Military Careers Pathways 10/18/2010

The Military Structure of the US Military – Current Structure Established 1947 – Everything Military falls under the Department of Defense, which is part of the Presidents Cabinet – Department of Defense is under the control of the Secretary of defense (Robert Gates) He answers directly to the President (Obama)

The Military 3 Military Departments- Headed by Service Secretaries – Army – Air Force – Navy The marines falls under the Navy

Military Military leaders of the Branches – Army- 4 star general (aka Army chief of Staff) General George W. Casey, Jr – Air Force 4 star General (aka, air force chief of staff) General Norton Schwartz – Navy 4 star admiral (aka, Chief of Naval Operations) Admiral Gary Roughead

Military Military leaders of the Branches – Marines 4 star general (aka Commandant of the Marine Corps) General James T. Conway – Coast Guard Not in Department of Defense Currently under Department of Homeland Security But in War, all assets go to the Navy Leader is Commandant- 4 star Admiral Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr

Branches The Army – The oldest – Provides the main ground forces for the US – Cool Stuff Tanks, helicopters, guns, artillery, nuclear weapons – Size 76,000 officers 401,000 enlisted members

Army

Branches Air Force- youngest – Originally part of the army, until WWII, when it was recognized that air power was important – Space is part of the Air Force – Cool stuff- Fighter jets, bombers, tanker, helicopters, satellites, controls the nuclear ballistic missiles – Size 69,000 commissioned officers 288,000 enlisted members

Air Force

Branches Navy – Protect the seas for American Interests – Support the Army and Air Force by providing transportation of equipment and personnel – Cool Stuff Air craft carriers, fighter bombes, big boats with huge guns, Navy SEALS – Size 54,000 officers 324,000 enlisted

Navy

Branches Marines – Infantry of the Navy – Take the beaches to provide a path from the sea to the enemy – Cool Stuff Fast, self-sufficient (fighter jets, helicopters), boats – Smallest of the Forces 18,000 officers 153,000 enlisted larger image

Marines

Branches Coast Guard – Was part of the Department of Transportation – Now part of Homeland Security – Cool stuff Law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, illegal immigration – Size 7,000 officers 29,000 enlisted

Types of Ranks Enlisted- – Backbone of the military – Do the primary jobs – Enlisted members become specialists Trained to do specific tasks

Types of Ranks Different ranks for each branch – Enlisted officers are called non-commissioned – Highest rank Sergeant Major- Army Master Chief petty Officer- Navy Chief Master Sergeant- Air Force Sergeant Major- Marines

Types of Ranks Requirements to enter the military as Enlisted – High School Diploma Less than 10% enter with GED – Majority of enlisted have some college – Many have associate or bachelors degrees – Some even have masters or doctorates

Types of Ranks Have to take the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) 2 purposes – Check for mental ability to learn – Placement for military jobs Form 18/19- High School ASVAB – For high school – 900,000 a year take it

Types of Ranks ASVAB – Qualifying score AFQT- Armed Forces Qualification Score Air Force- 36- can go as low as 31 – 0.5% with GED, but you have to have a 50 Army- 31- can go as low as 26 – 17% GED Marines- 32- as low as 25 – Less than 5% with GED- must have a 50 Navy- 35 as low as 31 – No GED unless you get a 50 on the ASVAB – No Drugs – 3 letters of reference

Jobs for the Enlisted Military – Infantry – Artillery – Air Defense – Electronic Warfare – Cooks – Law Enforcement – Intelligence – Finance – Psychological Operations – Civil Affairs – Religious – Medical – Chemical warfare – Transportation – Explosives and Ammunition – Recruiting – Maintenance – Supply and Logistics – more more

Warrant Officers Highly trained specialist They differ from Commissioned Officers because they stay in their primary job Highly skilled technicians – Work on the complex battlefield systems likelike Outrank all enlisted ranks College not required

Commissioned Officers These are the leaders “Top Brass”- they have the most medals They provide overall management and leadership. Not like warrant officers  they don’t specialize – Except for doctors, lawyers, pilots, etc.)

Commissioned Officers Promotion – Enlisted members stay where they are trained for their entire career, unless they get more training – Officers move around a lot – This allows them a better understanding of the whole picture – They start small, commanding a small group of people, then gradually more and more, until they command an entire battalion

Commissioned Officers Minimum of Bachelor’s degree (4 year college) – Have to get more (masters) to be promoted Also can attend a military academy – West Point – Naval Academy – Air Force Academy Take ROTC in college – Reserve Officer Training Corps Officer Training School

Commissioned Officers 2 lines – Non-Line- Not for combat – Medical officers, chaplains, lawyers Line Officers – Combat officers Even though a Non-Line may outrank a Line officer, he still will not have any decision making ability in the combat arena

Commissioned Officers 10 levels – Lieutenant 2 nd, 1 st – Captain – Major – Lieutenant Colonel – Colonel – Brigadier General – (Rear Admiral- lower half) 1 star Major General (Rear Admiral- top half 2 stars Lieutenant General (vice Admiral) 3 stars General (Admiral) 4 stars

Pay Officers – $2,745 up to 16, 132 per month Warrant – $2,683 up to $7, 603 Enlisted – 1,447 up to 6, 129 per month

Pay Housing allowances Overseas allowances Combat duty allowances

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