Careers within the Department of Defense

How to become a part of our staff

The Department of Defense is a vital asset to the security and safety of our nation. Civilian oversight of the military and constant monitoring of threats around the world ensure the safety of our nation and that of our allies. The Department, its’ personnel, and over 600 members of the Armed Forces stand ready and prepared for any threat at all times. The goal of the department is to provide strict national defense, provide military forces when needed to deter war, and protect the security of our nation. Although many other departments and agencies have the very same ideals and goals — and the department work heavily with them in order to achieve the same shared outcome — the Department of Defense and its’ national intelligence agencies, military departments & services and every member of the Armed Forces of the United States stand at the forefront of the defense of the United States and its’ allies.

“The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the necessary military forces to deter war and protect the security of the United States.”


We are ecstatic that you are interested in pursuing a career within the Defense and are ready to join the team and make an impact. The Department of Defense invites and employs people of all backgrounds and consists of personnel who are talented and dedicated. Department of Defense personnel actively interact with the public, assist the secretary, deputy secretary, executive secretary, and other officials within the department in their duties, and ensure the U. S. Armed Forces are ready for any threat. Employees of the Department of Defense must have a sense of honor, duty, drive, dedication, and a clear understanding of what it takes to successfully complete our mission listed above.

The Department of Defense has a few main goals:

  • effectively organizing, staffing, and managing a very large departmental structure
  • ensuring the Armed Forces are prepared and ready at any time for a long or short-term conflict
  • safeguarding military installations, our offices, facilities, and staff
  • safeguarding and securing the American people
  • ensuring resilience to emerging threats

Along with the few listed above, all of the personnel within the Department of Defense have specific, listed jobs and attend to them with utmost dedication. The administration of the Department of Defense seek to provide incoming and current personnel with benefits whilst employed within the department. Many of these include training and development, goal-oriented tasks and projects, recognition for service, protection at cities and at the Pentagon, teamwork and camaraderie, and work aligned with the interest and shared goal of serving and improving the nation.

To begin:

Find the Right Job for You

There are multiple agencies, departments, and offices within the Department of Defense. Selecting the right department in which you believe you can work to your full potential can be challenging. Here is a list of the current subdivisions and departments operating under the Department of Defense

Agencies, Offices, & Departments:

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense
  • National Security Agency
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Defense Advanced Research & Projects Agency
  • Department of the Army
  • Department of the Navy
  • Department of the Air Force
  • Pentagon Staff
  • Defense Force Protection Agency
  • Joint Staff
  • Military Service

Keep an Eye out for Employment Announcements

Any employment opportunities, whether it be by tryout or by application, will be officially announced by the Department of Defense administration. Employment announcements will contain information regarding eligibility, qualifications, duties, and requirements. Ensure you are able to comply with and that you properly fit the requirements and eiligibility before applying.

Applications are not taken lightly and will thoroughly determine if your qualifications and interests make you a good fit for the job. The same process will be carried out for all candidates and job opportunities will not be provided freely. All personnel brought into the department will and must be qualified candidates whose ambitions fit the goals of the entire department-wide enterprise: securing and providing safety to the nation, its communities, and its citizens.

Employment and careers within the Department of Defense as a whole require the following:

  • qualification for the job
  • United States citizenship
  • successful completion of a full background check, investigation, screening, orientation, and introduction

Apply or Tryout for the Job

When an official announcement for employment is released, follow the proper instructions and guidance provided by the Department of Defense administration.

If applying through application, you will be required to provide detailed responses to each question and properly follow application format to ensure that the department administration capture your qualifications for the job. You will also be asked to answer a series of questions that determine and assess your skill levels and abilities. Applications will be specifically constructed to break down the applicant and to explore their qualifications and their drive; this further allows the department administration to determine whether or not the candidate is a proper selection to effectively carry out the duties behind their incoming position.

Ensure that your application accurately outlines your skill level and competencies applicable to the position-opportunity announced. Include all of your relevant experiences when applicable, unique skills that set you apart, and other additions that make you uniquely qualified for the job. Answer all questions according to how they are asked and provide full, thorough responses to each answer.

Keep an eye out for application close dates, as all applications delivered after 11:59 PM will be denied until the next cycle of applications. Those who have been approved will receive a letter of approval, informing them of their incoming employment and their requirement to attend orientation.

If applying through tryout, you will be tested in multiple fields that are applicable to the experiences you will face while on duty. Weaponry and vehicles that will be used while in service will be used in tryout to see how the applicant maneuvers with their provided material, their skill levels with the provided material, and if they can efficiently handle and use the material provided to them.

Tryouts will specifically watch the performance and the abilities of the applicants to see if they will be a good addition to the team. If the presented performance was favorable, the applicant will be forwarded to approval and orientation.

Tryouts will not be taken lightly and applicants will be required to perform maturely, present their abilities, and will be required to silently and thoroughly follow the commands of the command in charge.

Sub-divisions, branches, agencies, and child departments, while still having tryouts and applications to employ, may have different after-approval processes.

Attend Orientation or Interviews

The names of qualified candidates will be forwarded to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense.

The best-qualified candidates will be approved and transitioned into employment. After being approved through whichever employment method, orientation and induction is imperative to attend. Not only does it show that you are determined for the job, it allows you to get more information and a further understanding on the tasks you will face when serviced, how to deal with situations, what your specific duties are, how to maneuver through the department, proper protocol and guidelines, and how to advance. Failure to attend orientation, even after being passed through application or tryout, will result in a termination of employment.

If interviewed, expect to be questioned on topics regarding scenarios, leadership and camaraderie, performance and results, decision making and problem solving, communication ability, qualifications, and more. When being interviewed, the hiring official and supervisors will be present and will request your utmost professionalism, maturity, focus, and will require thorough responses. Failure to present yourself in a proper manner will result in termination of employment.

What to Expect Next

After all of the applying, trying out, interviewing, and induction is completed, you will be officially serviced and deployed as a personnel member of the Department of Homeland Security. Upon being serviced, inductions and training will be frequent and require attendance.

Welcome to the Department of Defense!

Secretary Lucas Fulton

Written by

Official Medium account for NUSA Secretary of Defense Lucas Fulton. Roleplay account.

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