Geography Major: Which Military Branch?

Hey, I'm currently a junior planning to pursue a Bachelor of Geography in college. But I'm also interested in joining the military at some point. Can anyone share which military branches highly value geographical knowledge and would be good follow-ups to my degree?

Certainly, your geographic skills can definitely find applications in a military setting. Your interest in geography positions you well to contribute in roles related to Military Intelligence, Meteorology, Urban Planning, and Logistics, all of which can require an understanding of geographical principles.

The Navy operates across the globe, so understanding oceanography and meteorology can be extremely valuable here in roles such as weather forecasters or within the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Aircraft carriers, submarines, and destroyers all require safe navigational routes which are determined through studying weather patterns and underwater topography.

Additionally, the Air Force often recruits graduates with geography degrees for their meteorology departments. Weather forecasting is crucial to flight safety and military operations planning. They also have roles related to geospatial intelligence which involves using data from satellite, aerial, and other Earth observation technologies for strategic and operational advantage.

If you are interested in working in more terrestrial roles, the Army also offers roles related to cartography and geointelligence. For instance, the Army Geospatial Center (AGC) coordinates, integrates, and synchronizes geospatial information requirements and standards.

Lastly, the newly formed Space Force may provide interesting opportunities for geography majors, as space weather and spatial analysis become ever more crucial in national defense.

I would recommend doing more research in this arena, perhaps reaching out directly to the various branches for more specific opportunities matched to your academic background. Be sure to consider what geographic skills you're most interested in applying (like physical geography, GIS, human geography, etc.) to help guide your decision.