Which branch of service do you think provides the most marketable employees for the civilian sector?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:05:56 -0400

This is my first survey here. I was going to put seven choices. However, RP only allows me to include five choices. The other two choices are "All of the above" and "None of the above".

My answer is "All of the above". We are all very marketable in the civilian. It's all about how you present yourself and your skill sets to your potential employer.

This thread is not meant to be a "Urinating Contest". Please be cordial and explain why that particular branch of service, or branches provides the most marketable employees for the civilian sector.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Apr 24 at 2014 1:20 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:20:34 -0400

I would say "All the Above". No one branch really has anything on the others when it comes to civilian employment other than the transition training one branch may offer over the others.

Response by SGT James Elphick made Apr 24 at 2014 2:07 PM

SGT James Elphick — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:07:00 -0400

I have to go with Air Force even though I am an Army veteran. I work with homeless veterans and the service branch I see the least of in my program is the Air Force. I think there are more Air Force jobs that translate to high tech and in-demand industries and their more lax military bearing does not hinder the transition to the civilian world as much as say, a Marine.

Response by SGT Andrew Chapman made Apr 24 at 2014 4:06 PM

SGT Andrew Chapman — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:06:18 -0400

I had to pick one so I picked Air Force since I am in telecom the systems the Air Force used are more like civilian (well back in the day). But with that said I am Army and have done OK once I got in the door. I think it mostly depends on a clean record and showing the ability to learn once your in the door. I have met guys that were Marines that did better than any I have met Air Force that are good, Navy and Army. It is like college depends on how much effort a person puts into the job.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Apr 24 at 2014 4:08 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:08:29 -0400

I would agree with all of the above. The problem is in the civilian sector, those of us getting up there in age are often overlooked for employment because of our age. I am 51 and have been out of work for the past 6 years for whatever reason. Despite my experience I feel discriminated against but I have no proof of it. Any ideas from my fellow vets?

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made Apr 24 at 2014 10:05 PM

MAJ Steve Sheridan — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 22:05:56 -0400

I think it's the individual and not the branch.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2014 10:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 22:57:23 -0400

I would have to say the airforce. Through my experience so far I feel that the airforce in general is set up more like a civilian job in my opinion. Which will easily transfer into the civilian sector.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 4:00 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:00:27 -0400

I don't think that it's necessarily the branch of Service that makes one marketable. It mostly depends on what job you hold,and if it is a sought after skill in the civilian sector. Also, what choices the person themselves make. (Higher education, certifications, etc.) Every branch definitely gives you those opportunities.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 7:41 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 07:41:27 -0400

Lets face it, not to sounds disrespectful but the Air Force is pretty close to a regular corporation. As an Army medic I can, and have, done some very exciting things to people in theater that would have gotten me sued in the civilian sector because my "qualifications" only relate me to an ambulance driver....

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 8:38 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 08:38:54 -0400

Branch really doesn't matter. what you do and how you do it while your in is the big factor.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Apr 25 at 2014 10:07 AM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 10:07:40 -0400

In order for me to answer this question I have to way back.
I mean way, way back to the late 70's early 80's
If this question were asked based on material, I would have to say Air Force.
Air Force used Energizers batteries while the Army used BA30's for there D cell batteries.
One would think what does this have to do with employable.
Perhaps its the type of equipment that one is trained in that makes them marketable. Fixing Army radios doesn't make me marketable to fix AM, FM radios out here. So I see that its the technology used that makes you marketable. on the other hand if a tracker trailer driver in the Army had his class A license with the experience he had in the military driving military tractor trailers, he is for sure going to find work out here with out problems. So even though I select Air Force based on technology its all the above based on what that SM makes themselves to be skillfully marketable.

Response by SGT Jack Johnson made Apr 25 at 2014 11:40 AM

SGT Jack Johnson — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 11:40:02 -0400

All of the above! I don't think it's the branch as much as the MOS to civilian job skills correlation and the individual's motivation.

Response by Cpl Robert Clark made Apr 25 at 2014 12:53 PM

Cpl Robert Clark — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 12:53:26 -0400

My drill instructor told my platoon that after service we could always be first rate janitors.

Response by SFC Brian Mann made Apr 25 at 2014 1:43 PM

SFC Brian Mann — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:43:53 -0400

I picked Army but the really answer I would pick is All of the Above. I think it depends on the MOS or job. Some are marketable and some are not.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 2:03 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:03:56 -0400

The Air Force offers the best post military service opportunities because the vast majority of our jobs are technical in nature and require quite a bit of school/training. Not to say that other services don't have technical jobs/specialties but almost all Air Force jobs are.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Apr 25 at 2014 6:14 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:14:40 -0400

I think that in many cases, it is more MOS/AFSC related as to how marketable a person is. With that being said, I feel that there is a strong chance that the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard have a bit better chance in the civilian market. The biggest reason is that the Army and the Marine Corps has higher percentage of warriors. Pure and simple, there are not many civilian jobs that value or even look for people that can put bullets or artillary on target. Air Force and Navy both have warriors....but once a pilot leaves the service, they go fly for the air lines (but just one example). There ARE jobs that are marketable in all branches, but part of it is going to be the concentration of those jobs within the service.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Apr 26 at 2014 10:50 AM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 10:50:37 -0400

Having served as both a proud Marine and Soldier, I selected the United States Coast Guard as they are part of the United States Department of Homeland Security and seemingly almost all ranks and rates are involved law enforcement activities which is both highly marketable and desirable. The Air Force still seems to have many technical fields which prepare Airmen for technical position after service. The Marine Corps builds leaders of every person who serves, and conseuqently, adds much to corporate structure from a leadership perspective. Soldiers seem to be very proficient in job functions and have the ability to translate many skills from the military structure to the civilian world. The Navy seems to have technical jobs and self discipline skills which make them fully prepared for many career fields post service. In sum, the greatest thing about the military is the comraderie and esprit de corps, which most every profession can benefit from. So, my closing thought is, we all benefit and our future employers benefit from our collective experiences while serving.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 7:52 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 19:52:39 -0400

I don't think branch of service matters. How you carry out your duties and overall job performance is the key. Although, if you hold an MOS that has a civilian counterpart, that will play a big role in your marketability.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 29 at 2014 8:43 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:43:12 -0400

I would say Air Force. More Specialized Training and you stay pretty attached to your primary field. With a more technical world it makes sense. Not Navy, while we do provide excellent training and travel the nature of our work makes us jacks of all trades. My Rate was Cryptologic Technician Communications, My NECs were Telecomunications Management, ADP, Tactical Intelligence Networks but I was also Damage Control Petty Officer, Photographer, Master at Arms. Naval Warfare Publications Custodian.

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2014 1:28 PM

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 May 2014 13:28:28 -0400

College accredited training gives their tech school graduates significant advantages.. They are the only service who can offer a regionally accredited college degree. Air Force all the way!

Response by Sgt Dwayne Hatton made May 29 at 2014 5:20 PM

Sgt Dwayne Hatton — Thu, 29 May 2014 17:20:26 -0400

I was in the Air Force and to say that one branch is more marketable than another would be like us having a war among ourselves, from one branch to the next. I know that I had as much respect for the other branches as I did for my own. You would have had to of served in the military to understand this whole ordeal.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 30 at 2014 8:07 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 30 May 2014 08:07:16 -0400

The Community College of the Air Force designation gives them a leg up in my book...

Response by MSG Martin C. made May 30 at 2014 12:27 PM

MSG Martin C. — Fri, 30 May 2014 12:27:35 -0400

All of the have the same advantages what it comes down to is skills, experience, trainability and what sets you apart from the the other applicants. I have many friends that exit the military and are doing extremely well and some others not so much. I seen a SGT E5 get a corporate job in the Netherlands and I know a CPT that ask me to serve as a reference for a management position at Wall-mart the CPT had only a BS but my SGT friend had a Masters on Finance with a concentration on International affairs. As far as I am concern it's about the right qualifications and the right connections at the right time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2014 6:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 May 2014 18:56:15 -0400

I don't believe the branch necessarily makes a service member more marketable. The Army and Marine Corps are probably less marketable in general because of some uneducated civilians believing deployments make us unfit to function in society.

All that aside I think marketability would mostly depend on the Service members MOS/Rate or what other branches call their jobs along with certifications and degrees plus real world experience in the particular field.

BTW I chose Army Hooah!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2014 6:38 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 May 2014 18:38:42 -0400

I'm not going to vote, because i believe it's what you do. As a Signal CWO with years time in active duty and more years in uniform in general, I'm much more marketable than someone who's been in the Infantry for 4 years and got out. It all depends on experience, education, training, and skillset.

A Marine CWO who does IT and Commo would be equally as marketable as I am.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 8:14 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 20:14:51 -0400

I think there are several factors that need to be taken into consideration with comparing and contrasting between branches and between specialties within those branches. For example, in my experience as electronic technician, instructor and a master developer. I found that the Navy and Marines to provide in-depth training for their technician in comparison with the Army. I have also attended joint training and found that sister services invest heavily in the training of their service member. That might have to do with their size. However, I like to add that there are great jobs in the Army as well and what makes Soldier marketable are individual abilities to perform and their level of education and how much time the individual worked in the field.

Response by CMC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2014 2:51 PM

CMC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:51:17 -0400

I agree that it depends greatly on the specialty that the individual is in, but since the Coast Guard is so small we have to place a vast amount of responsibility on our folks at an extremely young age and it makes them more marketable after just one enlistment. If you're talking retiree's, it's probably equal across the board.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 25 at 2014 3:44 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 15:44:15 -0400

From a purely trade "skills" point of view, I would have to say the Air Force and Navy. Both of those services are more heavily technical than the Army or Marines (not to say that there are not technical MOSs in either). You knd of have to be when you operate the kind of machinenary that those services do.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2014 4:04 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:04:36 -0400

I would love to state Marines, however, logic compels me to to state that the Air Force has the best readily transferable market skills. However, I do not necessarily think that is the same for marketable individual.

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Sep 24 at 2014 9:05 AM

SSG Maurice P. — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:05:21 -0400

its a toss up between navy and air force but i have to go with navy...

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Sep 30 at 2014 10:57 AM

SSG Maurice P. — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 10:57:00 -0400

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ARMY BETTER SUITED FOR CIVILLIAN JOBS THAN THE VERY TECHNICAL NAVY...I AGREE THE AIR FORCE REALLY PREPARES YOU FOR A CIVILLIAN GOOD PAYING JOB BUT SO DOES THE NAVY PEOPLE...

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 30 at 2014 12:23 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 12:23:22 -0400

As a branch, the Air Force has the most MOSs that are directly transferrable to the civilian world. That is because aviation related jobs (pilots, meteorology, mechanics, air traffic controllers, fuelers, satellite tech,etc), at their core, aren't really all that much different between the civilian and military world. Take the weapons off the aircraft and you pretty much have a cargo/personnel moving company.

Now across the board, medical MOSs also have the easiest time transitioning. I could leave the Army tomorrow and likely find a job by the end of the week. It may not be doing the same stuff I'm doing now, but it is work....

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 23 at 2014 8:29 AM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 08:29:14 -0500

I had to put Airforce because it seems like they have the jobs that transfer more to the outside sector. But at the same time every branch has jobs that market to the civilian sector you just have to choose the one you want to do when you get out. That is the advice i give to someone if they ask me about enlistment.

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Nov 23 at 2014 9:43 AM

SSG Maurice P. — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 09:43:43 -0500

IM MARINE CORPS AND ARMY THRU AND THRU BUT THE AIR FORCE TEACHES YOU ALOT MORE IN THERE TECH SCHOOLS BUT SO DOES THE NAVY ITS A TOSS UP BETWEEN THE AIR FORCE AND NAVY GO NAVY

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 12:28 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 12:28:41 -0500

I think more folks join the Air Force for the technical aspects. Just my thought. Or because they think they're gonna be in the plane's driver's seat!

Reminds me of one time when I asked a young Jarhead why he joined the Corps. He said for the education! I about fell over! I told him he should come up with a better answer when asked by a SNCO. LOL

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 1:48 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 13:48:40 -0400

I think that all branches have some career fields that have civilian equivalents and set the service member up for success outside of the military. Unfortunately they also have jobs that won't work out in the civilian sector.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 12 at 2015 3:27 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 12 May 2015 15:27:54 -0400

Although I'm an Air Force vet, I picked Navy. The Navy has a wider range of skills than the other Services. In addition to shipboard skills like nuclear power, the Navy has its own Air Force and the aircraft skills. Additionally the Navy has a fleet of small boats. They also have a shore establishment with all the same supply, admin, IT, logistics and medical skills as the other services.