Personnel management helps individuals develop their military careers. It also serves the military's need to fill jobs with qualified workers. Personnel specialists collect and store information about the people in the military, such as training, job assignment, promotion, and health information. They work directly with service personnel and their families.
What They Do
Personnel specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Organize, maintain, and review personnel records
- Enter and retrieve personnel information using computer terminals
- Assign personnel to jobs
- Prepare correspondence, organizational charts and reports
- Provide career guidance
- Assist personnel and their families who have special needs
Helpful Attributes
Helpful school subjects include English, speech, and business administration. Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to compose clear instructions or correspondence
- Ability to follow detailed procedures and instructions
- Interest in working closely with others
Training Provided
Job training consists of classroom instruction. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses. Course content typically includes:
- Preparation of military correspondence and forms
- Personnel records management
- Computer update and retrieval procedures
Work Environment
Personnel specialists normally work in office settings on land or aboard ships.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian personnel specialists work for all types of organizations, including industrial firms, retail establishments, and government agencies. They perform duties similar to military personnel clerks. However, specific jobs vary from company to company.
