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Pentagon opens more military jobs to women

2012-02-11T09:30:44Z

The Pentagon will lift parts of its longtime ban on women serving in combat units, but only a small fraction of the force will be affected, officials announced Thursday, according to an Army Times story..

The change will open up about an additional 1 percent of military jobs to women, but about 20 percent of jobs across the active-duty force will remain restricted to men.

Pentagon opens more military jobs to women originally appeared on About.com US Military on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 09:30:44.

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ABCs of the ASVAB

2012-01-27T12:27:19Z

You can't simply walk into a recruiter's office and exclaim, "Hey I want
to join the Military, so sign me up!" The military has a standard process
which includes taking an entrance exam called the ASVAB
(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). It is very important to get good
scores on the ASVAB because you can't take the test over and over again until
you acheive your desired score.
Plus, obtaining a good score in the areas you need are necessary to get that dream
job in the military. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of books and online
resources to help you prepare yourself for the ASVAB. It may halp to familiarize
yourself with the different subtests.
Are you prepared?

ABCs of the ASVAB originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 12:27:19.

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What Military Branch is Right For You?

2012-01-27T10:06:18Z

All military services are not created equally. Sure, everyone gets the same basic pay and allowances. But other factors, such as enlistment incentives, quality of barracks and base housing, assignment opportunities, job opportunities, deployment rates, and promotion rates vary widely between the branches.

There are many factors you should consider when deciding which branch of the U.S. Military to join. I've developed an online guide to help you with your decision making process!

What Military Branch is Right For You? originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 10:06:18.

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Coast Guard starts open-book rating exams

2012-01-22T09:48:08Z

Paper-based rating courses are out. So are “gotcha”-style questions on the rating exam. These are some of the changes coming as the Coast Guard overhauls how it trains and tests enlisted members, a rollout that will extend to 20 ratings by 2015. The changes apply to rating qualifications and tests, according to an Navy Times story.

Job-specific qualifications are getting more thorough and will be tracked on an online database. And tests, while still taken on paper for the time being, will be updated electronically. They’ll also be open book, allowing Coast Guardsmen to use the same reference materials they rely on while doing their jobs.

Coast Guard starts open-book rating exams originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 09:48:08.

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Military dumps infamous �BCG� eyeglasses

2012-01-22T09:46:59Z

Military recruits who wear glasses no longer will have to endure the embarrassment of sporting BCGs — those beloved standard-issue specs, technically called S9s, which are universally known as “Birth Control Glasses” because they’re supposedly so unattractive, according to an Air Force Times story..

The Naval Medical Logistics Command has chosen a new design, which will be offered to all active-duty and Reserve personnel and will be the sole choice for service members at recruit depots.

Military dumps infamous �BCG� eyeglasses originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 09:46:59.

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Junior AF officers among SERB boards� targets

2012-01-22T09:45:45Z

If you’re an Air Force officer just beginning your career or trying to make it to retirement after being twice passed over for promotion, get ready to go before a force-shaping board this year, according to an Air Force Times story.

The Air Force will take a hard look at officers with fewer than six years in — about 24,000 of them — who are considered probationary officers, in an attempt to meet the 332,800 end strength set by Congress. They will face a force-shaping board some time this fiscal year, although details about which career fields and year groups have not yet been released.

Junior AF officers among SERB boards� targets originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 09:45:45.

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Major European pullout could start in October

2012-01-22T09:44:30Z

As many as 10,000 soldiers — and as many as 25,000 dependents — are expected to withdraw from Europe as the U.S. juggles shrinking budgets and force reductions with maintaining strong relationships with its allies, officials said, according to an Army Times story.

On Jan. 12, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that two brigade combat teams — instead of just one BCT as originally planned — will be withdrawn from Europe.

Major European pullout could start in October originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 09:44:30.

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Army Selects New Camouflage Patterns

2012-01-15T09:23:17Z

Army uniform officials have tapped five finalists to develop the service’s new family of camouflage patterns, according to a Military.com story.

The Jan. 10 announcement is the result of the Army’s exhaustive Phase IV Camouflage effort. The five vendors have been awarded contracts to make camouflage-patterned material for uniforms and equipment that will be field-tested later this year, uniform officials say.

Army Selects New Camouflage Patterns originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 15th, 2012 at 09:23:17.

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AF Announces New Force Cuts

2012-01-08T10:16:54Z

In on-going efforts to continue to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials announced additional force management programs, according to a Military.com story.

The Air Force ended fiscal year 2011 about 1,200 Airmen over endstrength.

AF Announces New Force Cuts originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at 10:16:54.

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Australia Looking for a Few Good [US] Veterans

2012-01-08T10:15:27Z

With the Iraq War officially over and the Army downsizing in the face of defense budget pressure, more troops will be making the transition back to civilian life -- a potentially challenging prospect given the state of the economy, according to a Military.com story.

But for those who want to stay in uniform, there may be a new option emerging -- just not an American one. Australia has put out the "Help Wanted" sign for foreign national veterans.

Australia Looking for a Few Good [US] Veterans originally appeared on About.com US Military on Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at 10:15:27.

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