Choosing Your Job in the Military

Is there a particular branch of the military that allows for more flexibility in choosing your job? How does the process work when it comes to job assignments?

Each branch of the military has its own unique system in place for assigning jobs or Military Occupation Specialties (MOS). In general, your chances of getting the MOS you want are influenced by a few key factors such as your ASVAB scores, the needs of the branch you choose, and your personal preferences.

The job selection process often starts before you enlist. For example, during the enlistment process, you might talk to a recruiter about the jobs you're interested in. It's crucial to keep in mind the job availability fluctuates in each branch depending on their needs at the time.

The Army and the Marine Corps tend to offer more certainty in terms of job placement. During your enlistment process, you can select an MOS as long as you qualify for it based on your ASVAB scores and it's available.

The Navy and Air Force provide a list of jobs that are available to you based on your ASVAB scores. You can then list your preferred jobs, and while they attempt to match preferences, there's less certainty as needs of the Navy or Air Force may take precedence.

The newly formed U.S. Space Force combines both approaches used by the Navy/Air Force and the Army/Marine Corps. Similar to the Navy and Air Force, Space Force applicants choose a preference of specialty codes (jobs), but before recruitment completes, a specific job is assigned.

Of course, all of these procedures are subject to the needs of the military, which can change rapidly depending on various factors. To ensure you have the most flexibility, do well on your ASVAB, keep a clean criminal record, and sustain good physical fitness.

Lastly, consider speaking to recruiters from different branches to get a sense of where you might have a better chance of getting the job you want and to understand more about how the process works in each branch. They can provide valuable insight and answer any specific questions you may have.