The first step in finding your ideal post-military career options is to take an inventory of the skills you’ve acquired during your service. For example, your resume can likely already include:
- Leadership skills
- Strong teamwork capabilities
- Excellent communication
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
- Discipline
- Integrity
These skills are valuable when exploring career opportunities for military service and a post-service career. The next thing to consider is your current military occupational specialty to see if you can enhance the hard skills you’ve learned. Pursuing additional certifications and training can open the door to exciting, long-term career options.
Here are four career options for active-duty members that are in demand both while serving and afterward when you return to civilian life.
4 Career Options for Active-Duty Service Members
1. Cybersecurity Analyst
One of the best careers for military students is becoming a cybersecurity analyst. These professionals perform data analysis on information technology systems. They play a crucial role in finding vulnerabilities that could threaten private organizations and the United States government.
MedCerts, an approved vendor for several U.S. Department of Defense credentialing assistance programs – Army Credentialing Assistance, Air Force COOL and Coast Guard COOL, provides training programs designed to help military students transition into cybersecurity roles. Through its remote, flex-learning program, you can position yourself in just a few weeks to earn a starting civilian salary of approximately $96,000 per year.
2. Ethical Hacker
Another exciting career option for active-military students is becoming an ethical hacker. Also known as penetration testers (or pentesters for short), these professionals proactively search for security gaps in systems, reducing risks and improving long-term safety.
You can build on the IT skills gained through your MOS by completing an online certification program through MedCerts. With your CA, this training may be low-cost or even no-cost!
3. Medical Assistant
If you work in healthcare within the U.S. Armed Forces, transitioning to a civilian career as a medical assistant can be a natural next step. Medical assistants care for patients, assist with minor procedures and handle important administrative tasks. You likely already have these skills through your hands-on military experience!
To become certified, you can enroll in the MedCerts credential training program. These remote classes offer flexibility for active soldiers, Coast Guardsmen and Airmen who may face a permanent change of station at any time.
4. IT Security Specialist
You may also be interested in pursuing additional training to become an IT Security Specialist. This is one of the most popular Military Credentialing Assistance career options for active-duty service members who already have experience protecting the integrity of information systems.
Find the Best Career Options for You
Whichever career path you choose, look for a credentialing program that knows the unique situation of military students. MedCerts is a military-friendly school offering affordable, supportive options for career development. With self-paced programs and personalized learning, you can become a professional in whatever field that excites you most.
The Department of Defense is not affiliated with MedCerts and does not endorse our services.
