| Active Duty |
Continuous duty on a daily basis. Comparable to "full-time"
as used in reference to a civilian job. |
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| Allowances |
Money, other than basic pay, to compensate in certain specified
situations for expenses such as meals, rent, clothing, and travel. Also,
compensation is usually given for maintaining proficiency in a specific
skill area, such as flying or parachuting. |
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| Artillery |
Large cannons or missile launchers used in combat. |
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| ASVAB |
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. A test that provides
student with academic and vocational aptitude scores to assist them in career
exploration and decision-making. ASVAB scores are used by the military services
to determine enlistment eligibility and to assign occupational specialties. |
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| Base |
A locality of installation on which a military force relies
for supplies or from where it initiates operations. |
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| Basic Pay |
The amount of pay a military member receives, as determined
by pay grade and length of service. Basic pay does not include other benefits
such as allowance or bonuses. |
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| Civilian |
Anyone not on active duty in the military. |
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| Commissioned Officer |
A member of the military holding the rank of second lieutenant
or ensign or above. This role in the military is similar to that of a manager
or executive. |
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| DEP |
Delayed Entry Program. A military program that allows an applicant
to delay entry into active duty for up to one year, for such things as finishing
school, etc. |
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| Drill |
To train or exercise in military operations |
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| Duty |
Assigned task or occupation. Enlisted Member - Military personnel
below the rank or warrant or commissioned officers. This role is similar
to that of a company employee or supervisor |
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| Enlistee |
A service member, not a warrant officer or commissioned officer,
who has been accepted by the military and has taken the Oath of Enlistment |
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| Enlistment Agreement/ Contract |
A legal contract between the military and an enlistment applicant,
which contains information such as enlistment date, term of enlistment,
and other options such as a training program guarantee or a cash bonus. |
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| GI Bill Benefits |
A program of education benefits for individuals entering the
military. This program enables service persons to set aside money to be
used later for educational purposes. |
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| Inactive Reserve Duty |
Affiliation with the military in a non-training, non-paying
status after completing minimum obligation off active duty service. |
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| Infantry |
Units of men trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot. |
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| Job Specialty |
A specific job or occupation in one of the five services |
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| MEPS |
Military Entrance Processing Stations, which are located around
the country. The enlistment process occurs at each of these stations. |
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| National Guard |
The National Guard serves in both a state and federal capacity.
Governors may call upon Soldiers and Airmen to assist in community support,
disaster relief and other local emergencies. During national emergencies,
these same units are called upon to support their active counterparts in
the Army and Air Force. |
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| NCO |
Non-commissioned Officer. An enlisted member in pay grades
E-4 or higher. |
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| Obligation |
The period of time one agrees to serve on active duty, in the
reserve, or a combination of both. |
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| OCS |
Officer Candidate School. Program for college graduates with
no prior military training who wish to become military officers. Also, qualified
enlisted member who wish to become officers may attend OCS. After successful
completion, candidates are commissioned as military officers. |
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| OTS (OTG) |
Officer Training School (Group). See OCS, Officer Candidate
School. |
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| Officer |
See commissioned officer. |
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| Pay Grade |
A level of employment, as designated by the military. There
are 9 enlisted pay grades and 10 officers pay grades throughout which personnel
can progress during their career. Pay grade and length of service determine
a service member's pay |
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| Quarters |
Living accommodations or housing. |
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| Recruit |
See enlistee. |
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| Regular Military Compensation |
Total value of basic pay, allowances, and tax savings, which
represents the amount of pay a civilian worker would need to earn to receive
the same take home "pay" as a services member. |
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| Reserves |
The Reserves are those people in the military who are not presently
on full-time, active duty. In a national emergency, reservists can be called
up immediately to serve on active duty because they are highly trained by
the services and drill regularly. During peacetime, they perform functions
in support of the active duty forces in our country's defense, such as installation
and repair of communications equipment. Reservists are also entitled to
some of the employment benefits available to active military personnel. |
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| ROTC |
Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Training given to undergraduate
college students who plan to become military officers. Often they receive
scholarships for tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and a monthly allowance. |
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| Service or Services |
A branch or multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces.
There are five in all: the Army, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Marine
Corps (or Marines) and the Navy. |
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| Services Classifier |
A military information specialist who helps applicants select
a military occupational field. |
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| Service Obligation |
The amount of time an enlisted member agrees to serve in the
military, as stated in the enlistment agreement. |
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| Station |
A place of assigned duty. |
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| Tour of Duty |
A period of obligated service. Also used to describe a type
of duty tour, such as a "Mediterranean tour." |
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| Warrant Officer |
A member of the Army, Navy or Marines who is a technical specialist
or pilot. These members are generally appointed from the enlisted, non-commissioned
officer ranks. |
Other Career Options
