Military Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Jim Bowersox
(555) 345-9876
[email protected]
1000 West Main Street, Harrisburg, PA 12345
Profile
A United States Marine with over five years of military service, specializing in security, personnel management, and information management. A proven track record of coordinating security and clearances for major operations.
Professional Experience
Marine Security Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, Harrisburg, PA
June 2018 – December 2022
- Oversee vehicle and personnel access control, CCTV surveillance, and roving internal patrols, and deliver rapid response within high threat environments
- Verify security clearances and badges, process firearms authorizations, and review personnel to ensure authorized access to controlled areas
- Coordinate with a team of 15+ security guards, review daily reports, provide training, and ensure compliance with security protocols and authorization procedures
Night-Shift Security Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, Harrisburg, PA
January 2017 – June 2018
- Monitored designated parameters to identify any security threats, created weekly security reports, and verified security clearances for access control
- Operated and managed complex security systems with multiple CCTV cameras and monitoring equipment, which included performing routine maintenance
Key Skills
- Security Clearances
- Background Checks
- Threat Mitigation
- Access Management
- Team Leadership
Education
Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
Harrisburg Community College, Harrisburg, PA, September 2018 – June 2020
Certifications:
- Basic Life Support, American Red Cross – through June 2023
- Conceal Carry Permit – Pennsylvania – through June 2026
Daniel Thomas
(555) 786-2839
[email protected]
123 Small Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301
Profile
A National Guard Pilot with over 2K flight hours operating single and twin-engine helicopters. Advanced knowledge of military flight maneuvers and safety protocols. A proven track record of supporting 200+ search and rescue operations.
Flight Hours
- Flight Time: 2,000 hours
- Pilot in Command (PiC): 1,300 hours
- Second in Command (SiC): 700 hours
- Night: 500 hours
Professional Experience
Blackhawk Pilot, North Carolina National Guard, Fayetteville, NC
July 2013 – Present
- Serve as pilot in command (PiC) for 200+ search and rescue operations, develop flight plans based on weather conditions, and communicate with aviation teams and commanding officers to coordinate safe evacuations during natural disasters
- Operate HC-130 aircrafts and H-60 helicopters, conduct safety inspections, and coordinate with logistics teams to perform preventative maintenance
- Provide training, coaching, and mentorship to 10+ second in command pilots to improve flight skills and drive professional development
Ground Crewman, North Carolina National Guard, Fayetteville, NC
February 2008 – July 2011
- Coordinated with maintenance teams to perform routine safety inspections, identified potential defects, and provided recommendations to ensure flight safety
- Ensured tarmac was clear of debris prior to flights and supported transport of helicopters and aircraft to and from hangars
Education
Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science
Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, NC, August 2007 – June 2011
Flight Training
Fort Rucker, Alabama, July 2011 – July 2013
Key Skills
- Flight Safety
- HC-130 aircraft
- H-60 helicopters
- Flight Plans
- Team Leadership
Certifications
- Commercial Pilot: rotorcraft – helicopter, instrument – helicopter, issued 3/26/13
Major Adam Montgomery
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
789 Third Street, Raleigh, NC 23456
Profile
A Supply Chain Coordinator with 10+ years of military experience, specializing in logistics, fleet management, and procurement. A strong history of overseeing multi-million dollar supply chains to support military operations.
Professional Experience
Senior Logistics Officer, Fort Bragg, NC
August 2015 – Present
- Coordinate logistics for multi-million dollar supply chains supporting domestic and international operations for the marine corps, air force, and coast guard
- Oversee the procurement, transport, and distribution of supplies to troops for military operations, including food, medical supplies, ammunition, and fuel
- Lead a team of 10+ army personnel to manage inventory and logistics, assign responsibilities, evaluate performance, and ensure adherence with army standards
Logistics Officer, Fort Bragg, NC
July 2009 – June 2015
- Created inventory reports, analyzed supply chain operations, and provided support to commanding officers to deliver supplies for domestic military operations
- Identified opportunities to improve delivery times and reduce fuel consumption by optimizing route planning and resource management processes
Education
Bachelor of Science, Journalism Management, ROTC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, September 2004 – May 2008
Key Skills
- Supply Chain Management
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Logistics
- Procurement
- Inventory Management
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for a Military Resume
With the increased use of applicant tracking systems, it’s more important than ever to use the right keywords and action verbs in your resume. These automated systems pull the most qualified candidates out of the stack, saving recruiters time and money. If you don’t meet the threshold frequencies of key skills, your resume may never even be seen by a real person.
As a job-seeker with military experience, you may have a variety of job-specific keywords. An army nurse will have a completely different offering of skills than a heavy-truck mechanic. Additionally, you’ll have your military training to showcase. Make sure you sprinkle your resume with both military key skills and those directly related to your profession.
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Analytics | Basic Life Support (BLS) |
| Communication | Continuous Improvement |
| Cross-functional Leadership | Equipment Management |
| Firearms Safety | Flight Planning |
| Flight Safety | Inventory Management |
| Leadership | Logistics |
| Operations Management | Patient Care |
| Process Improvement | Procurement |
| Project Management | Security |
| Supply Chain Management | Team Management |
| Treatment Planning | Team Leadership |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Communicated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Developed | Led |
| Maintained | Managed |
| Navigated | Operated |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Planned | Provided |
| Repaired | Responded |
| Reviewed | Supervised |
| Supported | |
Tips for Writing a Better Military Resume
Feature your leadership abilities
Although not all aspects of your military career will be relevant for civilian jobs, one aspect that has universal appeal is your leadership experience. As a veteran with years of military training, your capabilities as a leader can help to differentiate you from other candidates as you apply for jobs on the open market. In the example below, the job seeker showcases their background leading critical search and rescue operations. This type of leadership experience is unique and will help to separate the candidate from other applicants during the job search:
- Serve as pilot in command (PiC) for 200+ search and rescue operations, develop flight plans based on weather conditions, and communicate with aviation teams and commanding officers to coordinate safe evacuations during natural disasters
- Operate HC-130 aircraft and H-60 helicopters, conduct safety inspections, and coordinate with logistics teams to perform preventative maintenance
- Provide training, coaching, and mentorship to 10+ second in command pilots to improve flight skills and drive professional development
Highlight skills and accomplishments that match your target industry
Making the transition from a military career to a civilian job is challenging for many veterans. As you craft your resume, it’s important to use language that is accessible for the reader, as many hiring managers will be unfamiliar with military terminology. You should also make a point to showcase skills and experience that are aligned with your target industry. In the example below, the candidate showcases their extensive background in security, which can open a number of potential pathways for a career transition:
- Oversee vehicle and personnel access control, CCTV surveillance, and roving internal patrols, and deliver rapid response within high threat environments
- Verify security clearances and badges, process firearms authorizations, and review personnel to ensure authorized access to controlled areas
- Coordinate with a team of 15+ security guards, review daily reports, provide training, and ensure compliance with security protocols and authorization procedures
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
The military employs an incredibly large and varied workforce of highly-trained personnel. Eventually, many of these individuals will leave military assignments and take their places in the civilian work field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists some of the fastest-growing occupations from 2021-2031, and many of these can be filled by those with past military experience or training. Exciting job opportunities are available whether you’re on active duty and plan to permanently leave military service or a part-time national guard soldier looking for regular employment.
Although the employment outlook is promising across the United States for skilled workers, competition is fierce, and you’re competing against the whole civilian workforce, not just other military personnel. This is why it’s essential to align your resume with the job description to maximize your chances of landing the interview.
As you examine various job postings, think about how your military experience and professional skills align with the organization’s needs. If you have a background in logistics, this can help you obtain a supply chain management role. If you’ve completed flight training, you can translate your experience for commercial flight jobs. By leveraging the most relevant aspects of your military background you’ll greatly improve your odds of landing that next big opportunity.