Types of Military Service

There are many ways to serve your country in the Military. Service members are assigned jobs based on their abilities, test scores and service needs. Many of the jobs available have civilian equivalents and offer training that translates to a future civilian career.

Each Service has a corresponding Reserve component, and most states and territories have an Army National Guard or Air National Guard unit.

Enlisted vs. Officer

In all military branches, service members are divided into two categories: enlisted or officer. Enlisted members are employed in almost every type of military career. They make up approximately 82 percent of the overall active-duty military workforce (this figure includes noncommissioned officers (NCOs), who, despite the title, are higher-ranking enlisted personnel).

Officers are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require more training (e.g., doctors, lawyers and chaplains). Commissioned officers account for approximately 18 percent of all active-duty service members.

As you might expect, training to be an officer vs enlisting as a recruit differs as well. Officers train to hone their management and planning skill sets, while enlisted recruits focus on a particular trained specialty.

Learn More About Enlisted and Officer Paths

Full Time

Active Duty

Active Duty means that service members' jobs are full time, whether they are deployed overseas or domestically. These service members receive a regular paycheck and full benefits, including health care, a housing allowance and 30 days of paid vacation per year.

Part Time

Reserve

Reserve service members receive the same training as their active-duty peers but do so close to home, until they are needed to deploy. Although some reservists serve full time, most usually hold a regular full-time civilian job and typically train one weekend per month, plus two weeks of field exercises each year. Reserve service members are paid for all the time they spend training or deployed, and receive many of the same benefits as active-duty personnel.

National Guard

The Army National Guard and Air National Guard are community-based and report to the governor of their respective state unless called to protect U.S. domestic interests in times of conflict or natural disasters. They may also be deployed internationally alongside full-time service members when necessary. Members of the National Guard hold civilian jobs or attend school while conducting their military training part time. They're required to train one weekend per month and perform two weeks of field exercises per year. National Guard units are found in most U.S. states and territories.

Types of Service

Each branch of the Military offers training on a unique range of skills.