

Enlisted service members tend to perform more hands-on, job-specific work, while officers perform supervisory and operational planning duties in their roles. an officer will vary depending on the assignment but there are some general differences between them. The specific duties for an enlisted service member vs. Deployment lengths can also differ for enlisted personnel and officers, with enlisted personnel often deploying for a year or more, while officers more typically deploy for six months to a year.

Officers, by contrast, usually move from one assignment to another every two or three years. For regular assignments, enlisted service members can expect to stay in the same location for anywhere from a year to eight years. Assignment lengthĪssignment lengths also differ between the enlisted and officers. There are exceptions, particularly for officers in specialty fields that require advanced education and training.
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Officers, rather than training in a specific job, learn how to manage and supervise others, and do so in several different scenarios. Job optionsĮnlisted service members have an incredibly wide range of job options upon entering the armed forces, ranging from working in the dining facility to maintaining equipment like airplanes and tanks. Officers do not have contracts in the same way enlisted personnel do, so their commitments also vary, though many begin with a four-year commitment. In most cases, the initial contract for enlisted service members is four years, though that can differ depending on individual circumstances. Typically, for both enlisted and officers, the training includes learning about their branch of the military and ensuring they're in peak physical condition before their first assignment. The length and intensity of the training differ both between the enlisted and officer ranks and between the branches of the armed forces themselves. Trainingīoth enlisted service members and officers must undergo physical and educational training before beginning their careers in the military. For specialty positions like doctors and lawyers, additional education is necessary. Officers, by contrast, must hold a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. Consider a few of the most important differences between these two types of military personnel: Initial educationĮnlisted service members must hold a high school diploma or a GED, but they are not required to have a post-secondary degree to enlist. officerĮnlisted service members and officers must meet different requirements to join their chosen branch of the military and then perform vastly different duties once they're a part of the organization. Related: What Is a Specialist in the Army? Differences between enlisted vs. Officer grades and ranks are different from branch to branch, but most have at least eight promotion opportunities. Once assigned, they receive training in that field and provide supervisory support to the enlisted personnel who perform specific jobs for the organization. Some officers, like doctors and lawyers, immediately specialize in their chosen field, while others are assigned to a squadron with a particular military mission. armed forces who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university and meet other requirements. Military officers are members of the U.S. Enlisted grades and ranks differ slightly from branch to branch, but most branches have at least nine promotion opportunities for enlisted members. Typically, enlisted personnel join the military at a younger age than officers, since those in the enlisted ranks are only required to hold a high school diploma or GED.Įnlisted personnel receive intensive and specific job training for a particular role, which many veterans leverage into civilian jobs after completing their contract with the armed forces. military who meet specific requirements and agree to perform certain duties. Non-Commissioned Officer: What's the Difference? What does enlisted mean?Įnlisted service members are members of the U.S. In this article, we explain what enlisted means, describe the officer ranks, offer a list of differences between the two groups and highlight how to enlist or become an officer in the military.

Understanding how the roles differ can help you make an informed decision about how to join the military if you choose to do so. While some of the requirements for joining the armed forces are the same for both groups, there are significant differences between these two types of military personnel. All branches of the military employ enlisted service members and commissioned officers.
