Pursuing Military Jobs as an Electrician?

I'm thinking about becoming an electrician and wanted to know if the military offers positions in this field. If so, what kind of training is involved and how does it compare to civilian electrician careers?

Certainly! All branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and even the newer Space Force, have roles related to electrical work. This might involve maintaining and repairing electrical power systems, installing and troubleshooting electrical equipment, or working on aircraft or shipboard electrical systems.

For instance, in the Navy, you might be an Electrician's Mate (EM), responsible for maintaining a ship's electrical systems. In the Air Force, the Electrical Systems job involves the installation, maintenance and repair of wiring, electrical fixtures, and equipment used for electricity.

Besides having schooling to become electricians, military electricians receive specialty training through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, often at specialized military training centers. This is typically part of their job-specific training following basic training, and it can last several weeks to a few months depending on the complexity of the role.

Upon leaving the military, veterans with experience in military electrician roles can often transition smoothly into civilian electrician roles due to their extensive training and experience, although they might also need to obtain civilian licensure.

And aside from gaining hands-on experience and comprehensive training in your field, serving as an electrician in the military could also offer you a chance to earn GI Bill benefits, which could help to pay for additional schooling down the line if that's something you're interested in. Just make sure to research each branch's electrical specialty roles since the exact training, duties, competency levels, and possible benefits for electricians can vary between them.