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Graphic Designers and Illustrators


Background

The military produces many publications, such as training manuals, newspapers, reports, and promotional materials. Graphic artwork is used in these publications and for signs, charts, posters, and TV and motion picture productions. Graphic designers and illustrators produce graphic artwork, drawings, and other visual displays.

What They Do

Graphic designers and illustrators in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

Physical Demands

Coordination of eyes, hands, and fingers is needed to draw sketches. Normal color vision is required to work with paints and other art materials.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Graphic designers and illustrators usually work in offices on land or aboard ships.

Services offering this career:

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

Job training consists of about 12 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in preparing graphic designs and illustrations.

Course content typically includes:

Further training occurs on the job.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian graphic designers and illustrators work for government agencies, advertising agencies, print shops, engineering firms, and large organizations that have their own graphics departments. Their duties are similar to military graphic designers and illustrators. They may be known as graphic arts technicians or commercial artists.

Related Civilian Careers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 1,000 graphic designers and illustrators. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need designers and illustrators due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, graphic designers prepare tables, signs, and graphics under close supervision. With experience, they help formulate and produce more complex designs. In time, they may supervise others and lead large projects. Eventually, they may manage graphics departments.