What is a military and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Who doesn't know that the military is the authorized uniformed arm force maintained by a state to maintain peace? But what most of us don't know is how they make it happen and what it takes to be one? They maintain peace by various means, including patrolling, structured spying, and assisting on every event or wherever needed to impose law and order.

The answer to what it takes to enter this field is that most people join the military with a bachelor's degree in hand. This is not a must. Instead, you can apply for a position within this field with a high school diploma or equivalent education. Being physically fit and disciplined is one of the essential requirements to be a part of the military.

Once selected, most of the training is later conducted by the internal recruitment body to polish skills. If you want to join the military, you should be willing to serve your nation day and night with full devotion.

ScoreMilitaryUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $51,584

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 15.26%

Hispanic or Latino 19.17%

Unknown 6.27%

White 51.58%

Gender

female 27.44%

male 72.56%

Age - 22
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 22

Military career paths

Key steps to become a military

  1. Explore military education requirements

    Most common military degrees

    Bachelor's

    41.2 %

    High School Diploma

    22.7 %

    Associate

    18.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific military skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Veterans29.84%
    Hand Tools18.76%
    Ladders14.79%
    HR4.01%
    Hazmat3.13%
  3. Research military duties and responsibilities

    • Manage life threatening psychiatric emergencies and refer military and families to in-patient and out-patient network providers and provide supportive EAP counseling.
    • Act as drug testing NCO.
    • Train first responders in HAZMAT awareness.
    • Hone skills on alertness, and weapon qualifications.
  4. Prepare your military resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your military resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a military resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Military Resume templates

    Build a professional Military resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Military resume.
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  5. Apply for military jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a military job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Military Job

Zippi

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Average military salary

The average Military salary in the United States is $51,584 per year or $25 per hour. Military salaries range between $24,000 and $108,000 per year.

Average Military Salary
$51,584 Yearly
$24.80 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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