How to Convert an Army Officer's MOS to a Civilian Job
The US Armed Forces use a set of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) to define what a soldier does while on duty. These are similar code designations for all of the services. Nearly half of the US Army's personnel are support troops: cooks, truck drivers, forklift operators, electronics operators and repair technicians. Converting your experience in an MOS into a civilian job is something that's a bit of a challenge for Army personnel entering civilian life again.
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Instructions
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Start by listing the jobs and duties in which your MOS requires you to be proficient. If you're a radio operator, for instance, your MOS requires that you be good at handling communications, sighting out transmission lines, coordinating communications, obeying protocols, as well as gaining exposure to the underlying physics and engineering of your equipment.
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Search the Bureau of Labor Statistics website for jobs with similar requirements. If you have experience using a forklift in the Army, for instance, you'll be able to transition to a forklift operator position in the civilian job market. Some MOS descriptions will require creative thinking. Driving a tank, for example, gives you experience in overland orienteering, and driving oversized vehicles; these are skills that are useful in oil exploration.
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Write a resume that emphasizes your military service and experience. Focus on the traits that being in the military gives: a positive work ethic, the ability to work under tight deadline pressure, leadership, and teamwork and team-building experience. Also focus on the specific day-to-day tasks you did within your MOS; be prepared to answer questions in an interview about how those experiences could benefit your potential employer.
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References
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