Administrative Officers

Background

The military is a large organization that performs a wide range of activities in locations all over the world. The success of many military activities and operations depends on the effective management and coordination of administrative functions. Officers who specialize by functional area, such as finance or personnel, are described under their respective career titles. Administrative officers direct administrative functions and services, such as mail distribution and delivery, records management, and facilities management.

What They Do

Administrative officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Coordinate administrative matters and direct administrative support staff and services
• Determine needs for supplies and equipment
• Develop and implement administrative plans, policies, and procedures
• Develop and monitor programs for safeguarding classified materials
• Establish records and forms management programs
• Manage postal operations
• Manage the maintenance and use of facilities
• Prepare responses to special correspondence

Physical Demands

No information available.

Special Requirements

A four-year college degree is usually required to enter this career.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to analyze and solve problems quickly
• Ability to coordinate several activities at once
• Ability to work effectively with people
• Attention to detail
• Good organizational and management skills
• Strong communication skills

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Administrative officers normally work in offices on military bases or aboard ships.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for officers.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training is offered for some specialties. Training length varies, depending on the specialty. Most specialties involve significant on-the-job training.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian administrative services managers perform a range of duties in a variety of organizations. They coordinate and direct support services, such as secretarial and reception, conference planning and travel, mail distribution, and facilities management. They may work as property or real estate managers, office managers, or postal service managers.

Related Civilian Careers

• Administrative Services Managers
• General and Operations Managers
• Office Managers
• Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
• Property and Real Estate Managers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 1,000 administrative officers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new administrative officers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, officers are normally assigned to manage a section within a branch or department. As they gain experience, they take on more management responsibility and may eventually manage the administrative support operations of an entire installation.