Choosing Jobs in the Military: How Much Control Do I Have?

When enlisting in the military, do you actually get to choose your job or is it assigned to you based on need or skills? How does the selection process work for military roles?

While the specific process can vary slightly between different branches of the military, generally speaking, when you enlist, you do have some control over the job you want to pursue. This is done through a process called classification.

The first step in this process is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). This is a series of tests that assesses your skills and interests. Your score on the ASVAB influences what jobs, also known as Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) in the Army and Marine Corps or ratings in the Navy and Coast Guard, you qualify for.

In many cases, you'll have the opportunity to receive a "guaranteed job" during your enlistment process, which means you sign a contract for a specific job before heading to basic training. This option, however, is not always available and can depend on several factors such as the current needs of the military, the waiting period for training in that role, and your ASVAB scores.

Even with a "guaranteed job", it's important to note that being in the military means being flexible and ready to serve where you're needed, which could potentially mean reassigning roles or responsibilities based on operational necessities.

It's also worth mentioning that the "needs of the service" always come first. This means that the availability of jobs is primarily based on the needs of the military. Some jobs might be high-demand or critically staffed which might increase the chances of getting that particular job.

So, while you do have some control and can express your job preferences during the classification process, the military will ultimately assign you a role based on their needs and your qualifications. It's recommended to research various roles and consider which jobs you'd be interested in and would qualify for based on your skills and the average ASVAB scores for those roles.