When contemplating enlisting or commissioning in the armed forces, a key factor for individuals is the range of military occupational specialties (MOSs) they can pursue. Each military branch has its unique classification system, even though the required knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) may be similar across branches. Discussions about transitioning from military service to higher education careers often center on teaching roles. However, this conversation should broaden to encompass other career paths in higher education, such as roles in public affairs, administration, and operations.

Public Affairs

Effective internal and external communication is crucial for organizations, particularly colleges and universities, to establish and maintain a positive public image. It's essential for these institutions to hire skilled personnel capable of advising stakeholders, analyzing information, and implementing appropriate actions, especially in challenging circumstances. This department handles strategic messaging, press release refinement, and media liaison. All military branches provide training in this area. In the Air Force, for example, public affairs specialists are responsible for a broad range of public affairs tasks, including media relations, multimedia production, crisis communication, social media management, event planning, and offering training and advice. The basic requirements for commissioned officers in this specialty include a bachelor's degree in business/marketing, communications, journalism, or public relations, graduation from a commissioning source, and a favorable background check. Enlisted members must complete Basic Military Training, achieve a minimum score of 72 on the ASVAB, be aged 17 to 42, and pass a background check. The public affairs field has many open positions in higher education.

Administration

Administration encompasses a wide range of areas, with human resources (HR) being a primary focus. In the Navy, commissioned officers in HR are responsible for tasks like recruiting new staff, maintaining personnel records, and offering career guidance and counseling. The role of a personnel specialist, an enlisted counterpart, includes conducting interviews for assignments and handling transfers, separations, and retirements. In the Army, various ranks, including enlisted members, warrant officers, and commissioned officers, collaborate to oversee unit human resource management sections. Their duties involve handling promotion documentation, retention issues, suspending favorable personnel actions, and managing postal services. The skills and knowledge gained in these roles are directly transferable to any HR setting, military or civilian. Effective human capital management is vital to any organization, making tasks like employee onboarding and relationship management key to its success. The human resources field in higher education has many positions available.

Postal operations are crucial for the smooth functioning of any organization. In the Marine Corps, postal clerks, designated with the MOS 0161, are charged with managing postal operations. While unit mail clerks handle day-to-day mailroom activities, the training received by postal clerks is much more comprehensive. They are equipped to handle tasks such as cashing and issuing money orders, processing both personal and official mail, and applying postage to packages. Although technological advancements have led to a decrease in traditional mailroom activities, they have not rendered these operations obsolete. Postal positions at colleges and universities are often titled, 'mail clerk,' 'mail carrier,' 'mail services,' and 'mail and distribution services.'

Operations

Logistics is crucial in achieving operational excellence, especially in the military context. In the Army, those in the transportation, ordnance, and quartermaster branches are responsible for orchestrating the movement of resources, including equipment and personnel, in both war and peace times. These logistical tasks involve extensive planning and execution. Additionally, functional analysts within the Logistics Corps are essential for sifting through large volumes of data to provide strategic guidance to high-ranking officers and department leaders. Their primary responsibilities include identifying operational inefficiencies and initiating continuous improvement measures to enhance efficiency, particularly in budget-limited settings. In the military, supply chain management is a vital and complex task, with these experts entrusted with procuring, tracking, and distributing vast amounts of equipment across numerous global locations. Essential skills such as inventory management, critical thinking, customer service, effective communication, and emergency planning are vital. These skills enable veterans to contribute significantly to civilian organizations after their military service. Higher education offers many careers in facilities management that match these skills and experience.

Institutions of higher education ought to expand their scope in identifying and appreciating the rich talent pool of veterans for roles beyond teaching positions. The military is a reservoir of dedicated and skilled individuals who are keen to add value to your organization. Engaging in job fairs focusing on veterans can provide valuable insights into the diverse skills and contributions this group can bring to your institution. It is hoped that university administrators and hiring committees will respond to the initiative of diversifying their campus workforce by incorporating more veterans in this capacity.

Article Topics

Job Search Advice Military Friendly Institutions Working as a Veteran in HigherEd

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