The earnings structure for military personnel is shown in table 4. Most enlisted personnel started as recruits at Grade E-1 in 2003; however, those with special skills or above-average education started as high as Grade E-4. Most warrant officers had started at Grade W-1 or W-2, depending upon their occupational and academic qualifications and the branch of service of which they were a member, but warrant officer is not an entry-level occupation and, consequently, these individuals all had previous military service. Most commissioned officers started at Grade O-1; some with advanced education started at Grade O-2, and some highly trained officers—for example, physicians and dentists—started as high as Grade O-3. Pay varies by total years of service as well as rank. Because it usually takes many years to reach the higher ranks, most personnel in higher ranks receive the higher pay rates awarded to those with many years of service.
In addition to receiving their basic pay, military personnel are provided with free room and board (or a tax-free housing and subsistence allowance), free medical and dental care, a military clothing allowance, military supermarket and department store shopping privileges, 30 days of paid vacation a year (referred to as leave), and travel opportunities. In many duty stations, military personnel may receive a housing allowance that can be used for off-base housing. This allowance can be substantial, but varies greatly by rank and duty station. For example, in July 2003, the housing allowance for an E-4 with dependents was $505 per month; for a comparable individual without dependents, it was $353. The allowance for an O-4 with dependents was $961 per month; for a person without dependents, it was $836. Other allowances are paid for foreign duty, hazardous duty, submarine and flight duty, and employment as a medical officer. Athletic and other facilities—such as gymnasiums, tennis courts, golf courses, bowling centers, libraries, and movie theaters—are available on many military installations. Military personnel are eligible for retirement benefits after 20 years of service.
The Veterans Administration (VA) provides numerous benefits to those who have served at least 2 years in the Armed Forces. Veterans are eligible for free care in VA hospitals for all service-related disabilities, regardless of time served; those with other medical problems are eligible for free VA care if they are unable to pay the cost of hospitalization elsewhere. Admission to a VA medical center depends on the availability of beds, however. Veterans also are eligible for certain loans, including loans to purchase a home. Veterans, regardless of health, can convert a military life insurance policy to an individual policy with any participating company in the veteran’s State of residence. In addition, job counseling, testing, and placement services are available.
Veterans who participate in the New Montgomery GI Bill Program receive educational benefits. Under this program, Armed Forces personnel may elect to deduct up to $100 a month from their pay during the first 12 months of active duty, putting the money toward their future education. Veterans who serve on active duty for more than 2 years or who put in 2 years’ active duty plus 4 years in the Selected Reserve will receive $528 a month in basic benefits for 36 months. Those who enlist and serve for 2 years will receive $429 a month for 36 months. In addition, each service provides its own contributions to the enlistee’s future education. The sum of the amounts from all these sources becomes the service member’s educational fund. Upon separation from active duty, the fund can be used to finance educational costs at any VA-approved institution. Among those institutions which are approved by the VA are many vocational, correspondence, certification, business, technical, and flight-training schools; community and junior colleges; and colleges and universities.
| Grade | Years of service | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 2 | Over 4 | Over 8 | Over 12 | Over 16 | Over 20 | |
|
||||||
O-10 |
$11,874.90 | |||||
O-9 |
10,563.60 | |||||
O-8 |
$7,474.50 | $7,927.20 | $8,468.70 | $8,868.90 | $9,238.20 | 10,008.90 |
O-7 |
6,210.90 | 6,739.20 | 7,120.80 | 7,559.40 | 8,468.70 | 9,051.30 |
O-6 |
4,603.20 | 5388.9 | 5,641.20 | 5672.1 | 6,564.30 | 7,233.30 |
O-5 |
3,837.60 | 4,678.50 | 4,977.00 | 5,403.00 | 5,991.90 | 6,329.10 |
O-4 |
3,311.10 | 4,145.70 | 4,637.70 | 5,201.40 | 5,471.10 | |
O-3 |
2,911.20 | 3,883.50 | 4,273.50 | 4,623.30 | ||
O-2 |
2,515.20 | 3,410.00 | ||||
O-1 |
2,183.70 | 2,746.80 | ||||
|
||||||
W-5 |
5,169.30 | |||||
W-4 |
3,088.10 | 3,420.60 | 3,733.50 | 4,044.60 | 4,356.00 | 4,664.40 |
W-3 |
2,747.10 | 3,017.70 | 3,281.70 | 3,580.50 | 3,915.60 | 4,201.50 |
W-2 |
2,416.50 | 2,763.00 | 2,993.10 | 3,264.00 | 3,453.90 | 3,705.90 |
W-1 |
2,133.90 | 2,501.10 | 2,782.20 | 3,006.90 | 3,203.40 | 3,409.50 |
|
||||||
E-9 |
3,645.00 | 3,687.00 | 4,180.80 | |||
E-8 |
2,975.40 | 3,141.30 | 3,342.00 | 3,625.50 | ||
E-7 |
2,068.50 | 2,428.20 | 2,667.90 | 2,838.30 | 3,066.30 | 3,182.70 |
E-6 |
1,770.60 | 2,117.10 | 2,400.90 | 2,562.30 | 2,663.10 | 2709.60 |
E-5 |
1,625.40 | 1,903.50 | 2,151.90 | 2,283.30 | 2,283.30 | |
E-4 |
1,502.70 | 1,749.30 | 1824.00 | |||
E-3 |
1,356.90 | 1,528.80 | ||||
E-2 |
1,290.00 | |||||
E-1 4mos+ |
1,150.80 | |||||
E-1 <4mos |
1,064.70 | |||||
|
||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Finance and Accounting Service | ||||||
Maintaining a strong national defense encompasses such diverse activities as running a hospital, commanding a tank, programming computers, operating a nuclear reactor, or repairing and maintaining a helicopter. The military provides training and work experience in these and many other fields for more than 2.5 million people. More than 1.4 million people serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and more than 1.1 million serve in their Reserve components, and the Air and Army National Guard. The Coast Guard, which is also discussed in this Handbook statement, is now part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The military distinguishes between enlisted and officer careers. Enlisted personnel, who make up about 85 percent of the Armed Forces, carry out the fundamental operations of the military in areas such as combat, administration, construction, engineering, health care, and human services. Officers, who make up the remaining 15 percent of the Armed Forces, are the leaders of the military, supervising and managing activities in every occupational specialty of the Armed Forces.
The sections that follow discuss the major occupational groups for enlisted personnel and officers.
Enlisted occupational groups Administrative careers include a wide variety of positions. The military must keep accurate information for planning and managing its operations. Both paper and electronic records are kept on personnel and on equipment, funds, supplies, and other property of the military. Enlisted administrative personnel record information, type reports, maintain files, and review information to assist military officers. Personnel may work in a specialized area such as finance, accounting, legal affairs, maintenance, supply, or transportation. Some examples of administrative specialists are recruiting specialists, who recruit and place qualified personnel and provide information about military careers to young people, parents, schools, and local communities; training specialists and instructors, who provide the training programs necessary to help people perform their jobs effectively; and personnel specialists, who collect and store information about individuals in the military, including information on their training, job assignments, promotions, and health.
Combat specialty occupations refer to enlisted specialties, such as infantry, artillery, and special forces, whose members operate weapons or execute special missions during combat. Persons in these occupations normally specialize by the type of weapon system or combat operation. These personnel maneuver against enemy forces and position and fire artillery, guns, and missiles to destroy enemy positions. They also may operate tanks and amphibious assault vehicles in combat or scouting missions. When the military has difficult and dangerous missions to perform, they call upon special-operations teams. Team members from the special-operations forces conduct offensive raids, demolitions, intelligence, search-and-rescue missions, and other operations from aboard aircraft, helicopters, ships, or submarines.
Construction occupations in the military include personnel who build or repair buildings, airfields, bridges, foundations, dams, bunkers, and the electrical and plumbing components of these structures. Enlisted personnel in construction occupations operate bulldozers, cranes, graders, and other heavy equipment. Construction specialists also may work with engineers and other building specialists as part of military construction teams. Plumbers and pipefitters install and repair the plumbing and pipe systems needed in buildings and on aircraft and ships. Building electricians install and repair electrical-wiring systems in offices, airplane hangars, and other buildings on military bases.
Electronic and electrical equipment repair personnel repair and maintain electronic and electrical equipment used in the military. Repairers normally specialize by type of equipment, such as avionics, computer, optical, communications, or weapons systems. For example, electronic instrument repairers install, test, maintain, and repair a wide variety of electronic systems, including navigational controls and biomedical instruments.
The military has many engineering, science, and technical occupations, whose members require specific knowledge to operate technical equipment, solve complex problems, or provide and interpret information. Enlisted personnel normally specialize in one area, such as space operations, emergency management, environmental health and safety, or intelligence. Emergency management specialists prepare emergency procedures for all types of disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Environmental health and safety specialists inspect military facilities and food supplies for the presence of disease, germs, or other conditions hazardous to health and the environment. Intelligence specialists gather and study information by means of aerial photographs and various types of radar and surveillance systems.
Health-care personnel assist medical professionals in treating and providing services for men and women in the military. They may work as part of a patient-service team in close contact with doctors, dentists, nurses, and physical therapists to provide the necessary support functions within a hospital or clinic. Health-care specialists normally specialize in a particular area—emergency medical treatment, the operation of diagnostic tools such as x-ray and ultrasound equipment, laboratory testing of tissue and blood samples, or maintaining pharmacy supplies or patients’ records, among others.
Human resources development specialists recruit and place qualified personnel and provide the training programs necessary to help people perform their jobs effectively. They may operate engines, turbines, nuclear reactors, and water pumps.
Media and public affairs occupations deal with the public presentation and interpretation of military information and events. Enlisted media and public affairs personnel take and develop photographs; film, record, and edit audio and video programs; present news and music programs; and produce graphic artwork, drawings, and other visual displays.
Vehicle and machinery mechanics conduct preventive and corrective maintenance on aircraft, ships, automotive and heavy equipment, heating and cooling systems, marine engines, and powerhouse station equipment. Powerhouse mechanics install, maintain, and repair electrical and mechanical equipment in power-generating stations.
Officer occupational groups Combat specialty officers plan and direct military operations, oversee combat activities, and serve as combat leaders. Public information officers respond to inquiries about military activities and prepare news releases and reports to keep the public informed.
Protective service officers are responsible for the safety and protection of individuals and property on military bases and vessels.
Opportunities should be good for qualified individuals in all branches of the Armed Forces through 2012. Many military personnel retire with a pension after 20 years of service, while they still are young enough to start a new career. More than 365,000 enlisted personnel and officers must be recruited each year to replace those who complete their commitment or retire. Since the end of the draft in 1973, the military has met its personnel requirements with volunteers. When the economy is good and civilian employment opportunities generally are more favorable, it is more difficult for all the services to meet their recruitment quotas. By contrast, it is much easier to do so during a recession.
America’s strategic position is stronger than it has been in decades. Despite reductions in personnel due to the elimination of the threat from Eastern Europe and Russia, the number of active-duty personnel is expected to remain roughly constant through 2012. However, recent conflicts in other countries and the resulting strain on the Armed Forces may lead to an increasing number of active-duty personnel. The Armed Forces’ current goal is to maintain a sufficient force to fight and win two major regional conflicts at the same time. Political events, however, could cause these plans to change.
Educational requirements will continue to rise as military jobs become more technical and complex. High school graduates and applicants with a college background will be sought to fill the ranks of enlisted personnel, while virtually all officers will need at least a bachelor’s degree and, in some cases, an advanced degree as well.
.Each of the military services publishes Handbooks, fact sheets, and pamphlets describing entrance requirements, training and advancement opportunities, and other aspects of military careers. These publications are widely available at all recruiting stations, at most State employment service offices, and in high schools, colleges, and public libraries. Information on educational and other veterans’ benefits is available from VA offices located throughout the country.
In addition, the Defense Manpower Data Center, an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, publishes Military Career Guide Online, a compendium of military occupational, training, and career information designed for use by students and jobseekers. This information is available on the Internet: http://www.todaysmilitary.com
Air Force Link - BRIGADIER GENERAL PATRICK O. The general is responsible for providing the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, manpower and personnel advice and support to ensure maximum readiness and sustainability of the total force. The J-1 gives policy and guidance on joint officer management matters and administers the internal Joint Staff civilian and military personnel programs. EDUCATION1968 Bachelor of science degree in public administration, University of Missouri, Columbia 1983 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. May 1978 - July 1980, personnel officer, Office of the Assistant for Colonel Assignments, Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 8.
Summary of: http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4475
All years referred to in this paper are fiscal years unless otherwise indicated. In rank, they fall between enlisted personnel and commissioned officers (second lieutenant or ensign through general or admiral). Because the number of warrant officers is small, few people outside the individual services' communities of warrant officers know very much about their roles and management. The paper was prepared at the request of the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Kathryn Winstead produced the cover, Lenny Skutnik produced the printed copies, and Annette Kalicki prepared the electronic versions for CBO's Web site.
Summary of: http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=3287&sequence=0
Policy decisions affect Active Army, Reserve Components, and Active Guard Reserve (AGR) enlisted soldiers. Monitor Total Army personnel readiness. Support planning, programming, budgeting and execution of individual training mission. Develop and publish the peacetime and mobilization Army Program for Individual Training (ARPRINT) annually. Develop and manage active and reserve component incentives for enlistment and for AMEDD officer accessioning.
Summary of: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/MilitaryPersonnel/mission.asp
To analyze the role of different components of military pay, RAND researchers examined data files on occupation, length of service, pay components, and tax advantages for each member of the military. Regular military compensation, a measure of pay commonly used by the Department of Defense, includes basic pay, housing and subsistence allowances, and the tax advantage. Other compensation components, such as retired pay and health care benefits, were not included in the definition of cash compensation. The lower average cash compensation for Marine Corps officers and enlisted personnel reflects the preference of that service for more-junior personnel. Of the 20 types of special and incentive payments for enlisted personnel that were analyzed, most were paid to less than 2 percent of personnel in each of the four services.
Summary of: http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB7554/
Most enlisted personnel need at least a high school diploma, while officers need a bachelor’s or an advanced degree. Some training and duty assignments are hazardous, even in peacetime. The military distinguishes between enlisted and officer careers. Both paper and electronic records are kept on personnel and on equipment, funds, supplies, and other property of the military. Health-care personnel assist medical professionals in treating and providing services for men and women in the military.
Summary of: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos249.htm
Both officer and enlisted personnel have to be released from their old duty station by the Commander. The completed DA Form 4187 is used by PERSCOM to make your job/assignment selection. Most Army officers have the opportunity to choose the assignment they want and it is usually approved. Is DFAS a Joint Duty assignment. DFAS has one position on the Joint Duty Authorization List.
Summary of: http://www.dod.mil/dfas/careers/military/
Neither the Department of Defense (DoD) nor the National Personnel Records Center intend to destroy any OMPFs stored at the Center. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Bounty-land warrant applications for Federal military service before 1856. Paper copies of military service and pension records can be ordered by mail from the facility which holds the records (see below). Louis, Missouri The National Personnel Records Center in St.
Summary of: http://www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/veterans_service_records.html
It is intended to make the paper's discussion of warrant officers and limited duty officers more accessible to readers who have little or no knowledge of those practices. In broad terms, junior enlisted personnel are analogous to the workers in a private company and officers to the executives. The services use enlistment bonuses to attract well-qualified recruits, channel them into specific occupations, and induce them to agree to longer enlistment terms. Through at least their first 10 years of service, enlisted personnel continue to serve on fixed-length enlistment contracts, choosing a new term length of two to six years each time they reenlist. The first few promotions tend to occur on a fairly fixed schedule, but by the grade of E-4, more variation among individuals begins to appear.
Summary of: http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=3287&sequence=6