Military Careers
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Photo courtesy of U.S., Air Force
Military Service as Career Option
• The armed forces include four branches:
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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?
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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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
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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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
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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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Graphic courtesy of Clipart.com
Air Force Enlistee Occupations
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Administrative
Combat specialty
Construction
Electronic and
electrical equipment
repair
• Engineering, science,
and technical
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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 collegelevel work
• Most Air Force bases offer
off-duty programs that
lead to professional
certificates or associate,
bachelor’s, or master’s
degrees
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
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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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Graphic courtesy of Clipart.com
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Photo courtesy of www.airforce.com/education/enlisted/ccaf.php
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Photo courtesy of :www.defendamerica.mil/.../ 2002-12/20021204.html
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Photo courtesy of www.airforce.com/life/officer/livingQuarters.php
Officer Requirements
• Must be a US citizen and have at least a bachelor’s
degree from an accredited college
• Must successfully complete an officercommissioning 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 academies
3. Officer Training School (OTS)
4. Direct appointment
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Graphic available
http://www.defenselink.mil/multimedia/web_graphics/airforce
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Graphic Available: http://www.af.mil/art/index.asp?galleryID=70&page=22
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)
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Graphic
available:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4d/US_
Navy_NRTOC_040508-N-2383B-377.jpg
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Photo courtesy of http://www.academyadmissions.com/intro/index.php
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
Graphic courtesy of :http://www.afoats.af.mil/OTS/index.asp
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
Chapter 1, Lesson 2
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