Engineering jobs in the army are one of the most diverse and challenging jobs in the military. Military Engineers are supposed to handle the technical aspect of the military ranging from interpreting and solving technical problems to handling and maintaining technical equipments. Personnel usually specialize in one of the technical fields such as the space operation, information technology, intelligence or environmental health and safety. Space operation engineers maintain and repair the ground control equipment that also includes the electronic system used to track the location of the space craft. Information technology engineers and specialists design computer software and hardware. The intelligence specialists study and interpret the various photographs and the signals from the radar and other surveillance systems that will help in security and are important information for the military. A machine operator and the production personnel may be an engineer, if the equipment is extremely technical and sophisticated.
A military engineer has the all important job of planning and building of offensive, protective, and reasonable structures during any warfare. He is also involved in critical construction jobs such as bridges and laying a minefield and removing it during war and after it too.
The minimum qualification for any army job is a high school degree. Studying science at the high school level is an added advantage for a career as a technician or any engineering related jobs. And if you are eying an engineer's job in the military, you ought to have studied engineering at the undergraduate level from any of the institutes. Engineers jobs in the military need a specialized course in engineering and should have completed a specific leadership course. The engineer's job is then allotted according to the specialization and aptitude. The army may even pay for higher education for certain selected students. Certain other selected candidates with an aptitude in engineering and technical drawing may attend schools such as Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger, and Sapper. The candidates then receive other physical and combating training that is common to all the sections of the military. A good academic record along with great physical condition usually helps during recruitment.
Knowing drawing and having an eye for detail is one of the essential aspects of a military engineer. Good physical health, taste for a variety of food, knowing a common language such as English and other foreign languages are an added advantage, as the job requires military personnel to travel extensively. These places may be certain remote areas or big cities within the country or abroad. Adaptability to new surroundings will always help in a military engineer's job.
Once a candidate is enrolled in the military, he or she needs to undergo a basic training camp or popularly called ‘boot camp'. Training includes rigorous physical exercise to build strength, team spirit, and endurance. There is much technical training that one receives on duty that can be easily combined with the off-duty classes and can even earn a degree through it. Some cadets may even be sent to advance training the cost of the military.
Experience of any kind is always an added advantage. Since the students are recruited just after high school or undergraduate engineering course, prior experience may not be essential.
There are a lot of openings and vacancies for military engineers and they are always in demand across the armed forces. The prospects through 2016 for the qualified individuals in this field look very impressive. Engineering requirements of the military are set to rise with the military becoming more technical and complex. Their expertise is essential for all the wings of the army. There are about 145,633 jobs for military engineers inclusive of the army, navy, air force, coastal guard, and Marine Corps.
The salary of a military engineer depends totally at the level at which he or she joins the army. The starting salary is usually $1,699. In addition to the basic pay, the military engineers are eligible for free boarding, medical allowance, military clothing allowance, thirty days of paid vacation and lots of other perks that depend on the levels.
Military engineer jobs are truly a wholesome package with a satisfying career, travel, a lot of excitement, challenges and being able to serve the country at the same time.
