Training Specialists and Instructors

Background

The military trains new personnel in the job skills needed to begin their careers in the service. The military also offers advanced training and retraining to nearly all personnel. Instruction in electronics, health care, computer sciences, and aviation are just a few of the many vocational and technical areas for which the military has training programs. Training specialists and instructors teach classes and give demonstrations to provide military personnel with the knowledge needed to perform their jobs.

What They Do

Training specialists and instructors in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Prepare course outlines and materials to present during training
• Select training materials, such as textbooks and films
• Teach classes and give lectures in person, over closed-circuit TV, or on videotape
• Test and evaluate student progress
• Work with students individually when necessary

Physical Demands

Training specialists and instructors must be able to speak clearly and distinctly.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and speaking
• Interest in counseling and promoting human relations
• Interest in teaching

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• English
• Public speaking

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Training specialists and instructors in the military work either indoors or outdoors, depending on the type of training they provide and their specialty area.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• 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 enlisted personnel.

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

Training consists of two to 14 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice teaching. Length of training varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Communications skills
• Instructional methods
• Lesson planning

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian training specialists and instructors work for vocational and technical schools, high schools, colleges, businesses, and government agencies. Their duties are similar to those performed by military training specialists and instructors. Civilian training specialists and instructors may be called teachers, trainers, or training representatives.

Related Civilian Careers

• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
• Instructional Coordinators
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• University and College Teachers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 7,000 training specialists and instructors. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new specialists and instructors due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. Because training specialists and instructors must have an in-depth knowledge of a subject to be effective, only experienced personnel may become training specialists and instructors. Normally, training specialists and instructors are selected from those workers in each career who are both good in their work and have shown an ability to teach. Often, they divide their time between regular work and training duties.