Whether you are currently serving as a military officer or are a veteran officer, experience in a military career with a leadership function can instill various valuable skills that are applicable to future roles. If you have wondered what careers to consider as you transition away from your service as a military officer, there are plenty of paths to explore. The good news is that you are certainly not alone in this transition; according to data from the United States Department of Defense, about 200,000 service members leave the military each year and transition back to civilian life.
No matter if you are interested in working in criminal justice or would like to explore paths in nursing, finance, or education, numerous degrees and post-military careers could be worth pursuing as you enter this next chapter of your life.
So, what types of college degree programs are ideal for military officers? Dive into this below along with other exciting opportunities.
Emergency Management
The goal of emergency management is to optimize response times during and following emergencies, which involves creating and implementing disaster and emergency preparedness plans for communities and other populations. Professionals in emergency management tend to work for government agencies, although some may work for organizations like hospitals and private organizations.
Those who have served as officers in the military may be well-suited for roles in emergency management, as these individuals may already possess parts of the skill set needed for this realm. These include the ability to delegate, take lifesaving measures, make critical decisions under a great deal of pressure, and evaluate the potential and preparedness for disasters (e.g., natural, chemical, nuclear, biological, or radiological).
Educational Requirements
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), working in emergency management typically requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field. A program in emergency response or public administration could be ideal degrees for military officers wishing to work in emergency management. Experience in disaster planning or emergency response — such as relevant military experience or a prior role as an emergency management officer — may also be beneficial in fulfilling minimum requirements for certain roles.
Criminal Justice
Another natural transition for some military officers may be going into criminal justice. Former military officers often transition into criminal justice careers because they have a number of transferable competencies that are highly valued in law enforcement and related fields (such as leadership, discipline, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking). Additionally, their experience in handling stressful situations and working within structured environments makes them a solid fit for roles in this sector. There are diverse avenues to explore in criminal justice, ranging from law enforcement to roles as legal aid workers, probation officers, and more.
Training Prerequisites
Requirements to enter the criminal justice field may vary greatly depending on the specific role you seek. To break into law enforcement as a police officer or detective, for example, you may only need a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree in any field. On the other hand, if you are interested in more advanced or specialized roles in criminal justice, a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree in criminal justice may be required. With that said, military training often covers areas like weapons handling, crisis management, and ethical decision-making, meaning that former military officers may already have some of the training under their belts that is integral to many criminal justice careers.
Nursing
Many former service members and military officers end up transitioning to the nursing sector after their service has ended. Working in nursing allows you to enjoy the fulfillment of helping others in a direct and tangible manner — much in the same way as you may have done during your military service. At the same time, military officers already tend to possess some of the most vital skills for the nursing field, such as:
- Critical thinking under pressure
- Time management
- Creative problem-solving
Within the realm of nursing, there is also a vast range of roles to pursue depending on where your unique interests lie. Whether you want to have a more one-on-one approach with patients as a registered nurse (RN) or prefer to take on more of a leadership role as a nurse manager, there are plenty of options to consider.
Requirements to Become a Nurse
The most suitable degree for military officers considering nursing as a career is a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), but you do not actually need more than an associate degree in nursing (ADN) to start working in the field. In order to work your way into a leadership or management position in nursing, however, you may need an MSN or similar advanced degree.
Information Systems
Another option to consider as you transition back to civilian life after serving as a military officer is a degree in information systems or a related field. Information systems professionals (like information systems managers) are responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing computer-related activities within a company or larger organization. Some information systems professionals even work for government agencies, which may be a smooth transition for those with military service experience.
Required Education and Training
Breaking into the industry of information systems or computer systems typically requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as computer science or information technology (IT). Some previous experience working with computer systems, or IT could also be useful. Those pursuing more advanced roles in information systems may wish to pursue a master of business administration (MBA) or similar graduate degree, making this area of study among go-to master’s degrees for military officers.
Finance
If you are interested in working in finance after completing your military service, then you may want to consider a career as a budget analyst or financial advisor. Many military veterans tend to excel in finance roles because they are already highly detail-oriented and may be used to analyzing or working with large amounts of data at any given time. In addition, working in finance usually means generating and presenting financial reports and similar documents, which may come more easily to military officers who have been writing reports for much of their careers.
Education and Certification Requirements
The level of education and specific degree needed to work in finance after leaving the military depends on numerous factors, including the exact type of finance role you wish to secure. For instance, if you want to explore a more advanced role in finance (such as financial analyst), you might need an undergraduate college education in addition to a chartered financial analyst (CFA) certification — so this could be an ideal bachelor’s degree for military officers. Meanwhile, more specialized roles or financial management and leadership positions may require a graduate degree, making finance another go-to master’s degree for military officers.
Government or Public Administration
Another natural progression for many veterans who have served as military officers is a career in government or public administration. Professionals in these types of roles may work in any number of fulfilling positions, ranging from legislators and city council members to fundraising managers, educational administrators, and beyond.
Those who have served as officers in the military may already possess many of the hard and soft skills required for success in government work or public administration. This includes proficient verbal and written communication as well as leadership traits and emotional intelligence.
Qualifications for Government Positions
The exact qualifications to work in a government role or in public service vary based on the exact position. However, for many government positions, there are strict employment and eligibility requirements in place that may include:
- Proof of United States citizenship
- A thorough background investigation
- A medical examination
- Specialized security clearance
- Drug testing
- Additional training and certification
Fortunately, many who have served as military officers have already had to undergo background investigations, the security clearance process, and other qualifications as part of their military service. Therefore, government and public administration roles are often a seamless transition for past military officers and other veterans.
Defense Contractors
As you might imagine, it is also not uncommon for military officers to enter the civilian workforce as defense contractors. These are professionals who provide specific defense products and/or services to military branches or departments within the government.
For former military officers, transitioning to a career as a defense contractor may be relatively straightforward because this type of work draws on skills that are honed during military service — such as the ability to problem-solve under pressure, collaborate with others, and resolve unique problems. Military officers also tend to have an in-depth understanding of military intelligence and defense protocols that are so essential in this line of work.
Training and Education
Those who have already served in the military may not need any further or specialized degrees to land entry-level roles as defense contractors. For example, it is possible for previous military officers to be hired on by third-party defense contracting companies. However, those who wish to pursue more advanced roles in leadership or management may benefit from having a master’s degree.
Some military veterans may also choose to start their own defense contracting companies. In this case, pursuing an MBA would cover the ins and outs of running a successful company from the ground up and thus prove to be a practical master’s degree for military officers.
Education
Military officers are often responsible for providing ongoing training, education, and support to subordinate military members. This type of work and responsibility provides valuable experience that may translate to a successful career in education down the road, especially for those who enjoy teaching and working with others.
If you have served in the military and are looking to transition to a career in education, there are plenty of potential career paths from the elementary to the college levels. Many previous military members also tend to resonate with careers in education because they share the alignment and mission-oriented mindset of an educator.
How to Get Started in Education
Working in education requires a college degree, typically in the form of a bachelor’s. However, the exact degree depends on the level at which you wish to teach. Degrees in elementary education and secondary education are common among aspiring teachers. For teaching at the college level or work in administration, though, the best master’s degree for military officers would be a graduate-level education in their particular field. Teaching positions within public school districts require state teacher certifications. These certifications will often require graduation from approved educational programs, the passage of examinations, and teaching under supervision.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is a solid potential educational and post-military career path, encompassing a wide range of roles and opportunities to suit various interests. Those who go on to work in manufacturing may explore positions from quality control technician jobs to more advanced jobs as manufacturing engineers and managers.
Often, manufacturing is suitable for those who have served in the military because these jobs require strong attention to detail, critical thinking, and analytics skills. A number of advanced manufacturing roles also involve some leadership component, whether it means overseeing small teams on a project or larger operations. In this sense, those who have sharpened their leadership skills as military officers may thrive in manufacturing.
Sales Manager
The kind of work that sales entails has the potential to be highly rewarding for those who have previously served as military officers. Working as a sales manager requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to delegate tasks to others, and excellent leadership qualities — all of which are already important for military officers to exhibit in their work. The role of a sales manager could be exciting for those who enjoy directing, leading, and inspiring teams.
Education and Experience Requirements
While an entry-level sales job may not require a formal degree, a leadership or management position in sales usually requires at least a bachelor’s degree for military officers to make that career transition (along with some previous leadership or sales experience).
Management Consultant
A management consultant, also commonly referred to as a management analyst, is a professional who meets with companies and organizations to help them pinpoint areas where they need improvement in order to maximize efficiency and streamline operations. Working as a management consultant is a natural fit for many former military officers because it requires keen attention to detail as well as the ability to closely analyze a situation before making recommendations or decisions.
Education Requirements
Management consultants usually have a bachelor’s degree, though more advanced positions may call for a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or management.
Operations Research Analyst
Last but not least, those with military officer backgrounds might want to consider working as operations research analysts. These professionals leverage their analytical experience, logic, and decision-making skills to help businesses and even government agencies solve their most complex problems.
Educational Requirements
Most operations research analysts need at least a bachelor’s degree to find entry-level work in this sector. For more advanced positions, it is not uncommon for a master’s degree in operations research, applied mathematics, or a related field to be preferred or even required.
Advance Your Education at Post University
There are ample career paths and educational opportunities where you could apply your proficiencies and experience from working as a military officer. No matter where your interests lie, having the right degree under your belt could help strengthen the foundation of knowledge that prepares you for your next move.
At Post University, we are proud to offer a variety of degree programs, including both online and on-campus bachelor’s and master’s degrees, to suit our diverse student needs. Plus, as a military-friendly school, we strive to make the transition from military life to academia as smooth as possible. Get in touch to learn more about what sets Post University apart for military and veteran students, then explore our program offerings to get started.
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