Work at the Department of Defense

The Department of Defense is an essential aspect of how the United States runs its security. 

There are many different employment options for those who want to work for the Department of Defense in military, civilian, or contractor positions.

Brief History and Mission of the Department of Defense

Defense has always been an important part of the American government. 

The Department of Defense, or DOD, is a federal agency that specializes in the defense and security of the United States. 

Originating as the National Military Establishment in 1947, this organization was later renamed the Department of Defense, and it came about as the result of the National Security Act of 1947. 

This act was designed to consolidate and organize the defense activities of multiple military branches and agencies under one department. 

The primary point of the Department of Defense is to have enough military forces to deter other organizations from making war with the United States or doing anything to jeopardize its security. 

One of the main goals of the DoD is to ensure national security by intimidating potential enemies and protecting the country from external threats. 

The DoD manages many weapons and different military forces to respond in case of different events. 

Military readiness is another mission of the DoD. It wants the country to have prepared armed forces, which include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. 

The DoD oversees the training and maintenance of these forces. 

It makes sure these forces are prepared for combat operations and humanitarian missions. 

The DoD is also essential to developing America’s defense policies. 

It comes up with all the strategies and plans to address possible threats to government security. 

In doing this, it has to collaborate with other federal agencies and the broader international intelligence community. 

The Secretary of Defense is a civilian appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. 

The Secretary of Defense leads the entire DoD and advises the President.

What are the Roles and Opportunities the Department of Defense Provides? 

The Department of Defense is a massive operation, and it has a number of open positions for military personnel, civilians, and contractors. 

Active-duty service members who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force occupy military positions within the Department of Defense. 

If an applicant wants to work in this capacity for the DoD, they will have to apply for one of those organizations and pass basic training. 

These military roles involve direct work in military operations. These operations can include combat, training, support functions, and peacekeeping.

 Specifically, jobs in the military working for the DoD can range from working as personnel to commissioned officers. 

Active-duty service members specialize in occupational fields, like infantry, aviation, intelligence, engineering, and more.

They have to display military discipline and values. 

However, there is no need to join the military to work for the DoD. Applicants can also apply as a civilian. 

There are many positions in the DoD for non-military federal employees. 

These roles typically focus on administration, management, research, finance, legal services, cybersecurity, or even policy development. 

Civilian employees help with the overall DoD operations, support military missions, and provide their specialized knowledge. 

These positions are available in various DoD agencies internationally. 

Civilian employees have stable jobs working with the federal government and plenty of opportunities for career advancement. 

They can also contribute to the cause of national defense without serving in the military. 

Instead, they work alongside military personnel to provide support strategically and within the administration. 

Currently, according to their website, the DoD employs about 950,000 civilians that serve in essential roles globally and have a diverse host of skills. 

Lastly, contractors also have plenty of positions working with the DoD. Contractor positions are for employees of private companies with government contracts. 

A lot of these positions are for technical roles, like engineers or IT specialists. However, there are also openings for consultants and program managers.

 Contractors can come from a variety of fields and offer the DoD logistics support, research and development, and many other services. 

Overall, there is a lot of collaboration between military personnel, civilians, and contractors. 

Effective collaboration benefits the overall goals of the DoD’s defense missions and combines a variety of skills, backgrounds, and contributions.

Application Process for the Department of Defense

To apply for the Department of Defense in a military capacity, individuals will need to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

 Requirements for these organizations vary slightly based on the state of the applicant. 

To work for the DoD as a contractor, someone’s private company must have a government contract. 

It is pretty rare for a single individual to be contracted to work with the DoD. 

To apply to work for the DoD as a civilian, individuals will need to look for positions on the website USAJOBS.gov. 

This website is an official federal government with all the current openings for United States federal jobs. 

Create an account with login.gov and then make an account with USAJOBS.gov. 

As of June 2nd, 2023, there are over 5,400 positions open working with the Department of Defense on USA JOBS. 

One example of a position is for an attorney working with the Secretary of the Navy Offices (SECNAV) for $64,649 per year. 

Potential applicants just have to click on a listing and then click on the “Apply” button and fill out the necessary information. 

Depending on the security level of the position, applicants will have to provide additional information, go through a background check, and pass various levels of security clearance. 

These security checks will vary based on the applicant’s home state and also their past history. 

What Employee Benefits Does the Department of Defense Provide?

The employee benefits from the Department of Defense will vary based on if the employee is working in a military, civilian, or contractor position. However, here are some traditional employee benefits. 

The DoD provides the standard packages for federal employees for its DoD workers. 

This includes healthcare insurance for medical, dental, and vision for the employee and the employee’s eligible dependents. 

It also provides retirement savings and investing plans, like the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). 

Additionally, the DoD gives employees paid vacation leave, sick leave, and federal holidays, as well as family, medical, or military leave if the situation demands. 

More specific benefits for military personnel and some civilian employees include housing and relocation assistance. 

The DoD may provide housing allowances or benefits if they need to relocate for the job. 

Military personnel are also often eligible for extra benefits, like commissaries and exchanges, military housing, and other compensations. 

Overall, employees should always check with official DoD resources to learn what benefits they have because specific benefits vary based on employment status and other factors. 

Right now, there are over 5,400 jobs working with the Department of Defense on USAJOBS.gov. 

Anyone passionate about national defense who wants a stable job should strongly consider applying.