Military Career Information

By Rod Powers, About.com Guide to US Military

Here you will find such essential Military career information, such as promotions, commissioning programs, Military law and justice, assignments, and dress and appearance standards expected of Military members.

1. Military Promotions
2. Enlisted Commissioning Programs
3. Assignments and Moving
4. Military Dress and Appearance

5. Awards and Decorations
6. Weight and Fitness
7. Military Law and Justice
8. Deployments and Combat

Military Promotions

Military promotions are based on several factors. The higher one's rank, the higher their pay, authority, and responsibility.

• Military Rank Charts
• Army Enlisted Promotions
• Air Force Enlisted Promotions
• Navy Enlisted Promotions

• Marine Corps Enlisted Promotions
• High Year of Tenure
• Commissioned Officer Promotions

Enlisted Commissioning Programs

It's possible for an enlisted member to apply for a commission as either a warrant officer or a commissioned officer. Here are the main enlisted commissioning programs.

• Army OCS
• Army Green to Gold
• Army Warrant Officer Selections
• Air Force Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program
• Scholarships for Outstanding Airman to ROTC
• Airman Education and Commissioning Program
• Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program

• Air Force Physcian Assistant Program
• Air Force Professional Officers Course Early Release Program
• Navy STA-21 (Seaman to Admiral) Commissioning Program
• Navy Limited Duty Officer Selection Program
• Navy Warrant Officer Selection Program
• Marine Corps OCS
• Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Programs

Assignments and Moving

Military members move around -- a lot. It's the nature of the job. Here's some information which could make your next military move a little easier.

• Assignments Overview
• Major U.S. Military Bases in the U.S.
• PCS/TDY Mileage Travel Rates
• Moving Entitlements

• Property Shipment Weight Allowance Table
• Do It Yourself Moves
• Military Couples Assignments
• Humanitarian Assignments

Military Dress and Appearance

Each of the military services impose grooming standards on their military personnel, as part of their Dress & Appearance or Uniform regulations.

• Army Grooming Standards
• Air Force Grooming Standards
• Navy Grooming Standards
• Marine Corps Grooming Standards

• Army Uniform Regulation
• Air Force Uniform Regulation
• Navy Uniform Regulation
• Marine Corps Uniform Regulation

Awards and Decorations

The Military services use Military awards and decorations (medals and ribbons) to foster mission accomplishment by recognizing excellence of Military members of the force and motivating them to high levels of performance and service.

• Army Awards and Decorations
• Air Force Awards and Decorations
• Navy/Marine Corps Awards and Decorations

Weight and Fitness

Every Military member must be physically fit, regardless of age, grade, or duty assignment. The services consider fitness as essential to day-to-day effectiveness and combat readiness.

• Army Physical Fitness Test
• Army Weight Charts
• Air Force Physical Fitness Test
• Navy Physical Fitness Test

• Navy Weight Charts
• Marine Corps Weight and Fitness Requirements
• Coast Guard Weight Charts
• Body Fat Standards

Military Law and Justice

When one joins the United States Military, one becomes subject to a completely new justice system. The primary purpose of the Military's system is to provide the military commander with necessary tools to enforce good order and discipline. That's why, for example, it's not considered a "crime" to be late for work at your civilian job, but it is a "crime" to be late for work in the Military.

• Military Crimes
• The Uniform Code of Military Justice
• Court-Martials
• Nonjudicial Punishment
• Involuntary Discharges

• Counselings, Admonitions, Reprimands, and Additional Training
• Adultery in the Military
• Fraternization
• Article 138 Complaints
• Political Activities: What you Can and Cannot Do

Deployments and Combat

Deploying to "hot spots" around the world and being ready to fight at any time upon orders from the Commander-in-Chief is what the Military is all about.

• Call-up to Active Duty
• Guard/Reserve Mobilized
• Administrative Leave for Frequent Deployments
• Code of Conduct
• Law of Armed Conflict
• Sole Surviving Son or Daughter

• The Cost of War
• Are You Going to be Drafted?
• Repatriating Prisoners of War
• Service Flags are Back in Style
• Dear Any Servicemember
• Chemical Warfare Defense