JULY 20, 2017 – Whether you are still in high school or college, it’s crucial to decide on your career path before graduating. Many people are really passionate about serving their country and eventually joined the army. There are so many jobs in the military with amazing benefits, but it shouldn’t be your last resort because of unemployment issues or the inability to make up your mind. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about enlisting for a while, check out the suggestions below on how to pick your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty).
Conduct a Proper Research
When choosing a career, there is no need to rush the process. Unlike other careers, soldiers are not allowed to quit, or else they will face very serious consequences. Recruiters have the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) book which contains the titles and descriptions of all the jobs in the military. It is important to take a look at this book carefully. You can also network with soldier’s offline or online. They are already in the system and can offer valuable information such as the nature of work and training. Apart from using the internet to learn more about different careers, students can also buy college papers online.
Prepare for the ASVAB Test in Advance
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Test comprises of nine different subtests to evaluate your ability in specific aspects. They include Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), General Science (GS), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), Mechanical Comprehension (MC), Word Knowledge (WK) and Mathematics Knowledge (MK). Out of the nine subtests, AR, MK, PC, and WK are known as the AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) which determines whether you can enlist or not. The remaining five subtests are used to determine your qualification for different jobs in the military. Endeavor to obtain high ASVAB line scores in order to increase your chances of getting your desired job after the basic training.
Find Out About the Requirements for Each Job
It goes without saying that each job in the military has specific requirements. For instance, only the citizens of a particular country can be eligible for some jobs. In addition, people that are color blind are restricted from certain jobs. Know your eligibility status first before filing the forms. Medical examinations are always conducted at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) to determine those who meet the minimum physical profile that is required for each job.
Consider Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is an educational program that basically involves observing service members as they perform the jobs of your interest. It is an avenue to learn about how to handle the responsibilities that come with your most preferred MOS. At a time, this process may be difficult because of some reasons like not having the required security clearance. Interning at a military base offers ample opportunities for army job shadowing.
Always Remember that “Mission Dictates”
Even after scoring well on the ASVAB test and all requirements have been met, it’s possible to find yourself doing a job that isn’t your MOS. It may be due to the fact that there is no vacancy at your MOS at that point in time or the personnel handling certain jobs are not enough? Truth be told, working in the army requires flexibility. Be inspired by the words “mission dictates.” It should be noted that this doesn’t occur all the time, but it’s important that you are fully aware that it can happen.