Life is interesting; sometimes we choose the kind of life we want, other times it is imposed on us. The same applies to careers and employment. Either, we have to live it the best way we can, making the most out of it every day wherever we may be found. Civilian refers to an ordinary citizen or resident of a state while military refers to a government-trained combative professional who may or may not be a citizen. These professionals are specialized forces with diverse warfare skills aimed at protecting a state from internal and external aggression. Civilian and military professionals experience life differently due to the nature of their work. Indeed, even their job requirements are different. Let us analyze these two contrasting professions- Civilian Vs Military.
Comparison Between Civilian and Military Professions
Training
The military trainee goes through military school to acquire skills and theoretical knowledge that are useful in the armed forces. The training areas include physical fitness, survival techniques, use of weapons, and maintenance of weapons. These are mandatory combat techniques that all recruits must learn. They also have access to normal professional courses such as management, medicine, engineering, information technology, research, and development, among others. They are expected to provide their services under a given area of expertise and professional interest. Such skills will be useful to them should they separate in the future from the military field and become civilians. In contrast, civilian trainees need to attend military school, they do not undertake mandatory combative and warfare techniques training. However, they pursue professional courses in preferred specialization areas such as accountancy, medicine, and engineering, among others.
Career
The military profession has unique employment opportunities and options as follows:
- Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) – These include accountancy, medicine, and engineering, etc.
- Ranks – These include lieutenant, brigadier, cadet, etc.
- Job Titles – These include doctor, manager, pilot, seal, etc.
- Divisions – These include infantry, cavalry, armored, mountain, airborne, artillery, security, etc.
- Service Branches – These include marines, navy, army, air force, space air force, coast guard, etc.
These unique military employment opportunities cannot be found in civilian companies though work specialization also exists among the civilians. They also have better job security, benefits, and compensation packages compared to civilian companies.
Recruitment
This does not differ much from the civilian hiring processes and requirements except for a few criteria. The general requirements for military recruitment are:
- Age – This varies with specific service branches but the range is 17 – 40 years
- Physical Fitness – The candidates must be able to successfully undertake difficult endurance tests
- Education Level – The minimum qualification is a high school diploma but advanced certifications give an added advantage
- Citizenship Status – Preference is given to natural inhabitants but foreign residents with adequate documentation may also be considered
- Selective Service – The mandatory enlistment of adult males in a national service especially the Armed Forces in case of future national crises
Civilian companies similar to the military profession require both age limits and preferred education levels. In contrast, advanced physical endurance tests are not a requirement in the civilian hiring process except in a few sectors. In addition, female civilians do not have to enlist with selective service like their male counterparts. Furthermore, civilian companies hire both citizens and approved non-citizens.
Remuneration
The military issues monthly payments to their officer’s just like the civilian employers. However, the structure and types of payments may slightly vary and military allowances are tax-free. Some of these monthly payments include:
- Basic Pays – This is based on your job description
- Incentive Pays – This is determined by the kind of events undertaken and qualification level
- Special Pays – These are issued to officers working in hardships areas
- Allowances – These are issued to cater for civilian housing and subsistence needs
- Recoupment – These are refunds after conditions of a written agreement ate fulfilled
- Retirement – This is determined by years of service while the lifetime monthly annuity is only payable if you served for more than 20 years
In contrast, civilian remuneration and allowances are highly taxed by the government. Their compensation and refund policies and procedures are not as generous as the military.
Benefits
The military has one of the best and well-organized systems of benefits for their employees such as retirement packages, education, health, housing, tax exemptions, and travel, just to mention a few. These benefits are extended to the family members almost for free and on a silver platter! While we might be tempted to be jealous, the fact of the matter is that they very well deserve it due to the difficult working environment and daily uncertainty in the field. Civilians have almost similar benefits from their employers but the percentages and/or rates differ from the military. They are no match for the financial muscle within the military.
Job Description
The military responsibilities and working conditions include:
- Protecting the state and its interests
- On-call 24/7 while on active duty
- Work under extreme pressure and conditions
- Strenuous fieldwork for prolonged and even unknown periods
- Constantly threatened by enemy forces
- Periodic and routine combat and warfare activities
- Maintain physical fitness and proper training throughout active duty
- Working in hardship areas is mandatory and abrupt
- Perform respective duties under the MOS program
- Mandatory community services such as disaster relief and humanitarian efforts
The civilian responsibilities and working conditions generally include:
- Definite and predictive work
- Standard working hours
- Low-risk levels
- Working in hardship areas is optional
The bottom line is that, while all job descriptions contain responsibilities and working conditions, the military one is risky and challenging compared to the civilian one.
Work Station
Military professionals spend much of their professional life within the barracks, where they work and live. Barracks are self-contained with all the recreational and physical amenities such as houses, schools, shops, just to mention a few. This allows them to participate in their routine physical training and report to work while near their families who live with them in this controlled facility. Only a few officers may opt to live outside the barracks depending on their rank and service status. However, they can be relocated individually or with their families when they are deployed on special assignments locally or abroad. In contrast, the majority of civilians live away from their workplaces in commercial housing.
Housing
The military is often housed in the barracks with their families and is issued in terms of military ranks or seniority. Some of the military ranks must reside on base while training and working. These houses are either apartments or single-storied buildings for more privacy. The officers who have to live off-base due to one reason or another are given monthly house allowance to meet rental obligations in civilian neighborhoods. When deployed to the field, especially conflict zones, the military spends most of their time in the field until they return to their home station. In contrast, very few civilian employers provide housing in controlled environments and they have numerous options to choose from in terms of housing.
Travel
Military professionals have a lot of opportunities for travel through their overseas volunteer program and they get discounts on commercial airlines. Most of their ground transport is catered by the numerous military fleets from armored combat vehicles to civilian vehicles. The military is not charged while using any government flights or vehicles. In contrast, civilians don’t have such extensive privileges with travel arrangements. They may be given allowances but with competitive rates as those enjoyed by their military counterparts.
Vacation
Similar to their civilian counterparts, military officers take time off if they are not on deployment or active duty. They have a standard 30-day paid vacation, a chance for them to experience civilian life. However, they are still expected to maintain a high level of discipline even when away from work. Once a soldier, always a soldier! In contrast, the civilian professional has more freedom when it comes to corporate rules and regulations while on vacation.
Dress Code
Military professionals must wear designated uniforms at all times while on duty. They take extreme pride in this to the point of having different uniforms for different occasions throughout the day! For instance, they have specified uniforms for training, fieldwork, service, and evening activities! The consequences for not following the uniform protocol are severe. It is a sign of disrespect to the institution, colleagues, leaders, and their noble duty. In contrast, the majority of civilian jobs do not require uniforms. Those that do will not attach high ethical value to them compared to the military. In addition, they probably have one type of uniform throughout the day, unlike the military where changeovers are done several times in a day!
Discipline
Military and discipline are almost synonymous! They are even referred to as “disciplined forces” clearly demonstrating how it is a valued practice. The military themselves define discipline as, “the state of order and obedience”. Non-compliance to the military code of conduct can have severe repercussions including being discharged from service.
The military is very committed to its high levels of discipline and ethics to the point of taking secrecy oaths and signing documents to this effect. The regulations are indoctrinated in the soldiers and even form part of their daily drills to ensure they never forget. They recite some of these rules as part of their daily routine. This is how important discipline is to the military, for without it they are reduced to an organized mob with no sense of direction! The military operates in synchrony hence the need to be highly disciplined in all activities.
As mentioned earlier, the most important and basic function of the military is to protect the state and its interests. With such a role to manage, inconsistencies cannot be tolerated as it would easily destroy their strategies and systems of operations leaving them in a state of stupor! This will render the state vulnerable to external threats and aggression.
In contrast, indiscipline among civilians may not have a similar grandiose impact mentioned above. Rules and regulations only apply to that specific company with its small staff population. Inconsistencies and mistakes are easily identified and managed without spreading to society. While they also value synchrony and ethical practices, failure to comply would not threaten national security.
Justice System
While nations are governed by constitutions worldwide, the military has additional legal systems that guide their noble state operations. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is an American federal law, enacted by Congress. The law defines the military justice system and lists criminal offenses under the military law. This demonstrates that the military is expected to have higher ethical standards compared to civilians.
Family Support
Servicemen and women spend much of their time away from their families. They are in the field either on training or active duty most of their working days. As a result, their families need support to overcome the challenges of not having a spouse or parent with them most of the time. There are several networks and support systems extended to these families to compensate for the absent family member such as education, health, housing, and child care, just to mention a few. In contrast, civilians may not have as many and elaborate family support systems due to the low absenteeism rates in the family home.
Conclusion
There are lots of similarities and differences between the civilian and military professions which in turn influence the lifestyles of these employees. Military life has come out as being the most dangerous and uncertain. We have also seen that the value system between the two is very different. The civilian life is more laid back and with good reason, their operational stakes are low. In contrast, military life has higher stakes, enjoys less independence, and is practically owned by the state. Which is better?! Well, it all depends on your preference and abilities. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes you follow your passion, other times you use practical reasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the different American military service branches?
They are categorized into six namely: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Airforce, Space Airforce, and the Coast Guard. - Where is the American military located?
The headquarters is at the Pentagon which is located in Arlington City, Virginia. - What is another word for the military?
They are collectively referred to as the Armed Forces since they are equipped with weapons.
