Do you need basic training to serve as an administrative worker?

Question

In any of the armed forces?

Answer 1

All military personnel must go through basic training, regardless of the service with one exception: Professionals. Those who are attorneys, doctors, registered nurses (not LPN or CNA), clergy, and the like are exempt from basic training, but must still graduate an Officer's Basic Course, which is a bit less stressful than standard Basic Training.

As others have mentioned, there are civilian openings in various administrative jobs on military installations, either through the civil service, or various contractors.

Answer 2

There are exceptions to the rules for basic training. I doubt that administrative assistants fall into one of those categories. Some jobs that may allow you to bypass basic training include RN's and MD's. The military has a difficult time recruiting in those fields and make allowances. I know of several people that received offers including skipping basic training, starting out with an officer’s rank of O-3, physical fitness waivers, etc.

The basic training will not kill you. In fact, you leave basic training in the best physical shape of your life. If you lack self-discipline going into BT, when you leave there you will have it in abundance. Some people cannot adapt to military life and one purpose of BT is to filter those people out before they cause problems.

If you feel called to serve in the military, then do not fear BT. Go into the military knowing that you come out of BT a better person for it. If you wash out before completing BT, do not fret, the system worked and kept you from hurting yourself or others. Admin jobs are as important and necessary as the troops that find themselves in harm’s way. Without the admin support, the troops on the ground could not do what they do.

One way to get an idea about BT is to find others that have recently come through it. They can give you a better picture than those that came through BT 30 years ago.

Good luck!

Will D
Enterprise AL
http://www.notagz.com

Answer 3

Not if you remain a civilian. There are civilians in all the armed forces. There are thousands of Department of Defense civilians. However, if you want to be a uniformed member of the armed forces, then yes, you'll have to go through basic training no matter your job.

Answer 4

Yes, you might be put on the front lines if things get bad enough, and there is no front line in a gorilla war like Vietnam or Iraq. The enemy can be anyone, anywhere, any time. So, go in the Navy or the Air Force if you must. But you will run a risk at times in the Military no matter what you are doing, because the military works with such big, dangerous and active missions, places and equipment.

Answer 5

If you are joining the Military yes....to work as civilian for the department of defense no. I know several people who work in administrative jobs in the military and they all went through BT.

Answer 6

There are non-military (ie civilian) jobs on base. You'll still need to have a security screening, though. Here's a link for civilian job opportunities in the military:

http://www.defenselink.mil/sites/c.html#CivilianJobOpportunities

Answer 7

everyone in the armed forces goes through basic training we are combat soldiers first and whatever our job is second

Answer 8

Everyone has to go to basic training (boot camp) no matter what the job.

Answer 9

If you're working in an office, you should know the alphabet (know how to file), you should perfect your typing skills (not the hunt peck method but be able to write emails/letters using proper english and grammar) and have customer service skills (know how to be polite and answer incoming calls). You'll need to be savvy in using Microsoft applications (Word and Excel) in most cases. A lot of this you can learn in highschool.

Answer 10

Yup! If you join the service, you must be ready to serve.