

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Educational Leave of Absence Program

• Must attend a college full-time• Will receive basic military pay, but

no allowances• Upon graduation must return to

your previous duty• Your service commitment is

extended to cover twice the length of time you’ve spent in college

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Review

• When you’re starting to make plans for your career, the options are endless

• Service in the armed forces is one of those options

• As the world and the United States change, new threats to the United States emerge

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Review

• The Air Force’s new concept of organization is called the Air and Space Expeditionary Force (AEF)

• There are several requirements for entering the Air Force as a member of the enlisted corps

• There are several requirements for entering the Air Force as a member of the officer corps

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Summary

• Military service as an career option• The Air and Space Expeditionary

Force• How to enter the Air Force as a

member of the enlisted corps• How to enter the Air Force as a

member of the officer corps

Chapter 1, Lesson 2

Next

• Today we’ve learned about military careers

• Next we’ll learn about careers in aerospace

Graphic courtesy of Clilpart.com