Careers in the US Army

CAREERS IN THE

US ARMY

Institute Research Number 123 ISBN 1-58511-123-6

CAREERS IN THE

US ARMY SERVE YOUR COUNTRY AND GET A GREAT EDUCATION WORLD EVENTS ARE PUTTING A NEW SPOTLIGHT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE US

Army. These are the people who wage war on our enemies and defend our security around the globe. They are the ones airlifting food to starving civilians and keeping the peace in volatile regions such as the border between North and South Korea. A career in the Army is a way to actively serve your country. It’s a challenging choice, testing your courage and presence of mind in extreme conditions. Those extreme and often hazardous conditions bring you greater rewards and greater respect. People who are not in the military recognize that it’s a highly disciplined life with many sacrifices, and they hold you in higher esteem than many other professions. The

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greater rewards come in terms of the comprehensive benefits which eclipse anything in the private sector: free housing, meals, medical care, 30 days paid vacation a year, money for education, and a substantial pension after only 20 years of service. Because of the nature of its work, the Army is its own world. It feeds, clothes, houses, and trains its personnel. Many of the jobs needed in the miliary are the same as civilian occupations, for example, food service workers, plumbers, nurses, firefighters, and information technology staff. This report focuses primarily on the careers specific to the military, that you wouldn’t find in ordinary workplaces. These include combat specialties, intelligence, and recruiting. It presumes you are interested in a life career, not just serving a term of enlistment. It gives you an overview of what’s involved and what to think about, as a guide to learning more and making an informed decision.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ARMY? IF YOU GREW UP IN A MILITARY

family, you know a lot of what’s involved from the point of view of how it impacted you. But you probably don’t know the specifics from a career standpoint. Sit down with your parents or another relative who has military experience and ask what they like and dislike about their jobs, what it takes to get promoted, what kind of training you need. Do they think there’s a good future in the Army? Do they think you would be well suited for it? You may want to talk to friends of your parents, to get a broader perspective. If you don’t have first-hand exposure to the Army through your family, you need to get some. Army life is very different from the one you have been leading up to now. It’s different from movies you may have seen, such as Stripes and Private Benjamin. It’s different from your grandfather’s experience in the Korean War, or your father’s in Vietnam. Talk to people who are currently serving. One of your teachers might be a reservist. Your counselor might know of someone. You might live near a base and be able to meet someone stationed there on leave and visiting in your town. That would be a great way to get a real first-hand impression.

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There’s usually a recruiting office nearby. Get

some literature and talk with the staff. Just be aware that recruiters are salespeople. It’s their job to paint an inviting picture and not dwell on the negative aspects. If you are visiting colleges, check out one that has an ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program and see if you can sit in on a session. Talk to the students there and see what they have to say about it. Many high schools give you the chance to take the Armed Services aptitude test. You can also take it without obligation at a recruiting office. The Army uses it as a placement exam, so if you do well, you’ll know you’ll be able to get into a particular job or training program. Take a look at the Web sites listed at the end of this report. There is a wealth of information on line. Take time to organize what you learn from different sources. Then take time to digest it. What will a career in the Army do for you? Are you up to the challenge? You are the only one who can answer those questions.

HISTORY OF ARMY CAREERS WHEN THE AMERICAN COLONIES WERE FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM

Britain, no one knew if they would be successful. In fact, the prospects looked pretty dim, with farmers and tradesmen pitted against battle-hardened English troops and their Hessian mercenaries. Those who joined the Continental Army were not looking for a military career. They wanted to defend their homes and families (short-term) and shake off the rule of King George (long-term). The longest enlistment period was three years, not long enough to make it a career. Some women served by default. There is the story of Mary Ludwig Hays, known as Molly Pitcher, who followed her husband into battle and carried water to him and his companions. When he was wounded, she is said to have taken his place in the fighting. Other women, called matrons, tended to the sick and hurt. The new United States wrote laws about its army which were influenced by the Colonists’ experiences. They wanted state militias that could be called up in times of war, not a standing force which had the potential for abuse by the government. 4

To illustrate what the US Army was like in the early days, there were farmers in Pennsylvania, upset by a liquor tax and were roughing up tax collectors in 1794. President Washington called up 15,000 militiamen and that stopped the Whiskey Rebellion instantly. The troublemakers were arrested and the militiamen went back to their farms and businesses. A vulnerable new nation, the United States was often threatened and harassed by Britain and other countries, and people realized we needed a corps of career officers who could train those who were ordered into active duty. We had been lucky during the American Revolution to have the help of sympathetic officers such as Baron von Stueben, who had drilled the troops at Valley Forge. The US Military Academy was started in 1802 in West Point, New York. It graduated officers such as Robert E. Lee, following in the footsteps of his father, a calvary officer in the Revolution. Still, the regular army was very small, and most conflicts followed the militia model, with more opportunities for glory there than on the federal level. In the War of 1812, Andrew Jackson, a major general in the Tennessee militia, routed the British at the Battle of New Orleans, 71 to 2000 in terms of American-British casualties. William Henry Harrison, the governor of the Indiana Territory, was made commander of all the US troops in what was then the Northwest. He had been in the army for seven years as a young man. He recaptured Detroit from the British and defeated them and their Indian allies as they fled into Canada. Both Harrison and Jackson used their military exploits to win terms in the White House. The Civil War of 1861-65 brought agonizing choices to career soldiers. They would be fighting against classmates, friends, even members of their own families. Robert E. Lee was offered the command of both the federal and rebel forces. He stayed up all night before making the decision to resign his commission and join the Confederacy; he felt he could not take up arms against his native state of Virginia. Women played a larger role in this war. Dorothea Dix was superintendent of the Union Army nurses and recruited many other women to help her. Some women went so far as to disguise themselves as men and enlisted; often they were only discovered after they were wounded or killed.

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African-Americans were able to fight in the US forces for the first time after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. The US Colored Troops were recruited in border areas and were headed by white officers. They fought fiercely in many campaigns, knowing that capture meant execution or a return to slavery. The 9th and 10th calvary regiments, created in 1866, were sent west and fought in the Indian wars until the end of the 19th century. Members were called Buffalo Soldiers by the Indians because of their hair resembling buffalo fur. Domestic postings were the general rule for career soldiers up until June 1917, when the US entered World War I. The Army had to gear up from 200,000 men to that same number of officers in charge of 3.8 million enlisted soldiers. The organizational and training needs were huge. Only about half the number who were drafted or joined made it overseas by war’s end in November 1918. There they had to deal with new weapons such as the tank, machine gun, and long-range artillery. New forms of communications – the field telephone and radio – put leaders in touch with their units more rapidly than ever before. More money was appropriated for defense in 1939 as President Roosevelt saw war clouds gathering in Europe and Asia. When war was declared after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, there was a total ramp-up on both the military and civilian sides. Factories went to around-the-clock production of bombers, tanks, and bullets. National Guard units, which many people had joined for the income, were activated for the duration. New units were created, the Rangers and military police, for example, that gave greater opportunities for both regular and draft personnel to use their talents. For the first time, women were awarded military rank. Personnel in the US Cadet Nurse Corps supervised male corpsmen. Members of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) ferried planes, towed training targets, and fulfilled many necessary noncombat jobs. About 100,000 women served, around 17,000 overseas. This time around, African-Americans did get to fight, mostly in the 92nd and 93rd divisions, a few as pilots. But many were not given weapons training and were placed in jobs such as food service and warehousing. It was not until 1948 that President Truman ordered the armed forces desegregated. The Army dragged its heels at first, but went on to become the most integrated branch of the military. Colin Powell, for example, was commissioned an officer in 1958 from ROTC, 6

and went up the ranks until he became the first African-American to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in 1989. After the war, world alliances shifted with the collapse of Nazi Germany and the increased territory of the Soviet Bloc. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in 1949; SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) in 1954. Members of these alliances pledged to help if any member was attacked. Army personnel were posted in places such as Germany and the Philippines to be ready in case of invasion. Starting in 1955, the Army helped train the army of South Vietnam in its war against Communist North Vietnam. For the career soldier, working with allies in foreign countries required diplomatic skills and adjustments to others’ ways. The Korean War, 1950-1953, pitted the US against Communist Chinese forces aiding North Korea. In 1957, President Eisenhower sent federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to enforce a court order allowing African-American students to enroll at the all-white high school. Ten years later, troops and the National Guard battled African-American rioters in Detroit. Just as in the Civil War, Army personnel found themselves fighting fellow Americans and having to decide to follow orders or their consciences. The 1970s brought many changes to the Army. Chief among them was the end of the war in Vietnam. It had escalated from more and more advisors being sent, to close to half a million troops who effectively took over from the South Vietnamese the fight against the Vietcong. Guerilla tactics and jungle terrain frustrated career officers and their drafted personnel, leading to mistakes like the killing of civilians thought to be Vietcong at Mylai. Anti-war sentiment strengthened as the war dragged on with no end in sight. The Army staff felt that prevented them from getting the men and tools they needed to achieve a lasting victory. A military career was looked down upon in that era. Society was split into two camps, the hawks (pro-war) and the doves (pro-peace). The efforts of the doves resulted in all US troops leaving Vietnam in 1973, the end of the draft, and in 1977, a presidential pardon for draft evaders. The end of the draft turned the Army into an all-volunteer force. The people who joined it now wanted to be there. Recruiters became very important, and many changes were made to make the Army more attractive. One of these was giving greater opportunities to women. 7

Two women were made brigadier generals in 1970; other branches of the military followed the Army’s lead in the next few years. The WAC was decommissioned in 1978 and its members placed in regular units in all types of noncombat jobs. They did the majority of basic training with male troops, went on maneuvers with them, served in conflicts with them. This was hard for career personnel who had spent years in an exclusively male environment. But they saw that women worked out well. In 1993, the Army allowed women to participate in aerial combat missions. They still are not allowed in ground combat. Army operations in the 1980s and 1990s focused on short wars and peacekeeping missions. The US invaded Grenada in 1983 to prevent a Communist government from being installed. In 1989, troops invaded Panama to oust dictator Manuel Noriega, a threat to US interests in the Panama Canal. The Persian Gulf War (1991) responded to Iraq’s attack on Kuwait and its oil reserves, needed by the US. Following UN requests, troops were sent to Somalia (1992-1995), Haiti (1995) and Bosnia (1995) as part of an international peacekeeping force. These types of operations placed Army personnel in parts of the world where Americans were disliked. They had to be careful both on and off duty not to add fuel to the fire.

Military operations started in Afghanistan in the

fall of 2001. They succeeded in toppling the government of the Taliban, supporters of terrorist campaigns. US forces invaded Iraq in 2003, and although they easily ended the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the violent insurgency still has not be been successfully eliminated and continues to cause death and destruction. America has not yet achieved the goal of eliminating worldwide terrorism. President Bush has said this may take years. Those who have made the Army their career will be there as long as it takes.

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YOU MIGHT WORK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD A UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE ARMY ARE THE POSTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND

around the world. Wherever there is a need for national security, the Army will be there. The states with the most military installations are: Virginia California Texas North Carolina Some of the biggest bases are: Fort Dix, New Jersey Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Fort Knox, Kentucky Fort Sill, Oklahoma Where you work depends first of all on your training. If you have chosen aviation, for example, the training is done at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Then you are sent to a place that needs your skills. It’s important to know that you will never be in one place for very long. Career soldiers are moved every two to three years. You could be close to your parents one time and in the Far East another time. As you gain more seniority you will be posted in places for longer periods, and you can request to stay longer in a particular assignment. Moving so often exposes you to different cultures, even within the US. You’ll be living in places others only experience for a week or two. And if you don’t like it, you won’t have to put up with it for very long. If you like the challenge of plunging into new situations, meeting new people, and seeing the world, the Army is a good choice. If you are more comfortable sticking close to home and being near the friends you grew up with, then you may not be happy in the Army.

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SOME ARMY-ONLY JOBS THERE ARE SO MANY JOBS IN THE ARMY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO COVER THEM ALL. THE

descriptions here will give you an introduction to some occupations which are unique to the Army.

Most have two tracks to them: enlisted and officer. Enlisted personnel make up 85% of the Army. They are the workers and producers. Officers make up 15% of the Army. They are the planners and supervisors. Most do not have hands-on participation in what the enlisted personnel do. Think of the structure as equivalent to foremen and laborers in a factory, or managers and workers in an office. The majority of enlisted and officer jobs are open to both men and women.

Intelligence Work

The Army needs to know about the plans of enemies or potential enemies. How many troops? Where are they? What will they do? To find out, aerial photographs are taken, coded communications intercepted, maps drawn, data analyzed. Intelligence specialists are the enlisted personnel who harvest and study information from clandestine sources. You need a good sense of geography and math in order to work with charts and graphs. Computer skills are important for creating databases and “if-then” scenarios. If you work with color-coded maps, you can’t be color blind. Intelligence officers plan out the types of surveillance and testing of reconnaissance equipment, like night vision goggles and enhanced eavesdropping devices. You supervise production of intelligence reports and take those findings to the commanders. You’re part of the team planning combat missions. For this job, you need managerial skills, analytical skills, and abstract reasoning skills. A strong math background, coupled with cryptology and computer science, will help you succeed.

Training and Education Those who are entering the Army don’t

know how to launch missiles or set up a radar installation. Highly specialized instruction must be provided. Even those who have been in the Army for several years need to learn how to operate new weapons or equipment. Job education is also necessary for career soldiers to be promoted, with advanced classes in leadership and motivation as well as computers and electronics.

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The enlisted personnel who teach others in the Army are called training specialists and instructors. They plan lessons, tests, and handouts, deliver lectures, and are available for students’ questions. Some courses are given on videotape or in a distance learning format. Good communications skills are paramount, both in speaking and writing. The success of your students should be important to you, as there is a significant counseling component to the job. Training directors are the officers who train the instructors. They would be the equivalent to school principals. They assign and evaluate the instructors according to educational goals they have developed. Directors create new courses and make sure there are enough courses to meet the needs of personnel in a particular location. This is critical because personnel are guaranteed training in their chosen field; if the Army doesn’t provide it, those personnel can leave. You will need a college degree to be a director, and sometimes a master’s degree. The degree could be in education, industrial psychology, or organizational development. You should be a big picture person, able to coordinate many things at once, and keep instructors and students happy.

Recruiting Every year about 40,000 people join the Army through

the efforts of recruiting specialists (enlisted) and recruiting managers (officers). Many thousands of military personnel are also re-enlisted or guided in their careers by those in recruiting. Specialists staff storefront offices or centers on high school campuses. They may share space with recruiters of other branches of the armed forces. They field general inquiries and guide interested people through the process of joining. They explain what the Army is like, what benefits it offers, and what is expected of recruits. You need to like working with young people in this job; you should also be able to relate to career personnel who may be older than you. You need to be honest and present a complete and up-to-date picture of the Army to whomever you are counseling. There is a fair amount of travel and public speaking involved. You also need good organizational skills to follow up on your case load. Managers are responsible for the efforts of recruiting specialists. They set goals and encourage specialists to convert inquiries to sign-ups. They try new methods of reaching target audiences. They keep statistics and share them with commanders.

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A manager needs a college degree and an affinity for personnel management. You are a source of motivation and support to your recruiters; you have to get them what they need, such as brochures and videos. You will be speaking to many different audiences, from parents to community groups to colonels. Being a people person is crucial.

Survival Equipment Specialist

Tangled parachutes and torn life vests could mean dead soldiers and failed missions. To prevent those things from happening, specialists check and repair equipment needed for combat and rescue operations. This can involve fixing rips in tents, stocking aircraft with flares, and checking the freshness date on emergency rations. You need to be detail-oriented, careful to double-check your work, especially when the pressure is on to get as many soldiers out in the field as quickly as possible. A lot is riding on your shoulders. Basic knowledge of science and shop mechanics is helpful. This job is only for enlisted soldiers.

Weapons Maintenance This is another position without an officer equivalent. A few specialities in this field are open only to men, but you need more brain than brawn in these days of electronic gyroscopes and laser sights. You’ll be taught how to read blueprints and operate test equipment. You’ll solve problems with launching or aiming. You’ll inspect the weapons on site, and perform scheduled cleaning and maintenance. Attention to detail is important; science, math, and shop are useful.

Special Operations Forces (men only)

There are certain missions that call for the skills of small teams of soldiers. Examples would be rescuing wounded personnel, attacking positions behind enemy lines, blowing up bridges, and clearing obstacles to troop movement. It is extremely physically challenging, requiring team members who are enlisted men to be expert swimmers, marathon runners, and survivalists. You need to think on your feet and stay calm in the face of danger. You’ll handle and defuse explosives, so you need good eyesight and coordination. You have to keep in peak condition, since you can be sent anywhere at any time. In between missions, you’ll be practicing your mental and physical skills.

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Special Operations officers lead their teams to their objectives. They train constantly and teach special techniques. They coordinate with other units in the field and take care of administrative details. You need a college degree and knowledge of the physical sciences and physical education. Be aware that more people apply to be Special Operations officers than are chosen; it is seen as an elite force, and there is a lot of competition.

Infantry (men only)

The Infantry are the basic fighting unit of the Army. They are the ones on the front lines, most in danger of being killed. They are the ones who kill the enemy using rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles. It takes someone who is mentally and physically strong to be able to do this job. Though you will be practicing without live ammunition in war games, when it comes to the real thing you will have to kill, in hand-to-hand combat if necessary. Training and combat conditions are rough; you eat and sleep outdoors, and you don’t get a good rest until there’s a break in the action, sometimes not for months. You build or rig your own shelter: foxholes, tents, bunkers. Infantry officers work out in the field with their men. They decide what tactics to use, both offensively and defensively. They coordinate their plans with officers of artillery and air support units. You’ll need to learn modern combat strategy and the deployment of squads and platoons. You have to be able to lead your men into battle and have them do what you ask them to do. Courage is a given. Knowledge of history (past battles), public administration, and engineering gives you a good foundation.

Combat Engineers (men only) Building things under fire – that’s the short definition of this job. You are constructing and repairing what the troops need in battle: airfields, roads, bridges, bunkers, fortifications. You camouflage installations and equipment. You may be called at any time to engage the enemy. Being a combat engineer calls for quick thinking under stress, for example, building a shelter with hand tools because there’s no electricity for power tools. You need a background in industrial arts, math, and science to know how to put things together and how well they’ll stand up. You need to be strong to lift construction materials and work outdoors for long stretches at a time. This job is an enlisted man’s occupation, and there are no officer equivalents.

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SOLDIERS TALK ABOUT THEIR CAREERS I’m a Regimental Executive Officer “My father was

a career Army Officer and served two tours in Vietnam as a combat infantryman, and a scout helicopter pilot. I enjoyed the experiences I had growing up and liked moving around the country every two to four years.

One of the great things about the military is that we truly are a melting pot unto ourselves. Soldiers from the US marry others from all over the world, so as a kid it’s kind of neat when your best friend’s mom is from Italy, and teaches you something about her country, or prepares an authentic dish from home. Moving so much gave me great confidence as I grew up that I could go anywhere and be just fine. Be it New York City or Fayetteville, North Carolina, I always felt comfortable wherever I went. Another factor, is that like many professions, the same families carry on. Most of us serving now had parents that served. This is especially common today given that we are a volunteer force. I feel very strongly about the need for a military that will protect our way of life. I must admit that I am at times disheartened that many in our country do not seem to feel the same way or have forgotten that freedom isn’t free. ROTC was a great experience. Of course, I knew going into college that I wanted to make the military a career, so I thoroughly enjoyed all of the training. I was afforded the opportunity to make my first parachute jump at age 19 and made friends that are with me to this day. Being an army brat helped a great deal when it came to the transition from ROTC to the Army. I knew what to expect and got great advice from my father. After completing the Infantry Officers Basic Course and the Mortar Platoon leaders course at Ft. Benning, Georgia, I volunteered for and received duty in Korea, where I served for 15 months with an Infantry Battalion as a platoon leader (36 soldiers) and then company Executive Officer (165 men). While in Korea I spent 30 days attending Air Assault school in Hawaii, and my vacation days in Japan.

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After Korea, I served two years as a Pathfinder (Paratrooper) platoon leader at Fort Rucker, Alabama. From there it was back to Ft. Benning for the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and Ranger School. After completing these courses I served at Fort Ord, California for 19 months as a Brigade Air Operations Officer. The highlight of that tour was participating in the response to the Los Angeles riots (resulting from the beating of Rodney King in 1992). It was then off to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for two and a half years of service as a Paratrooper company commander. During this tour I deployed to Panama (one month), Puerto Rico (three weeks), Haiti (five months) and Mexico (two weeks). Upon completion of these assignments I served two and a half years as a company commander and staff officer with the 3rd US Infantry Regiment in Washington, DC. This unit conducts ceremonies at the White House and Pentagon for the President of the US and arriving dignitaries. We also do the burials in Arlington National Cemetery (we bury all presidents) and guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Next, I went off to the Naval (that’s right, Naval) War College for one year, where I earned my master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. After completing my master’s, I headed back to Fort Bragg for one year as a Paratrooper Infantry Battalion Executive Officer (750 men), and one year as a Corps Staff Officer responsible for matters in Europe and the Pacific. Last June I moved yet again to my current position back in Washington D.C with the 3rd US infantry again, this time serving as the Regimental Executive Officer. The Executive Officer (or XO) is the second in command in companies, battalions, brigades and regiments. Supervision of the staff takes up most of the time. At battalion and brigade level there are usually six or seven staff sections: personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, communications, maintenance, medical. I must ensure that anything the staff does is correct and presented properly to whomever the audience may be. The XO also runs the Tactical Operations Center (where all plans and missions are created) when the unit is doing field training (war games). When the Commander is absent, I assume command. 15

I truly enjoy being a defender of the nation and take this profession very seriously. Being an infantryman, I get to jump out of airplanes, rappel from helicopters, and many other exciting feats. The benefits are good, and you don’t have to be worried about someone coming in out of the blue and telling you that you have been laid off. The travel and opportunity to see so many different places and things are definitely a plus. Seeing so many people whom I grew up with also rates high. On the downside, frequent deployments mean that you sometimes miss those special life moments such as weddings and holidays with the family. One needs to be unselfish and focused on the team in order to successfully serve in the military, and it helps to have a personality that can easily adapt to sudden change. Individual responsibility and accountability are paramount in whatever you undertake. It’s not the experience, it’s what you do with it. The only training I’d undertake before joining is basic physical fitness. All too frequently we get young men and women who are physically weak after a life of being a couch potato. Eventually, the weak are weeded out.”

I’m a Training Support Battalion Executive Officer “I decided on the Army as a

career because it gave me experience in a leadership position at a young age, and I got my college tuition paid by the government. ROTC filled the void of not playing collegiate sports in terms of physical activity and camaraderie. After ROTC came reality. We were taught the ideal, and the real world doesn’t always reflect that. I started out as an Aeroscout Platoon Leader and also Brigade Intelligence Officer, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Then I was Assistant Operations Officer and Apache Attack Helicopter Company Commander in Germany and Bosnia. I was Public Affairs Detachment Commander in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Kosovo. I am currently a Training Support Battalion Executive

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Officer in Chicago, Illinois. I like the travel and people (and flying). Being away from family is hard, though. A training support battalion has three missions: 1. Help Army National Guard and Army Reserve units with their training. We help them develop their plan and then accompany them to their annual training in the summer and coach and evaluate them. 2. Provide mobilization assistance to reserve units that have been called to active duty. We verify they have met training and administrative requirements and are ready to deploy to their duty station. 3. Provide military assistance to civil authorities. We work with federal relief agencies to coordinate the use of Department of Defense assets in a disaster situation. For instance, a unit like mine from Fort Drum, New York performed that mission after the attack at the World Trade Center. Training support divisions are unique because they are made up of both active and reserve soldiers. My commander is a reservist, and there are 102 reservists in this unit and only 19 full-time people. I am the senior full-time person. As Executive Officer, I direct and coordinate the staff and act as the commander in his absence.”

I’m a Public Affairs Officer “I’m the official

spokesperson for the Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Fort Rucker is where all the Army’s aviation soldiers are trained, and where future aviation requirements are developed. We have three primary missions in the public affairs office: media relations, community relations, and internal information. We write speeches, escort and facilitate media, produce a weekly post newspaper, conduct media training for soldiers, and liaison with community officials on the local, state, and national level. The office staff is comprised of soldiers from the rank of E-4 (Specialist) through me, at the rank of O-4 (Major). We also have the Department of the Army civilians and contractors who are part of the team. 17

For me, a military career was an easy decision. I grew up with a father and a grandfather who served in the military. I was raised to believe that we all should somehow serve our country. I never considered any other career route. Truthfully, I did the bare minimum to get by in ROTC. I focused my energy into my other courses, and my fraternity. Luckily, I attended a university with an ROTC cadre that stressed scholastics and having a well-rounded college experience. Having grown up as an army brat I did not have problems going from ROTC to active duty. But I think there may have been for some of my ROTC classmates, the ones that had no prior experience with the military. I have served in a variety of positions and locations throughout my career. All of us spend a certain amount of time going through institutional training, from the officers’ basic course, through more specific training like flight school and job-specific qualification courses. I’ve served as a platoon leader and had two tours as a commander. I’ve also had many staff jobs from being a logistics officer to intelligence and security, training and operations, and maintenance. I’ve been stationed in Germany, Korea, Ft. Bragg and St. Louis, Missouri. My assignments/ deployments have taken me all over the Far East, Middle East, Europe, and Central America. Believe it or not, I’m proud every day putting on my uniform, knowing I’m serving my country. I’ve had the opportunity to see the world, and to take my family to many of these places. The people we’ve met, friends we’ve made, and places and things we’ve experienced have made us better people. On the other hand, the same things that make the military great – moving around OFTEN – make it hard to juggle a family and a successful marriage. It calls for a lot of sacrifice on everyone’s part. For those who don’t serve, it’s tough to imagine your job taking you away from your family at Christmas, on anniversaries, for birthdays, and not knowing when you’ll return. My family is ready to settle down and stay in one place longer than two years.

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To do well in the Army, I think one needs to have a strong sense of duty and patriotism towards our country first. Career military people are not in it for the money. If you want something from your government then you should be willing to give something back. But you also must be willing to allow your life to be directed by others – this is the sacrifice I spoke of. I don’t think there are any courses one can take to prepare. Once you join, the military will make sure you receive the training you need to be successful.”

I’m a Female Public Affairs Officer “I enrolled in Army ROTC at my university because it was the only ROTC program available there. I did not initially go into the program for money or a scholarship but because I thought the military was a career I might be interested in – my father was career Air Force. I became very impressed with the Army cadre and the example they set, and developed very strong friendships with the other students in the program. I liked the structure and high standards the military sets for individuals. It also pushes a person to not only excel on an individual basis but as a team. Because I enjoyed it I contracted with the program my junior/senior year of college and then received a monthly bonus, definitely a plus at the time. ROTC in college is almost like a fraternity in many ways. It is a unique organization where everyone involved has the same goals to do their best mentally and physically. Each individual is given a leadership position and different levels of responsibility depending on what year of the program you are in. These leadership positions replicate those in the active Army and prepare future leaders for the challenges they might experience in their Army or their civilian career. I found it made me a more decisive and confident person – more so than my college peers who were not involved with the program. One other plus was that it pushed me to excel and maintain a high GPA in college – in part because I had made an obligation to the program and the environment encouraged individuals to do their best. Going into the regular Army after ROTC was not a big transition for me. The biggest change was I now had a paycheck and steady income! Before you’re thrown into military life most 19

officers attend a six-month school in their specialty. This helps ease you into the lifestyle before sending you to a leadership position in a unit. My first assignment was in Korea. During my two years there I held two positions at different locations. My first was as a platoon leader responsible for 60 people in Taegu, Korea; the second as an Operations Officer in Seoul. I have also been assigned as a Signal Officer with 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Carson, Colorado; Company Commander for 250 soldiers with 1st Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany; and Public Affairs Officer with 18th Airborne Corps, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. I am now doing an Army fellowship with Turner Broadcasting. I have also completed two deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina and one to Kuwait. The first and foremost thing I enjoy about the military is the camaraderie among soldiers and families. We rely on each other and there is an understanding that we each do our best and don’t let the team down. Missions are not accomplished on an individual basis but as a team. I also like the fact you are given extremely high levels of responsibility and are allowed to excel. The Army offers a clear career progression – you will not stay in a job for more than three-four years, you will always be given higher levels of responsibility as you progress. I’ve also found it’s a great career choice for a woman. Men and women are held to the exact same standards in all ways except physically. Career progression is based on performance, not gender. I highly recommend this profession to any one who wants to travel and is looking for a physically and mentally demanding career. You will have the opportunity to progress rapidly and you will develop strong leadership and decision-making skills.”

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PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS Loyalty – True faith and allegiance to the US Constitution, the Army, your unit and other soldiers Selfless Service – Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own Respect – Treat people as they should be treated Integrity – Do what’s right, legally and morally Personal Courage – Face fear, danger, or adversity (physical and moral) Duty and Honor – Fulfill your obligation Honor – Live up to your ideals A career soldier has to believe in these ideals and put them into practice. Even if you don’t agree with an order, you have to carry it out. Even if you’re terrified, you can’t run away. Even if you think the US should not be attacking a certain country, you have to participate if you are called to duty there. It helps to have a great love for your country and are focused on what you can do to help preserve and defend America. Defending the liberties we enjoy in this country – freedom of speech, of religion, of equal treatment under the law – requires people who are willing to put their lives on the line. Many men and women have died protecting democratic ideals. The Army is not a good choice if you want all the glory and attention for your work. Everything is a team effort. You are performing critical tasks with your fellow soldiers and everyone has to rely on one another. You have to do things you didn’t think you could do, scaling cliffs or parachuting from a plane, for instance, if your unit is depending on you. People skills are very important. Out in the field, you’re eating, sleeping, and bathing with people in your unit; you have to get along not just for your own sake, but for the unit’s sake. Soldiers who don’t get along with each other are not going to do a good job fighting the enemy. You have to be a person who is not afraid of hard work and long hours. You must be extremely conscientious with the work you do – others are depending on you, and it could mean the difference 21

between life and death. If you are uncomfortable with that kind of pressure, then the Army is not for you. You have to enjoy being outdoors and physical exercise. If you choose a combat specialty, most of your time will be spent outdoors, but even if you have a desk job, you will be out in the field periodically, as all sections have to train for battlefield conditions where they would be supporting combat operations. It will be dirty and uncomfortable, but it is part of how the Army stays ready to fight. Think long and hard about your talents and your capabilities. Ask people you know well whether you have what it takes. Be sure you are making a career choice for the right reasons by being honest with yourself and learning all you can in advance.

ATTRACTIVE FEATURES IN THE ARMY, THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IS VERY CLEAR. YOU KNOW WHAT IS

expected of you, and what happens if you don’t perform well. Everyone is treated equally. Your career path is laid out for you, and all you have to do is apply yourself. You learn teamwork and discipline in the military. You’ll do things you didn’t think you could do, get along with people you’d avoid in civilian life. And you will be a better person for it. Responsibility comes to you right away. You get the chance to prove yourself without having to wait years for the people above you in an organization to move out of your way. It gives you a feeling of pride and a determination to do your best. If you grew up in the military, selecting a career in the same field honors your family and continues a proud tradition. Serving one’s country is an admirable choice. You won’t be bored. You’re always on the move, learning and growing. You’ll be in great physical shape, both from training and from being able to use the many recreational facilities on base. Educational benefits are top-notch. You can build a significant college fund through a combination of the Montgomery GI Bill and Army contributions, so that you get payments for 36 academic months while attending school. Current figures are about $26,500 total after two years active duty; $33,000 total after three years active 22

duty, and $40,000 total after four years active duty. Many states have programs in addition for residents who return after serving in the Army. For example, Illinois pays 120 semester hours of tuition at any state-funded school. If you go into the Army early enough, then retire after 20 years, you are still young enough to launch a second career. You’ll receive preferential treatment for federal and state employment, and can take advantage of special job programs. Employers like the reliability and teamwork shown by former soldiers. As a veteran, you get lifetime, free care in Veterans’ Administration (VA) hospitals for all service-related disabilities after two years. Other conditions are treated for free (space-available basis), if you can’t afford private health insurance. The VA also offers things like low-cost home loans and burial in national cemeteries.

UNATTRACTIVE FEATURES YOU HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY – YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF IN HARM’S WAY

much more than in the average office job. During wartime, you may catch a bullet or be exposed to biological weapons such as anthrax or the types of gases thought to cause Gulf War Syndrome. Peacekeeping duty has its own dangers from unexploded mines and local factions who hate each other and the US. In many countries you will have a symbolic bulls-eye painted on you as a representative of American military might. Off-duty personnel have been targets of violence in many countries. The population does not see you as an individual, only as part of a force that is intruding on their rights. What about when you get back home after an extended tour overseas or in combat, and read or see negative comments about the military? The American public is quick to pounce on any mistakes that are made. People have a limited knowledge of what you do and the pressures you are under. It can seem that you are undertaking many sacrifices for an ungrateful nation. The military is very fast-paced and moves are frequent. You may be separated from your loved ones for long periods of time. If you have children, they will go to different schools every few years, leaving their friends behind. These situations are stressful on spouses and families, not to mention the worry it causes you. 23

Other aspects of Army life may not suit you. Are you willing to be ordered around and told what to do? Would you enjoy being called by your last name or the generic “soldier”? Do you see purpose in a heavy dose of routine paperwork? These are all things that you as an individual will not be able to change.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Enlisted Personnel

For certain jobs you need a high school diploma or GED; otherwise you can earn it in the service. Find out what subjects are recommended for the job you want, and take those in high school or college. One soldier advises, “Be sure to take computer training. I didn’t have any training in computers and I have had to learn on the job.” Boot Camp Your introduction to the Army will be basic training at boot camp: seven weeks of intensive physical and classroom exercises. You’ll learn how to salute, march, stand at ease, handle a rifle, navigate with a map and compass, come under fire, live out in the field. You’ll be on the go 16 hours a day with 50-100 other people in your platoon. You get a bed and a locker in a dorm that’s one big room. The training is designed to make you a team player. It is very physical, so it is a good idea to get in shape beforehand if you aren’t a regular exerciser. You don’t want to fail because you can’t keep up the pace. Technical Training After boot camp usually comes technical training of 10 weeks to 12 months. In some occupations you learn on the job. Promotions involve taking more courses through the United States Armed Forces Institute, either by correspondence or on your base. If you want to be a warrant officer – a technical expert who is a bridge between commissioned officers and enlisted personnel – you go to Warrant Officer Candidate School. It’s very competitive to get in, but after you move up to that rank, you get better pay and posts and the option of staying in one place longer.

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Commissioned Officers West Point One way to become an officer is to attend the US Military Academy (West Point). It is hard to get in, because not only do you have to meet academic and physical standards, you have to secure a nomination from your senator or representative. It helps to be the child of a career soldier or a deceased or disabled veteran. Women have been admitted since 1976. Once you are in, everything is free – tuition, room and board, medical care. You even get a monthly allowance. The curriculum emphasizes military leadership and management, physical training, math, engineering, ethics, humanities and social science. You graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant. To pay back the cost of your education, you must serve five years of active duty. ROTC Another way is through ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). About 950 colleges and universities have this program. It’s like an extracurricular activity, where you spend two to five hours a week learning the basics of the military. In your junior and senior years, you’ll go for longer, paid training. Scholarships are available for two, three, or four years that pay for tuition, text books, and living expenses. As with West Point, you are commissioned after graduation and have an obligation for a number of years of service, either active duty or reserves or National Guard. Officer Candidate School The third way to become an officer is through Officer Candidate School. You enter this school graduating from college if you did not attend West Point or sign up for ROTC. It is a very selective school, and you have an active duty requirement after graduation.

Continuing Education The Army Continuing Education Program (ACES) lets you attend college on base or nearby with 75% of the tuition paid for. It is a great way to earn an undergraduate degree or get a master’s. The only drawback is that it is hard to find time for school once you are on active duty. In addition to college classes, you will be taking training in your specialty, for example, how to operate a new type of machine or weapon. The learning and growing never stops. 25

EARNINGS GOING UP IN RANK GIVES YOU A SUBSTANTIAL BOOST IN PAY, AND YOU ALSO EARN

more money the longer you stay in. There are four different grades of basic pay. The following figures are for the most recent year available, but the tendency is for periodic increases, and the figures will be higher when you receive your Army pay check.

Enlisted members start out at E-1 rank, $1022.70/month, and get a raise after four months to $1105.50/month ($13,266.00/year). You may start as high as the E-4 rank for certain specialties or education. That would bring you $1443.60 ($17,323.20/year) for the first two years. After two years, you get another raise, no matter what rank, and there are raises at 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 years. Top pay as an enlisted soldier, E-9 rank, is $4467.00/month ($53,604.00) after 26 years. Warrant officers start at W-1 rank, $2049.90/month ($24,588.00/year), and rise to $5458.60/month ($65,503.20) after 26 years at the W-5 rank. Commissioned officers with over four years active duty as an enlisted member or warrant officer begin at $2638.50 ($31,662). They can go as high as $4855.20 ($58,262.40) after 26 years. Commissioned officers from the service academy or Officer Candidate School start at $2097.60 ($25,171.20). The highest rank is O-10 and the highest pay, after 26 years, is $12324.00 ($147,888/year). Your pay goes farther than it would in a regular job, because you’re not paying rent, doctor’s and dentist’s bills. You can shop at post exchanges (PXs) and commissaries that have lower prices for military personnel. You have an allowance for uniforms. During training exercises or combat situations, meals are provided. Commercial airlines offer discounted fares to the military; after retirement, you can fly military transports on a standby basis for token amounts. In addition to the basic pay, you receive extra money for foreign postings. Hazardous duty also brings a fatter paycheck. If you’re not able to be housed on base, you’ll receive a housing and subsistence allowance which is tax free. Your cost for courses ranges from a 75% discount to free.

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Military pay is regularly reviewed by Congress as part of defense spending. Any increases or extra benefits are also passed along to retirees. With the administration and public backing a strong military, prospects for increases in pay are very good.

OPPORTUNITIES THE GROWTH OF THE ARMY DEPENDS ON THE MONEY BUDGETED FOR THE

Department of Defense. The amount goes in cycles, depending on the political climate. After Vietnam spending was cut back; in the early 1980s President Reagan boosted it. Major cuts came in the early 1990s. For example, after the Persian Gulf War, the Army’s personnel fell about one-third. As a result of terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, President Bush requested substantial increases in the defense budget. The money is for weapons, training, a pay increase for soldiers, and specific anti-terrorism measures. Chances are good that increases will continue in the coming years. The public recognizes that soldiers need sophisticated armaments and tactical training, and that new methods need to be developed to keep ahead of our enemies. No one wants America to be caught by surprise again. Historically, more people join the military during uncertain economic times. But the prospect of actually fighting will probably dissuade some people. You will probably find it easier to get the job of your choice in the Army than outside it. The Army needs to replace one-third of its personnel every year, because people retire at early ages and many do not re-enlist. Civilian contractors take up the slack in noncombat jobs when there are not enough Army personnel to go around. Today’s Army has good opportunities for women. You can earn more money starting out than in many civilian jobs. Women receive the same training as men. They are trained to handle guns, for example, in case they need to defend themselves and their fellow soldiers from attack. You are expected to rise higher the longer you are in the Army. In fact, you can only get passed over so many times before your superiors feel you aren’t making a contribution and tell you to leave the service.

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Your first couple of promotions are fairly easy. After that, it depends on how well you did your assigned job, what your superior says about you, what pay grade you’re at. You may have to pass an exam. War time gives you the chance for battlefield promotions if you perform extraordinarily well or if your superiors are killed or captured. The career path for enlisted personnel is as follows: Private Private First Class Corporal/Specialist Sergeant Staff Sergeant Sergeant First Class First Sergeant/Master Sergeant Sergeant Major A warrant officer has two ranks, Warrant Officer and Chief Warrant Officer. Commissioned officers follow this path: Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier General Major General Lieutenant General General Contrary to popular opinion, there are not many with the rank of full general – fewer than 40 – and that includes Air Force and Marines. But that rank can be achieved by anyone who works hard and effectively.

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STARTING YOUR ARMY CAREER THE MILITARY IS DIFFERENT FROM ALMOST ANY OTHER FIELD OF WORK. WITH most

occupations, you go to college and in your senior year, you start job hunting: registering with the school placement office, attending job fairs, answering ads, networking. You don’t have to do that to get a job in the Army. In fact, you’re guaranteed a job once you are accepted.

If you are interested in an enlisted career, start by seeing a recruiter. Learn all your options and see what jobs fit your interests. Taking the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test will help you narrow down your choices on where you can be placed. There may be special incentives offered for certain jobs. Before you make a decision, try to talk to someone in the job you want, so you get a realistic picture of what it’s about. Then you’ll sign an enlistment contract spelling out the job and training you get, and the initial amount of time you’ll serve. You proceed to basic training, followed by job-specific education. Then you start your job. When you’ve been in the Army awhile, you may decide you want to be a warrant officer. You will have attained the rank of sergeant or higher. Then you apply to Warrant Officer Candidate School. After that, you get increased responsibility and pay as a leader of enlisted personnel. If your goal is a career as a commissioned officer, you either go to West Point or ROTC or Officer Candidate School. You graduate as a second lieutenant and usually have a short period of instruction in your specialty. Then you’re put in charge of soldiers and take responsibility for increasing numbers of them as you progress in the officer ranks. The road is short and clear to your first assignment. That’s part of the appeal of the Army, that it wants you and arranges everything. All you have to do is follow the signs to have a fulfilling career.

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WEB SITES www.militarycareers.com www.goarmy.com Army National Guard www.arng.army.mi Army Reserves www.goarmyreserve.com Officer Candidate School www.armyocs.com/home US Military Academy (West Point) www.usma.edu

PERIODICALS Armed Forces Journal Army Army Times www.armytimes.com Military Review Soldiers Stars & Stripes

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ASSOCIATIONS Army Aviation Association www.quad-a.org Army Historical Foundation, Inc. www.armyhistoryfnd.org Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States www.amcsus.org Association of the United States Army www.ausa.org Military Woman Home Page www.militarywoman.org United States Army Warrant Officers Association http://208.4.62.5 usawoa

COPYRIGHT 2006 Institute For Career Research CAREERS INTERNET DATABASE www.careers-internet.org

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