How to Choose the Right Army Job

The Army offers fields from weapons specialists to administration and transportation.

The U.S. Army has more than 150 types of jobs available for active duty soldiers and more than 120 for members of the Army Reserve, according to GoArmy.com, the Army's recruiting website. Once you enlist to work in a certain career field, it can be difficult to switch careers, as the Army doesn't like to waste training. You can, however, choose the right job for you the first time around through working with an Army recruiter and taking advantage of Army job-related resources.

Things You'll Need

• ASVAB Scores
• Computer
• Recruiter

Instructions

1. Take the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery. This test qualifies you to join the Army, as well as rates your aptitude for every Army job. Based on your scores, you can create a list of the jobs you'll be qualified to do in the Army.

2. Use the career-choosing resources on the Army's website to explore your options. You should complete the Match Your Interests tool, Army Career Explorer tool and Option Seeker tool to narrow down your job options and compare these choices.

3. Talk to a recruiter about Army careers. Your recruiter can detail the benefits and disadvantages to each job you're considering, as well as review your test scores and interests to recommend a single job that suits you. Seek out other knowledgeable sources as well, keeping in mind that the recruiter's job is to sell you on enlistment.

4. Consider the length of enlistment a specific military occupational specialty, or MOS, will require. Some job specialties may require a longer term enlistment than others.

5. Investigate potential pay grades.You may be entitled to an advanced rank in certain enlistment options, armedforcescareers.com.

6. Consider the value of training you will receive for a particular specialty. Usually the longer the training, the more in-depth and useful it is,according to armedforcescareers.com. You should also consider how useful the training will be once you've left the military.

Tips & Warnings

• Along with duties and schooling information, don't forget to compare the bonuses issued for enlisting in each field. Bonuses change according to Army need.

References

• GoArmy: Careers & Jobs Overview
• Military.com; The ASVAB Explained
• How to Choose Which Military Branch to Join