There are 3.4 million service members and civilians serving in critical positions within the Department of Defense (DoD) at 4,800 locations in over 160 countries. Many opportunities are available requiring a diverse range of skills while earning a competitive salary with exceptional benefits, extensive training, and the pride of defending our Nation’s interests worldwide.
The armed forces include the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. Army and Air National Guard reserve components operate in part under state authority. All major military facilities hire civilians to support their mission.
Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees work in the Pentagon alone, as well as about 3,000 non-defense support personnel.
Federal government jobs are everywhere
According to the August 14, 2024 OPM Memorandum on Improving the Federal Hiring Experience, “Federal agencies hire over 350,000 personnel annually, and process over 22 million applications from individuals every year seeking the opportunity to serve their country.” Uncle Sam is by far this country’s largest employer.
Federal government jobs are available in all categories and disciplines with few exceptions and there are vacancies across the globe. The total federal civilian workforce for the Executive Branch in 2024 exceeded 2,271,498, the largest in history, and this doesn’t count the civilians employed in the Judicial and Legislative Branches. The DoD comprises 41.5% of all federal Executive Branch employment!
The Department of Defense (DoD) Complex
In 1947, the National Security Act created the DoD to unify the military branches under one department. There are 762,071 civilians working within the DoD complex as delineated below:
- Department of the Air Force, 168,292
- Department of the Army, 221,055
- Department of Defense, 156,571
- Department of the Navy, 216,153
The United States Marine Corps operates as a separate branch of the military under the Department of the Navy. The DoD also oversees several defense agencies and field activities, such as the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
Space Force is a separate and distinct branch of the armed services, and it is organized under the Department of the Air Force similar to how the Marine Corps is organized under the Department of the Navy. All Space Force personnel, whether civilian or military, are called “Guardians” and as of FY23, the Space Force has more than 14,000 military and civilian Guardians.
This department is so huge that it owns nearly 30 million acres of land worldwide and is the single largest consumer of energy in the U.S.
Jobs Spotlight
When you consider that 15% of the total federal workforce turns over each year, approximately 114,000 Department of Defense jobs need to be filled annually, a large number by any standard.
Currently there are over 2,500 DoD vacancy announcements listed on USAJOBS.GOV with 997 open to the public. They recruit for everything from entry level, the trades, administrative, and management to IT and professional positions.
The following list of vacancies highlight the range of opportunities available for those willing to seek them out. Notice the wide salary range on some of the positions. This allows agencies to select either promising entry level talent at a lower pay grade or much higher qualified individuals if available. Most of the listed job vacancies are open to at least the end of December, some through early 2025.
All of the following positions are open to the general public and the hiring agency would initiate any required security clearance investigations for the incumbent.
- Supervisory Engineer or Architect – This position is at China Lake, CA and pay ranges from $120,246 – $156,323 per year. The incumbent supervises multi-discipline engineering services and facilities service contracts and gives advice, counsel or instructions to individual employees on both work and administrative matter. This position is Telework eligible, requires some travel and a secret clearance.
- Management & Program Analyst – Many vacancies in AK, AL, LZ, MD, NC, NW and TX, pay ranges from $39,576 – $191,900 per year. You will be working with the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC). They have 29 locations in 17 states. ATEC rigorously tests items of every description including everything from individual weapons …. to the National Missile Defense ground-based mid-course defense systems. Requires travel up to 25% and Telework may be available.
- Program Analyst (Space Operations) – Positions available in CO, FL, and CA. Pay ranges from $46,696 – $124,677 per year. Performs Space Operations developmental assignments of moderate difficulty and participates in development and on-going research to support the Space Operations tracking, planning, and recording, transmitting and receiving processes. Requires occasional travel and a Top-Secret clearance.
- Information Technology – Vacancies with the Department of the Air Force at many locations nationwide including CA, CO, FL, SC, and VA. Pay ranges from $71,099 – $152,771 per year. Incumbents Plan, install, configure, test, implement and manage the systems environment in support of the organizations IT architecture and business needs. Monitors and assess network and host-based Intrusion Detection and Prevention systems for suspicious activity among other duties. Requires a Secret clearance.
- Prevention Specialist – A few vacancies with the Department of the Air Force in AL, AK, AZ, AR, and CA with pay ranging from $49,028 – $152,771 per year. Incumbent plans, develops, organizes, implements, and directs the military and civilian human resources and fiscal programmatic activities. Serves as the personnel strategic planner and resource development/allocation manager. Requires a Secret clearance.
- Airplane Pilot – A few vacancies with the Department of the Air Force in FL, MS, OK, and TX with pay ranging from $49,028 – $129,878 per year. Acts as an instructor presenting academic course content such as fundamentals of flight, Air Force doctrine, security procedures, mishap prevention, air discipline and judgement. Performs duties with the assistance of the aircraft commander. Requires a Secret clearance.
- Clinical Nurse – A few vacancies with the Department of the Air Force in AL, AK, AZ, AR, and CA with pay ranging from $32,357 – $152,771 per year. Provide care to patients in hospitals, clinics, occupational health units, homes, schools and communities. Administer anesthetic agents and supportive treatments to patients undergoing surgery or other medical procedures. Requires a Secret clearance.
- Contract Specialist – Many vacancies in CA, FL, MD, and VA with pay ranges from $86,962 – $153,354 per year. Analyzes and evaluates major contractual/procurement aspects of mission-oriented programs. Procure and execute a work schedule, ensuring that the necessary planning, coordination, approvals, negotiation, and other requirements are completed in a timely manner. Requires a clearance for Sensitive Compartmented Information.
DoD Opportunities Lead to a Long Career
The DoD offers abundant opportunities for most disciplines including police, security guards, fireman, you name it, and ones you might not think of searching for, such as the trades and hospitality. The Department of Defense hires the majority of the federal wage grade trade workers and they house many troops, full and part time in barracks and base housing around the word, they need housing managers, trades, janitorial and the entire gambit of workers to service those facilities.
I know this from first hand experience as an active-duty Air Force NCO and from my Air National Guard duty and many TDY assignments around the world.
I worked for the DoD first as an Air Force service member for over three years and was offered an early out under the Palace Chase program when the Vietnam war was winding down. Upon discharge from active duty, they hired me for an avionics technician job with the Kansas Air National Guard at Topeka, KS. A year later, I transferred to Pittsburgh, PA. After six years with the DoD in one capacity or another, I transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration and retired from the federal government with 36 years of service.
Getting in is half the battle, and it takes commitment from the applicant to see the process through to the end; their high pay and generous benefits make the effort well worthwhile.
