With bluebonnets along the highways in the spring, high school football in the fall, and a state motto of “Friendship”, these attributes are quintessentially Texan. Full of natural diversity, the people are equally diverse. Houston alone, is the most ethnically and culturally diverse city in the country. But it is the southern charm and hospitality that epitomize the Texan persona. Texans smile to strangers, tip their hats when passing by, hold doors open, and say “Howdy” to everyone.
With fantastic BBQ, great steak houses, and a thriving foodie culture, Whataburger stands out as arguably the best fast-food chain, not only in Texas, but also in the country. And don’t forget about the great Tex-mex.
With many defense facilities and countless international corporations, finding a job in the Dr Pepper State is not difficult. Lots of great cities have corporate jobs to offer candidates, and many are associated with the defense industry. However, Texas has a lof of defense contract positions located around the state.
1. Fort Hood
One of the Army’s premier posts, Fort Hood is located adjacent to Killeen and an hour north of Austin. Along with Headquarters of III Corps, Fort Hood is home to the 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Sustainment Command, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and the 1st Medical Brigade. With over 45,000 soldiers and 8,900 civilian employees, Fort Hood is a lucrative target for your job search, regardless of skill set. There are currently well over 100 positions on ClearanceJobs, alone.
2. Fort Bliss
You want a great western experience? Look no further than El Paso. Fort Bliss is home to the 1st Armored Division, and many other associated unites, including Joint Task Force North for counterdrug and anti-terrorist operations. It is not for everyone, but some folks do love the wide-open expanse of the southwestern corner of Texas. Defense contractors like Booz Allen, Amentum, and Northrup Grumman currently have offerings on ClearanceJobs at Fort Bliss.
3. Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB)
Sheppard is located five miles north of Wichita Falls and is our largest air education training base. The 82d Training Wing provides specialized technical and field training for all ranks and branches of the military. The 80th Flying Training Wing conducts the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program for USAF and NATO. Leidos, Northrup Grumman and SAIC have numerous jobs offered at the base, 100 miles north-west of Dallas-Fort Worth.
4. Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville
Dreaming of the beach? Corpus Christi has a well-kept secret at Kingsville NAS. Without a huge presence in Texas, the Navy does know how to pick places with a water view. NAS Kingsville is one of the premier locations for jet aviation training. There are current job offerings in aviation maintenance, logistics and IT at this location, near the beach.
5. Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)
Located in one of the premier cities in the country, JBSA consists of Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, and Lackland AFB. San Antonio is a tremendously popular city, with the Alamo and the famous River Walk among the numerous offerings. But how do you get there? There are currently over a thousand positions available in the San Antonio area on ClearanceJobs and other job boards. With over 20 different facilities scattered throughout the city, you can easily focus your job search on this great Texas city. Let’s look at some of the largest facilities in the area.
6. Fort Sam Houston (JBSA)
Located in the heart of San Antonio, Fort Sam’s missions include the headquarters for the United States Army North, United States Army South, Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), and the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School. All services have staff here, with numerous medical, logistics and IT position available.
7. Randolph AFB (JBSA)
Located on the northeast side of San Antonio, Randolph AFB is home to the 12th Flying Training Wing (FTW). Their primary mission is to produce new instructor pilots for the Air Force. The wing also produces initial skills training for all Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilots and is the home of the Air Education Training Command (AETC).
8. Lackland AFB (JBSA)
Lackland AFB to the southeast hosts the 37th Training Wing, where they train up to 80,000 U.S. and foreign military students annually. Lackland’s primary mission is to provide basic training for new recruits in the U.S. Air Force. Other training programs include language, dog handling, cybersecurity, intelligence, medical, and security forces skills.
Final Thoughts
Texas is great place but is not for everyone. You have to love the heat, as it gets hot in the summer. But the professional opportunities, unique attractions, outdoor experiences, and Texas cuisine make this a memorable journey for many.
