Many consider joining the military; a certain percentage of those thinking about joining the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps might be tempted to rule out the option because they feel there’s no place for highly specialized skills such as computer programming, foreign language ability, or even creative work such as being a member of a band or a writer. But the United States military has career fields in all the highly skilled areas mentioned above and much more. If you are looking for a not-so-typical military career option, keep reading.

---

Highly Skilled Career Fields In The Military

There are two notions people have about military service that can lead to poorly-informed choices about one of the most important decisions a potential recruit can make – her career field. The first notion is that all the highly skilled job opportunities in uniform belong to officers and not enlisted members. This is NOT TRUE.

While it is definitely true that officers get different training and responsibilities, and it is also true that an enlisted person can never be a practicing doctor in uniform, there are many highly skilled areas enlisted people work in.

What kind of skills can enlisted people learn in uniform?

• Foreign languages
• Computer programming
• Computer security
• Network administration
• Medical
• Writing
• Broadcasting
• Public affairs
• Civil engineering
• Weather forecasting
• Air traffic control
• Entomology and pest control
• Marketing
• Protocol
• Electrical engineering/repair

The list above is only a very small sampling.

---

Officer Or Enlisted?

The choice to enter the military as an officer or an enlisted member boils down to whether the new recruit has a bachelor’s degree or not. Those with a four-year college degree have the option to try entering military service as an officer.

Those without a four-year degree will only be allowed to enter the enlisted ranks, but it should be known that any enlisted member who completes a four-year degree while in uniform may be eligible to apply for programs to let them enter officer training.

Officers do have more highly skilled job options open to them, but enlisted members should not assume they do not.

---

Best Advice For Highly Skilled Career Field Seekers? Prepare For The ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the military’s initial screening for highly skilled candidates. Some career fields are NOT open to those with ASVAB scores that do not qualify for those jobs, so it is crucial to get as high a score on the ASVAB as possible in all areas, but especially those required by the career field or MOS.

ASVAB study guides, online quizzes and tutorials, and other helpful prep will be an important part of your homework leading up to ASVAB testing day.

---

How To Talk To Your Military Recruiter About The Job You Might Want

All recruiters have a set of goals and quotas (self-imposed or otherwise) they need to meet. Some career fields need more troops than others, so you will likely get a sales pitch for this month’s currently under-staffed positions.

But the recruiter’s needs are not the recruit’s needs; don’t be steered into a career field you don’t really want through the hard sell. Ask the recruiter about the specific areas you want to explore and ask specifically what it will take to enter the service with that job, when possible.

It’s not always possible. But in many cases, it IS, and all new recruits should be persistent in trying to learn about and get the career they truly want. Sometimes a career field doesn’t have an immediate opening due to staffing issues but may have projected vacancies later in the year.

Ask your recruiter about the possibility of delayed enlistment to get you into the job you want even it if is not available right this second.

---

What Is Delayed Enlistment?

Delayed enlistment, also known as the Delayed Entry Program or DEP for short, is something all branches of the military can use in the recruiting process to help those who need additional time to successfully qualify for military service. One of the most popular uses of DEP is when a recruit is ready, willing, and able to join the military but is not a high school graduate yet or of legal age to join.

With a parent’s consent, potential recruits of a certain age (the actual age may vary depending on state law, current military policies, or other factors) may enter into DEP with the understanding that if the recruit changes her mind, withdrawing from the program without penalty is an option.

What some potential recruits don’t know is that withdrawing from a military program is basically penalty-free even if you are in the middle of basic training. That is important to keep in mind if you don’t get the job you want, enter basic training anyway, and later have a change of mind.

But DEP has other uses including to help those who want to enter a highly skilled military career field. Consider what the Air Force official recruiting site has to say:

“The Delayed Entry Program (DEP) allows you to complete your application to the Air Force and reserve your Air Force job before an assignment is available. While you wait for your job assignment, you will stay in touch weekly with your recruiter to verify that you are doing what it takes to remain qualified.”

---

What To Tell Your Recruiter You Want Regarding Delayed Enlistment

You and the recruiter will need to have a conversation about the skilled career field you want and find out if there are any openings available. If the recruiter tells you there are no openings, explain that you want to examine your option for delayed enlistment until a job opening in that career field is available.

DEP may or may not be an option depending on how long the branch of military service projects there will be no vacancies in those careers. It’s a very good idea to examine two or three fallback career field options just in case. Depending on the job, you may find there are similar opportunities in other places.

One example? Some want a life in the military that involves working on and with certain types of military hardware such as aircraft, submarines, nuclear facilities, etc. Some want to be crew chiefs, others want to be maintainers, still others might want to work in computer security.

But what if there are no current openings in computer or cybersecurity? Many recruits don’t realize that military police organizations like the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) have computer security-related jobs such as computer forensics and data protection.

And all military agencies need tech support and IT services including cybersecurity. You may not get a job working directly for Army Cyber Command, but there are many different kinds of IT-related jobs in the military that do many of the same things.

Having some fallback options can help and exploring each branch of the military’s official site for a list of career fields can help. The Air Force alone has 200 career fields, and you’ll find plenty to consider.

---

Don’t Browse Career Fields For The First Time At The Recruiter’s Office

The recruiter is not your enemy, but the recruiting goals of the branch of military service you are entering will help dictate the sales pitch you get; if you are trying to get into a crowded military career field, the recruiter will likely give a sales pitch for their currently short-staffed jobs.

That’s why it is best to do much of your research on the kinds of military jobs available on your own – go into your meeting with the recruiter knowing what you might like to do. If you have your heart set on doing a certain kind of work, under no circumstances should you allow yourself to be sent into basic training as an “open general” trainee with no career field or MOS assigned to you.

---

Some Recruits Choose To Take Their Chances With Military Job Assignments In Hopes Of Cross-Training Later

What happens when you can’t get into the job you want even with the Delayed Enlistment Option? Some military jobs can be phased out or merged with others; whatever the reason if you cannot get the specialty you want, you may need to consider entering a different job with an eye on doing something called cross-training.

---

What Is Cross-Training?

Cross training is when a military member passes basic training and advanced training, gets into their very first job in the military, and puts in a minimum required amount of time before requesting to enter a new career field.

This sounds like something any recruit could do in order to get the job they really want, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Some military jobs are labeled as “critically manned”, meaning there is difficulty staffing such jobs to their required capacity.

In such cases, the military member may be unable to cross train due to the restriction placed on that short-staffed job. Before you choose to take a job you’re not truly interested in doing with a plan to cross train, make certain that career field has no such restrictions.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

 

Related Articles
ASVAB Test	Military Careers
Preparing For Basic Training	Understanding Military Pay
Military Apprenticeship Programs	Applying to A Military Service Academy

When deciding to leave active duty, every member must decide their next step.  This will include a series of emails and possibly phone calls from in-service recruiters.  These recruiters are trying to persuade you to join the National Guard or Reserves.  They will dazzle you with educational benefits, medical benefits and even some bonuses.  Once you sound convinced that the Guard or Reserves will help your transition, the recruiter will then try to help find a job at a unit for you.  Ultimately, every unit hires their own members, so you will probably have to interview for each position.  Before you agree to an interview, do you know what type of job it is?  The three common acronyms you will hear are ART, AGR and TR.  To help you decide which is best for you and your family, I will give a brief description of each.

---

ART (Air Force Reserve Technician)

An ART is an Air Force Reserve Technician.  As an ART, you would be a dual status.  A dual status is when you are considered both a civilian employee and military member.  During the week, you would work a typical 40 hour week for your unit as a government service employee.  You would also have to attend your typical one weekend a month and two weeks a year for Reserve/National Guard duty.  This is when you would be under a military status.  As an ART, you will still receive full normal benefits.  There can also be special bonuses that just apply to ART positions.  As an ART, you are a full time employee working for your unit as well as a military member of that unit.  Keep in mind you only receive a fraction of credit towards retirement during your civilian and military status.  Since you are only required to work a certain number of hours, you only receive retirement credit for those hours, which is unlike active duty in which you receive a day for every day you are on active duty status.

---

AGR (Active Guard/Reserve Position)

An AGR position is an Active Guard/Reserve Position.  An AGR position is a full time military position. An AGR is similar to an ART because they are both full time jobs. They differ because an AGR position places you on active duty orders, which makes you a full time active duty member during this tour. As an AGR, you receive all the same benefits as active duty to include receiving full retirement if you make your full 20 years of service during this time.

---

TR (Traditional Reservist)

The final position is the TR position.  This is a Traditional Reservist (or National Guard).  The Traditional Reserve/Guard position is what you typically hear about.  These are the jobs that require you to only serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year.  This allows the member to have a civilian career while also maintaining a position within the Guard or Reserve.  As a TR, you will still receive some benefits and will still be required to maintain training in whatever career field you are in.

---

It is a good idea to decide whether you would like to continue to be full time military or part time before deciding on a specific unit and job.  This will help ensure that the job you are applying for also fits the lifestyle you are trying to meet.  The Veterans Affairs also has some good resources to help decide what is the next best step for you and your family.  The in-service recruiters are also a good resource for questions on specific jobs and their requirements.  Transitioning out of the military back to civilian life has a great deal of challenges.  Becoming a member of the Guard or Reserve can help ease this transition, but it is also important to understand exactly what the required commitment is to the unit.

---

Dave Blankenstein served in the US Air Force for 12 years as a C-17 pilot. He was stationed at MacDill AFB, FL, Vance AFB, OK, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, Joint Base Charleston, SC and Altus AFB, OK. Dave attended undergraduate pilot training at Vance, then went to C-17 initial training and ultimately spent the reminder of his time in the military as a C-17 pilot. His military career culminated as a C-17 evaluator at the only C-17 formal training unit in the world. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and a master’s degree in Aeronautical Science with a concentration in Aviation Safety Science.

---

Related Articles
5 Tips For A Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition	Degrees After the Military With Great Earning Potential
Military Transition to Civilian Life	Military Job Assistance Programs
Security Clearance Jobs After the Military	Transition Assistance Program – TAP Overview

There are many job search tools for veterans and those transitioning out of military careers back into the private sector.

Many have used Google in their job searches. They released special enhancements to its search engine aimed specifically at military people searching for new jobs. Prior, it was only possible to search for new listings using Google to access job data rather than have the search engine help career seekers find job search results tailored specifically for them.

You read that correctly. Google has developed algorithms designed to help military job seekers get search results targeted specifically for them.

Type Jobs for Veterans into Google and Press Return

Typing the phrase “jobs for veterans” into Google brings up a new page with a prompt for the user to enter your military occupational specialty code or MOS. Google then compiles search results based on that specific type of query or request based on the code you enter.

Google Search Results for Military Job Seekers

When using the Google “jobs for veterans” search term associated with your own military job code or MOS, the results you get will depend on several factors.

One example:

Using Marine Corps MOS code 0149 (Substance Abuse Control Specialist) brings up results in Google that are targeted to “0149 Marines Enlisted” and include more-or-less relevant results including (at the time of this writing) Registered Nurse positions, caseworkers, RN case managers, auditors, and other jobs.

Using Non-MOS Codes to Search for Jobs Using Google

When using an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) rather than an MOS, relevant results are still possible. Using the AFSC 3N052, which designates a military broadcaster, a variety of jobs come up in relevant categories including publishing, broadcasting, internet media jobs, etc.

It’s true that your results will vary depending on the nature of the job code and availability of specific jobs that match skill sets represented by that code. It is definitely worth experimenting with the algorithms.

---

Job Sources via Google

An official video published by Google states, “Google brings together job openings from across the web into categories that match the skills you’ve gained in your military role.” But where do these jobs come from?

In many cases they are offered by the usual job seeker clearing houses such as Glassdoor, Careerbuilder, LinkedIn, etc. Clicking on the jobs you find via Google will bring up a description of the job and an option to click through button to the website advertising the job application.

Applying for Jobs Found via the Google “Jobs for Veterans” Search

When you click on a link to apply for jobs, you’ll discover using this veteran job search tool you are not applying for a job through Google nor using Google as the delivery system for your application.

Instead, you are taken directly to the job ad as posted by the company on its website, job board, or other source. Once you click to apply, you are leaving Google to a third party (assuming the job advertised is not with Google itself).

This means you will need to create a login and profile for any job sites you haven’t already signed up for prior to exploring now using the jobs for veterans search phrase in Google. Be prepared to upload a headshot, resume, cover letter, and any other required documentation each time you click through to a new job opening.

Google is not responsible for the interaction between job seekers and hiring managers, etc. All interactions that happen between job seeker and hiring officials are between two third parties.

Google cannot assist job seekers beyond the search tools it provides unless otherwise specifically indicated on the official site.

---

What If I Don’t Have A Military Occupational Specialty Code?

The Army and Marine Corps both use MOS codes. The Navy and Air Force do not use the same system. Navy has “ratings” and the Air Force uses Specialty Codes.

However, Google instructional materials for this new algorithm tends to use the term “MOS” as a catch-all phrase to mean any code that designates an Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard career field.

It’s best to enter the career code for any branch of service. Then check the results rather than assume that no results will appear just because the branch of service does not use the same specialty code as the Army or United States Marines.

Some Search Results Are Specifically Targeted, Others Are More General

In cases where a military occupational code entered into the Google search box is a direct match with jobs, you may see results specifically labelled in the same career field. Others may bring results that are more loosely based on skill sets suggested by the military job codes.

In some cases, MOS codes may not reveal any job openings at all. This may be due to a need to further refine the search algorithm, but it also may suggest a general lack of opportunities in that career area at the time of the search.

Use a Broader Search Term

In some cases, less refined searches work too. For example, after typing Jobs for Veterans into Google, you may be able to use a one-word or two-word search phrase instead of a military specialty code.

Typing in the word “ammo” brings up zero results (at the time of this writing), but typing “safety” brings up job results. The list of opportunities specifically target careers with safety as a main feature of the job such as flightline operations at a local airport, Homeland Security, etc.

Tips for Searching For a Civilian Job Using the Google “Jobs for Veterans” Search Phrase

There are several ways to help yourself find the most relevant jobs for you using Google’s jobs for veterans search tool. One of the most important tips? Don’t limit yourself to searching with your own MOS or military job code.

You may be a military dental technician, a military broadcaster, or an investigator. There are many equivalents to this type of work that may not come back in a rigidly-defined search just by your own code.

Don’t Limit Your Search to Your Own Branch of Service

One trick is to search using another occupational specialty code used by a branch of service other than your own. Compare the job results that come up when searching for the Marine Corps equivalent of an Air Force Specialty Code or a tangentially related career.

Here is a good example. Those who work in aircraft maintenance for a specific military airframe may wish to look at the occupational codes for other military branches that do similar work, but on other aircraft. Could a simple matter of training on a different air frame make the difference in finding suitable jobs or not finding them?

Don’t Just Search for Your Own Career Field

While it’s true that helicopter maintenance issues may be radically different than for fixed-wing aircraft, are there opportunities for those with maintenance experience to cross-train into a different type of work? Can a journalist also be qualified for public affairs work?

Some jobs are harder to classify than others. A Navy firefighter may not have any trouble finding work that translates, but what about someone who works in an Air Force supply room or as a linguist?

Google searches for these jobs may reveal more results when looking at opportunities that put high value on one aspect of the job you are familiar with, but are not necessarily within your own specialty code. Google military specialty codes that are not your own to see what other opportunities await people with your general skills in addition to more specific training.

Experiment with Google Searches

Another trick you can try to find military jobs or military career field-related jobs is to use Google’s search phrase “jobs for veterans” and add the MOS code, AFSC, or other military career field code in the search using Bing, Yahoo, etc.

You may find plenty of generalized results in some cases, but more specific results in others depending on the career field and other factors. The idea here is to compare the results you get in multiple search engines. Those results may inspire you to look in different areas than where you began. Others may have you going back to try a different tactic inspired by what you find.

Non-Google search engines may or may not be working on their own versions of this Google algorithm. You can still use them as alternatives to get different results or confirm there are no additional results possible for your current search.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

Related Articles
5 Tips For A Successful Military-to-Civilian Transition	Military Transition to Civilian Life
The Best Civilian Career Fields For Veterans	Commissary and AAFES Jobs
Criminal Justice Careers After the Military	Transition Assistance Program

Where can I find a job at the Department of Veterans Affairs? That is a common question for some interested in working with veterans to help them use their VA benefits, get rated for service-connected medical issues, and receive the most out of their qualifying benefits.

There are many different types of jobs with the VA from Public Affairs to claim processing. Where can you find VA jobs listed? There are several resources to choose from, but the big three websites are the VA Careers official site, USAJobs, and FedsHireVets.

Not everyone will benefit from all three resources. FedsHireVets, for example, is an online resource strictly for veterans and their family members who seek federal employment.

However, USAJobs and VA Careers opportunities are not limited to veterans and their families (see below). Those who do not have military backgrounds and are not previous federal employees may do well to start by exploring USAJobs first.

Job hunting with the Department of Veterans Affairs can be a bit confusing for first-time applicants. In some cases, the VA official site will describe a program it offers, but refers job seekers to USAJobs.gov to apply for each individual position.

In other cases, the applicant may be instructed to download a PDF and follow instructions for applying for that specific job.

Most student opportunities found on the VA official site will direct the applicant to search USAjobs in the Student Jobs section.

#3: Get Advice about Applying for Department of Veterans Affairs Jobs at FedsHireVets

FedsHireVets.org is the official U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s employment website specifically for veterans and their families who seek federal jobs at facilities including the Department of Veterans Affairs.

FedsHireVets is not open to the public and is intended as a clearinghouse-type resource for information about getting a federal job. It is especially for military members and family members in transition from a military career to civilian life.

According to the official site, FedsHireVets services are intended for “veterans, transitioning service members, and their families” to be used as a “one-stop resource to assist in finding a Federal career.”

There are also guides for Guard and Reserve members, publications explaining how federal retirement plans are administered, and advice for those new to federal hiring.

FedsHireVets explains the federal hiring process, how preference points are calculated and applied, how jobs for military family members work, and much more. The website information is available without the need for a login or password.

The website does not store job seeker profiles with resume, nor have a platform to apply for federal jobs or work at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

FedsHireVets directs job seekers who want to apply for specific jobs to USAJobs.gov (see below).

---

#2: Find a Department of Veterans Affairs Job Opportunity at VA Careers

VA Careers, the official job site for the Department of Veterans Affairs, offers a variety of ways to find VA jobs near you. There is an interactive USA map showing openings nationwide. Additionally, the menu bar offers job information for specific career fields such as Mental Health, Dental, and support professionals.

There are three basic categories of job seekers addressed by the VACareers site:

• Students
• Transitioning Military
• Experienced Professionals

Each of these categories has unique programs and opportunities. According to the VA official site, more 90,000 graduate and undergraduate students have completed medical training at VA facilities. Student programs that can lead to VA employment include:

VA Pathways includes an Internship Program for current students, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program for those who have earned a graduate or professional degree in the last two years.

Administrative and Technical Support Training is for those who are pursuing careers in the medical field such as logistics, technical support, human resources, contracting, etc. There are three programs for students in this area including:

• VA Technical Career Field Program
• VA Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program: Interns and Recent Graduates
• VA Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program: Health Systems Management Trainees

Application requirements for all the programs listed above vary depending on the program, the student’s status, available openings, and more. It’s best to explore the VA Careers site description for each individual program to learn deadlines, documentation needs, and other details. These items may be subject to change from year to year depending on funding, availability, mission demands, etc.

VA Jobs for Transitioning Military and Experienced Professionals via VA Careers

The section for transitioning military members and experience professionals who seek VA Careers is more dedicated to helping these job seekers find relevant positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans’ page, for example, has a VA job search tool that allows VA job seekers to find openings based on job keywords, location, and more. Job announcements listed here include instructions (found at the end of the job posting) that may require either online applications or a paper application submitted directly to a VA facility.

The VA job seeker page for Experienced Professionals includes a list of possible career paths and options for exploring each. Those career paths include:

• Allied Health
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Mental Health
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Support
• Administration

A helpful section of the VA Careers official site shows how to understand VA job opening posts. It is recommended that those new to the VA hiring system review this guide in order to fully understand each position advertised and how to properly apply for the opportunity. There is also an email address for the VA Virtual Recruiting Center for additional information.

---

#1: Find a Department of Veterans Affairs Job at USAJobs

USAJobs is a job board open to the public advertising jobs with the federal government. Veterans who apply to these jobs may be able to use veteran hiring preference points. Military spouses are also eligible to apply for jobs, but must meet certain requirements including a minimum time of availability prior to a new PCS move or reassignment.

Some of the government jobs advertised on USAJobs are open to the public, while others may be restricted to veterans, those with a disability, military spouses, current federal employees, etc.

How to Apply For A VA Job at USAJobs

Applying for a federal job at the Department of Veterans Affairs via USAJobs requires the applicant to create a login and personal profile. In order to claim veteran hiring preference with the VA or apply for military spouse jobs, supporting documentation must be provided in the form of digital copies of marriage certificates, DD Form 214 discharge paperwork, current PCS orders and other documents as specified by USAJobs or the job opening.

When creating a profile on USAJobs, new applicants must also set up an account at LogIn.Gov since logging into USAJobs is not possible without doing so.

Using LogIn.Gov to Create A USAJobs Profile

Newcomers to USAJobs must first set up a separate profile with LogIn.Gov. This is a centralized government service offering “secure and private online access to government programs…” allowing the applicant to log in to multiple government official sites with a single username and password.

It is crucial to use the same email address for LogIn.Gov that you register to apply for jobs on the USAJobs site.

Applying for A Department of Veterans Affairs Job at USAJobs Step-By-Step

The basic steps to finding VA jobs at USAJobs includes:

1. Creating a profile which includes uploading all documentation and paperwork needed. It’s best not to search and apply for jobs until your full profile is complete.
2. Searching for job opening is possible to without loggin, but it’s highly advised to log-in first. The USAJobs search tool includes filters so you can specifically target Department of Veterans Affairs jobs, specific career fields, etc.
3. Once you find jobs you wish to apply for, you will need to apply to each one individually. For best results, you can tailor your cover letter to the specific job. There may be special instructions for certain jobs that do not apply to other applications. Be sure to read all the requirements before submitting an application online.
4. Once you have officially submitted your application, your information is delivered to the agency seeking new hires. For the Department of Veterans Affairs, that may be the specific office, regional office, headquarters, hospital, or other facility depending on the nature of the position. For others, centralized interviewing or resume reviews may be conducted depending on the type of job.
5. The agency will select who it wishes to interview or further screen. Personal replies to job applications may not be possible. It is most likely you will be contacted if an interview or further screening is necessary.

Military Spouse Jobs via USAJobs

Military spouses must meet certain conditions in order to be considered for a job application submitted through USAJobs. Those conditions include, but are not limited to the following:

• The spouse must relocate under Permanent Change of Station orders OR
• Being the spouse of a service member who is 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury OR
• Applying as the spouse of a service member killed on active duty
• Military spouses are eligible for two years from the date on PCS orders
• Spouses may be “permanently eligible” from the date of disability or death of the service member
• Military spouses are no longer eligible upon remarriage

Tips on Searching for Department of Veterans Affairs Jobs on USAJobs

Be as specific as needed when using the search tool. It’s possible to search for “Department of Veterans Affairs Jobs Public Affairs” or “VA jobs admin” and get results based on those search terms. You can also narrow down your search by region, zip code, state, etc.

There are also search tools that can help refine a more general search such as “dental assistant jobs” by agency. This can be quite helpful for those specifically interested in VA jobs.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

Related Articles
Commissary and AAFES Jobs	3 Tips for Finding Federal Jobs for Military Veterans
Work From Home Jobs for Military Spouses & Veterans	Security Clearance Jobs After the Military
The Best Civilian Career Fields For Veterans	Getting A Job On A Military Base

Commissary and AAFES outlets such as the Base Exchange or Post Exchange routinely employ those in the military community. These jobs are plentiful, especially for those stationed overseas, and there are opportunities for those who want upward mobility within these companies.

For military members and their families, two of the best-known on-base retailers are not just a source for food, clothes, electronics, or other items. They are also a source of employment for currently serving military members, spouses, dependent children, veterans and, military retirees.

Who Is Hired to Work at Commissaries and Exchanges?

Those interested in working at an Exchange facility should know there is no requirement to be in the military, nor a requirement that new hires be military family members or dependents. Base or Post Exchanges are run by AAFES have one basic job requirement to be eligible for consideration:

“Our basic employment requirement is that you have a passion for providing excellent customer service and the desire to serve those who serve” according to AAFES.

There are entry-level jobs, and more career-oriented management and corporate positions.

Commissary jobs may be slightly different depending on the applied positions. Some jobs are General Schedule (GS) pay grade federal positions while some may be considered more entry level and hiring may be done quite differently than for GS positions.

GS hiring can be complicated with required background checks and drug screenings, while more entry level positions may only require an interview and a resume review.

Is There Special Hiring Consideration For Military Spouses And Family Members?

For both AAFES and DeCA, hiring preference may be extended to military members, spouses, or dependents. Such preference may depend on the type of job openings available, whether the position requires a GS rating in the case of DeCA employees, and how long the applicant is available to work in a given location. This is the case for overseas work and sometimes even stateside hires.

AAFES has a special section of its official site for military spouses and family members. There are certain conditions for hiring preference and special hiring opportunities. DeCA directs military spouses and family members to resources including Military OneSource to learn more about hiring preferences and opportunities.

---

What Is The Commissary?

A commissary is the name of what is essentially an on-base grocery store. These facilities are centrally owned and managed by the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia.

The DeCA official site describes its mission as being responsible for “a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items that are variably priced plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones.”

No matter what branch of the military you serve in, or what branch operates the military base or post you’re assigned to, commissaries provide an important service, and a cost-effective one. The DeCA official site claims that regular commissary use saves military shoppers “thousands of dollars annually” and does not charge taxes for purchases.

DeCA only operates the commissary, it does not operate the Base Exchange (BX) or Post Exchange (PX) or other retail outlets. The Army & Air Force Exchange System (AAFES) runs the Exchange system as well as other on-base retail locations.

What Is AAFES?

The Army & Air Force Exchange System, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has been operating in one form or another since 1895. The agency runs the Exchange system for both online shopping and on-base retail and serves wherever military members are found.

The motto of AAFES is “We go where you go.” According to the official site, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service “has served the Nation’s armed forces during combat operations, humanitarian missions and military exercises around the world.”

AAFES employees have “voluntarily deployed to serve troops during major wars, natural disasters, deep into jungles, high on mountaintops, and at tips of the spears in eastern Europe and South Korea”.

AAFES operates BX / PX stores which are similar to big box retail chains such as Kohl’s, Target, WalMart, etc. AAFES also runs on-base movie theaters, concessions, and other retail outlets on military bases in the United States and overseas.

These stores feature tax-free shopping, discounted goods, even a store credit card known as the Military Star Card.

Is The United States Navy Represented By AAFES? 

The United States Navy has its’ own version of AAFES, known as Navy Exchange or NEX for short. NEX headquarters is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Many of the same rules and issues apply to NEX retail jobs as the AAFES and DeCA jobs discussed here including the NEX policy of not requiring its employees to be in the military or military dependents. You can search for and find Navy exchange jobs at the NEX official site. Like AAFES, Navy Exchange Service Command jobs are not considered Civil Service positions.

Who Is Permitted to Shop at These Facilities?

In the past, only those with valid military ID could shop at AAFES and commissary locations. Dependents, retirees, and currently serving military members are all permitted, but civilian employees have been left out in decades past.

At the time of this writing, there are several proposals to change this so that DoD civilians, contractors, and other non-military personnel could also purchase from AAFES and DeCA operations.

How Do I Find AAFES Jobs?

Since AAFES does not only operate BX and PX outlets, there may be a large pool of jobs to choose from at a given military base or post. It’s possible to apply for AAFES jobs online and the AAFES official site. The “Apply Now” link takes job seekers to BrassRing.com listing individual positions at military bases all over the world.

The AAFES official site lists internship programs, management training opportunities, career offerings for those leaving military service, and much more.

How Do I Find Commissary Jobs?

Finding a job opening with the Defense Commissary Agency is centralized-the DeCA official site directs job seekers to search USAJobs.gov site. Once there, doing a general search on “DeCA jobs” will bring up both entry-level work such as tellers, baggers, and clerks at commissaries world wide, but also higher-level and federal GS positions.

Some of these jobs require only a minimum amount of experience and basic education requirements, while others may demand an extensive resume and professional experience. Some DeCA overseas jobs do not permit relocation expenses to be paid while others may.

Can I Apply For AAFES and DeCA Jobs Via Indeed, SimplyHired, Or Other Job Boards?

It is strongly recommended to apply directly via the job links from AAFES or DeCA official sites.

Third-party job boards like Indeed.com, SimplyHired, and others often simply redirect you to the AAFES or DeCA job interfaces.

Searching third party job boards may be less efficient than using the direct links from official sites, at least in terms of getting commissary or AAFES work.

Where Are These Facilities? Does Every Military Base Have AAFES and A Commissary?

AAFES and DeCA run their businesses inside military bases all over the world. AAFES can even be found in forward-deployed locations such as Iraq and elsewhere depending on mission requirements, safety issues, logistics support, etc.

Not all military bases have a commissary, but a large number of overseas installations, posts, and bases do. AAFES provides retail services at a great many military bases, but their “footprint” may not include a Base Exchange or Post Exchange. It depends on the size of the base and the permanence of the installation, etc.

BX and PX stores are only part of what AAFES does. In the past AAFES has operated video stores (remember those?), book stores, and even a liquor store known to military members as “Class Six” shops.

Is There A DeCA Commissary Near Me?

There is a searchable database of DeCA commissary locations worldwide you can use to search by zip code, state, country, or physical address.

Is There An AAFES Store, BX or PX Near Me?

AAFES offers a store finder search tool to find locations near you based on address, location, or mileage from a specific location.

---

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

---

 

Related Articles
AAFES Online Shopping For Veterans	Commissary Benefits
Military Exchanges	Getting A Job on A Military Base
Military Discounts	Military & Spouse Employment At Military Bases