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MILITARY CAREER CENTER

Find your route
through service.

Every branch, job field and component—plus High School, ROTC, enlisted, officer, promotion and veteran transition routes.

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High School & college programs

OFFICIAL ROUTES
JROTC builds citizenship and leadership with no service obligation. College ROTC and scholarship contracts can carry service obligations—read the agreement before committing.
HIGH SCHOOL · JROTC
Army JROTCARMY

Leadership, citizenship, fitness and service learning. Participation does not create a military obligation.

NO SERVICE OBLIGATION

Builds preparation for college ROTC and other scholarship applications.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
Navy JROTCNAVY · MARINE CORPS · COAST GUARD

Naval science, leadership and citizenship. Marine Corps and Coast Guard instructors may serve within NJROTC.

NO SERVICE OBLIGATION

Prepares students for NROTC, service academies and civilian college paths.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
Air Force JROTCAIR FORCE · SPACE FORCE

Aerospace science, leadership and wellness. Space Force does not operate a separate JROTC program.

NO SERVICE OBLIGATION

Builds readiness for AFROTC, service academies and college scholarships.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
COLLEGE · ROTC & COMMISSIONING
Army ROTCARMY · ARMY RESERVE · NATIONAL GUARD

Commission as a Second Lieutenant. Active, Reserve and Guard paths are available.

CONTRACTED CADETS ACCEPT A SERVICE OBLIGATION

Two-, three- and four-year scholarships; Green to Gold and Guard/Reserve options.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
Navy ROTCNAVY

Commission into Navy officer communities, including the Nurse Corps.

SCHOLARSHIP AND CONTRACTED PATHS CARRY SERVICE OBLIGATIONS

Competitive tuition, fee, book and allowance support.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
NROTC Marine OptionMARINE CORPS

Complete the Marine Option curriculum and commission as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant.

CONTRACTED PATH WITH A SERVICE OBLIGATION

Marine Option scholarships are awarded through the NROTC program.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
Air Force ROTCAIR FORCE · SPACE FORCE

Commission into the Air Force or compete for a Space Force career field.

CONTRACTED CADETS ACCEPT A SERVICE OBLIGATION

Competitive high-school and in-college scholarship paths.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →
CSPI ScholarshipCOAST GUARD

The Coast Guard has no ROTC. Eligible students serve as Officer Trainees, complete college, then attend OCS.

ACTIVE-DUTY PARTICIPATION AND POST-COMMISSION SERVICE OBLIGATION

Tuition, books and fees plus active-duty E-3 pay and benefits while enrolled.

OFFICIAL PROGRAM →

Ranks & responsibility

PAY GRADES

Rank titles differ by branch. Navy and Coast Guard use naval titles; the other services use their own enlisted names. Pay grade—not title—is the safest cross-service comparison.

Junior enlistedE-1–E-4

Learn the profession, qualify in a specialty and build technical credibility.

Noncommissioned officersE-5–E-7

Lead teams, train service members and manage daily mission execution.

Senior enlistedE-8–E-9

Advise commanders and lead organizations, readiness and workforce development.

Warrant officersW-1–W-5

Serve as deep technical experts and operational leaders where the branch uses warrants.

Company-grade officersO-1–O-3

Lead teams and units while mastering a branch or professional specialty.

Field-grade officersO-4–O-6

Plan operations, command larger organizations and manage strategy and resources.

General and flag officersO-7–O-10

Lead at enterprise, joint-force and national-strategy levels.

VIEW OFFICIAL DOD RANK INSIGNIA →

Service journeys

FROM ENTRY TO TRANSITION
High School → Enlisted
EXPLORE BRANCHES AND JOBS→PREPARE FOR THE ASVAB→COMPLETE MEPS→SECURE A WRITTEN JOB CONTRACT→BASIC TRAINING→TECHNICAL SCHOOL
High School → College Officer
COMPARE JROTC AND ACADEMY PREPARATION→APPLY FOR ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS→COMPLETE COLLEGE AND ROTC→COMMISSION→OFFICER TRAINING→LEAD IN A CAREER FIELD
Enlisted → Officer
BUILD PERFORMANCE RECORD→COMPLETE COLLEGE PREREQUISITES→APPLY TO GREEN TO GOLD, OCS OR BRANCH PROGRAM→COMMISSION→COMPLETE OFFICER TRAINING→LEAD AT GREATER SCOPE
Service → Veteran Career
START TAP BEFORE SEPARATION→TRANSLATE DUTIES INTO OUTCOMES→CLOSE CREDENTIAL GAPS→USE SKILLBRIDGE OR GI BILL→BUILD A CIVILIAN RESUME→TARGET VETERAN-READY EMPLOYERS

Branches

6 BRANCHES
U.S. Army

Largest branch. Land operations, logistics and the widest job catalog.

Most jobs open to high school graduates; Officer track needs a bachelor's degree.

InfantrymanMOS 11B
COMBAT

CIVILIAN: Law enforcement, security operations

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $40K

Infantry contracts spike when recruiting targets are behind.

CIVILIAN POLICE OFFICER / SHERIFF'S DEPUTY · $75K MEDIAN · $46K–$116K
Combat Medic SpecialistMOS 68W
MEDICAL

CIVILIAN: Paramedic, EMT, nursing pathway

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $40K

Medical ratings bonus well and transfer directly to civilian care work.

CIVILIAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN / PARAMEDIC · $44K MEDIAN · $31K–$72K
Information Technology SpecialistMOS 25B
CYBER & IT

CIVILIAN: IT support, network admin

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $50K

Cyber and IT contracts carry the largest bonuses outside nuclear.

CIVILIAN INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST · $125K MEDIAN · $71K–$198K
Cyber Operations SpecialistMOS 17C
CYBER & IT

CIVILIAN: Security analyst, penetration tester

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $50K

Cyber and IT contracts carry the largest bonuses outside nuclear.

CIVILIAN INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST · $125K MEDIAN · $71K–$198K
Motor Transport OperatorMOS 88M
LOGISTICS

CIVILIAN: CDL driver, fleet operations

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $20K

Steady bonuses; CDL and supply-chain credentials come with it.

CIVILIAN LOGISTICIAN / SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYST · $81K MEDIAN · $49K–$132K
Unit Supply SpecialistMOS 92Y
LOGISTICS

CIVILIAN: Warehouse and inventory manager

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $20K

Steady bonuses; CDL and supply-chain credentials come with it.

CIVILIAN LOGISTICIAN / SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYST · $81K MEDIAN · $49K–$132K
Helicopter RepairerMOS 15T
AVIATION & MAINTENANCE

CIVILIAN: Aircraft mechanic (A&P pathway)

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $30K

Aircraft maintenance leads to an FAA A&P license.

CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC (A&P) · $79K MEDIAN · $45K–$112K
Intelligence AnalystMOS 35F
INTELLIGENCE

CIVILIAN: Data analyst, federal intel roles

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $40K

Bonus plus a funded clearance worth real money later.

CIVILIAN BUSINESS OPERATIONS SPECIALIST · $80K MEDIAN · $42K–$133K
Military PoliceMOS 31B
LAW & ORDER

CIVILIAN: Police officer, corrections

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $15K

Direct path into police and federal law enforcement hiring.

CIVILIAN POLICE OFFICER / SHERIFF'S DEPUTY · $75K MEDIAN · $46K–$116K
Human Resources SpecialistMOS 42A
ADMIN

CIVILIAN: HR generalist, payroll

ENLISTMENT BONUSup to $10K

Smaller bonus, but the most transferable day-to-day office skills.

CIVILIAN HR SPECIALIST / RECRUITER · $73K MEDIAN · $41K–$126K

How you serve

ACTIVE · RESERVE · GUARD
Active Duty

Full-time service, full benefits, relocation likely.

Reserve

Part-time, usually one weekend a month plus two weeks a year.

National Guard

Part-time, state missions plus federal call-up. Stay local.

Entry paths

Entry after High School

Enlisted entry. You start earning, training and banking benefits at 17-18.

  1. 01Finish the diploma or GED — a diploma is treated far better than a GED at MEPS.
  2. 02Take the ASVAB. Your line scores, not just the AFQT, decide which jobs you can pick.
  3. 03Meet a recruiter with your questions written down; ask for the job list you actually qualify for.
  4. 04Pass MEPS: physical, medical history, background. Disclose everything — waivers exist, lies end enlistments.
  5. 05Negotiate the contract: job guarantee in writing, enlistment bonus, and component (Active, Reserve or Guard).
  6. 06Ship to basic training, then technical school for your job.
WHAT YOU GET
  • · GI Bill pays for college later, often with a housing stipend.
  • · Tuition Assistance covers classes while you serve.
  • · Security clearance is worth real money in the civilian market.
  • · Enlisted pay raises tie to rank and years, not negotiation.

Pay, benefits & promotion

2025 TABLES
ENLISTED BASIC PAY
E-1Recruit — basic training$24K
E-2Private / Airman$27K
E-3Trained specialist$29K
E-4Team member / junior leader$32K
E-5Sergeant / Petty Officer$37K
E-6Section leader$44K
E-7Senior NCO$53K
OFFICER BASIC PAY
O-1Newly commissioned officer$48K
O-2Lieutenant / Lieutenant JG$55K
O-3Captain / Lieutenant$64K
O-4Major / Lieutenant Cdr$81K
PROMOTION TIMELINE
E-1 → E-26 months · Automatic with clean service.
E-2 → E-3~12 months · Time in service and grade.
E-3 → E-4~2 years · First real pay jump.
E-4 → E-54-5 years · Board or points — leadership starts.
E-5 → E-68-10 years · Competitive; job field matters.
O-1 → O-218-24 months · Nearly automatic for officers.
O-2 → O-3~2 more years · Company command / department head.
BENEFITS ON TOP OF PAY
Full medical & dental TRICARE covers you at no premium; family coverage is low-cost.
Housing allowance (BAH) Tax-free, paid monthly, scaled to your duty-station zip code.
Food allowance (BAS) About $465 a month for enlisted, tax-free.
30 days paid leave Every year, from year one, separate from federal holidays.
Post-9/11 GI Bill Up to 36 months of tuition plus a monthly housing stipend after service.
Tuition Assistance Roughly $4,500 a year for college classes while you serve.
Thrift Savings Plan Government matches up to 5% of your pay under the Blended Retirement System.
VA home loan Zero down payment, no mortgage insurance, for life after qualifying service.
Security clearance A funded clearance is worth a real pay premium in civilian tech and defense work.

SOURCES: 2025 DOD/DFAS MILITARY BASIC PAY TABLES + VA EDUCATION BENEFIT RATES. BASIC PAY ONLY — HOUSING (BAH) AND FOOD (BAS) ALLOWANCES ARE TAX-FREE AND PAID ON TOP. CIVILIAN PAY: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS — OEWS MAY 2024 NATIONAL WAGES + EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS 2024-34.

Veterans transition

AFTER SERVICE
Veteran Resume Converter

Turn rank, specialty, duties and mission results into accurate civilian resume language.

BUILD MY RESUME →
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) ↗

Up to 36 months of tuition at public in-state rates plus a monthly housing allowance and book stipend.

DoD SkillBridge ↗

Work a civilian job or apprenticeship during your last 180 days of service while still drawing military pay.

VR&E (Chapter 31) ↗

Funded retraining, degrees and self-employment support for veterans with a service-connected disability.

Transition Assistance Program (TAP) ↗

Mandatory pre-separation program covering resumes, benefits, and an entrepreneurship track (Boots to Business).

VA home loan ↗

Zero down payment and no mortgage insurance — the single largest dollar benefit most veterans leave unused.

Veteran hiring (Feds Hire Vets) ↗

Veterans' preference and direct-hire authority for federal jobs, plus the 5-point/10-point preference rules.

Boots to Business ↗

SBA entrepreneurship training for service members, veterans and spouses starting a company.

Talk to a recruiter

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Tools & resources

ASVAB practice and line scores

Know which score unlocks which job before you sit down with a recruiter.

Official careers catalog

Compare job families and required scores across every branch.

MEPS — what to expect

The medical and background day that decides eligibility.

GI Bill and education benefits

What the military pays for during and after service.

National Guard state missions

Serve part time and stay in your home state.

Veteran transition (SkillBridge)

Civilian job training during your last 180 days of service.

FOR RECRUITERS
Military Recruiter access

Verified recruiters with a .mil address can view the profiles of candidates who opted in, ranked by readiness score.

Recruiter Sign In

Guidance & scoring — not affiliated with the Department of Defense.