Employers
The U.S. government employs the military. More than 1.2 million active duty personnel served in the armed forces as of February 2024, with 441,226 in the Army; 323,856 in the Navy; 312,691 in the Air Force; 166,542 in the Marine Corps; and 39,085 in the Coast Guard.
Starting Out
Military officers get their start through programs at military academies, through the Reserved Officers Training Program (ROTC) at their college or university, or through Officer Candidate School after graduating from college. A military recruiter is the person to contact for those wanting to enter the armed forces. To start out in any branch, you will need to pass physical and medical tests, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam, and basic training. Visit https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces to locate a recruiting office near you.
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Architects
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Bodyguards
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Drone Pilots
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Flight Instructors
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Futurists
- Gunsmiths
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Interpreters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Meteorologists
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Optical Engineers
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- Security Consultants
- Security Guards
- Space Pilots
- Space Systems Operators
- Translators