The military trains new personnel in the job skills needed to begin their careers in the service. The military also offers advanced training and retraining to nearly all personnel. Instruction in electronics, health care, computer sciences, and aviation are just a few of the many vocational and technical areas for which the military has training programs. Training specialists and instructors teach classes and give demonstrations to provide military personnel with the knowledge needed to perform their jobs.
What They Do
Training specialists and instructors in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare course outlines and materials to present during training
- Select training materials, such as textbooks and films
- Teach classes and give lectures in person, over closed-circuit TV, or on videotape
- Work with students individually when necessary
- Test and evaluate student progress
Helpful Attributes
Helpful school subjects include public speaking and English. Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and speaking
- Interest in counseling and promoting human relations
- Interest in teaching
Training Provided
Training consists of classroom instruction, including practice teaching. Length of training varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:
- Lesson planning
- Instructional methods
- Communications skills
Work Environment
Training specialists and instructors in the military work either indoors or outdoors, depending on the type of training they provide and their specialty area.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian training specialists and instructors work for vocational and technical schools, high schools, colleges, businesses, and government agencies. Their duties are similar to those performed by military training specialists and instructors. Civilian training specialists and instructors may be called teachers, trainers, or training representatives.
