Military Paid Summer Jobs for High School Grads

With graduation coming up, I'm exploring different options and heard the military has paid summer jobs. How do these work? Are they more like internships or actual jobs? Any insight on the application process would be helpful!

Military offers summer jobs for high school graduates typically fall under a category known as "summer hire programs". These programs offer temporary employment, often ten to twelve weeks, designed to help students gain practical work experience. In the context of military, most positions tend to offer experience in roles related to logistics, administration, operations, or support.

As to whether the positions are more similar to internships or jobs really depends on the specific program and position. Some might be more structured like an internship, with opportunities for job shadowing, mentoring, and some formal learning modules. Others might be more hands-on, job-oriented positions where you're handling the same responsibilities as another civilian employee in the same role.

It's important to note that these are civilian positions, meaning you’re not enlisting or going through basic training. However, working in a military context does mean certain differences to a typical summer job, such as potentially working on a military base.

The application process can vary but typically involves an application through an online portal (Office of Personnel Management's USAJobs site is commonly used) and submission of necessary documents like your resume, school transcripts, and potentially a cover letter. Deadlines to apply usually fall in the spring, but it's wise to check early as some programs might have specific windows of time when they accept applications.

If you're interested in a military career post-grad, these summer jobs could provide valuable insights and experience, as well as potential connections within the organization. Regardless, they also offer the broader benefits of having professional experience for your resume, learning new skills, and earning during the summer.