26Dec
Suppose you are a student looking to gain work experience and a little bit too passionate about soldiers’ stories and duties. In that case, you may have your eye on army internship opportunities. If that’s your case, there are a few things you may want to know before sending your application so that you land the perfect spot and go into the job well-informed.
What to expect when doing an internship in the army
The Army officer internship program is meant to teach you how to overcome physical and mental challenges and develop your highly necessary communication skills. By handing you certain responsibilities right from the start of your experience, you build up your independence and confidence to handle any stressful situation that may come your way. Also, they prioritize developing leadership and decision-making skills since it’s crucial for officers to think fast but act safely.
Researching Army Internship Opportunities
Official Army Websites
As your first choice, go straight to the source and search for open internships on the official United States Army website. You can never go wrong with reliable information from authorized sources, and it’s also the quickest and most direct way to find out about new positions.
Military Recruitment Offices
Recruiting is one of the most critical jobs in the Army, and it’s a critical mission. The United States Army Recruiting Battalion Northern California (USAREC) is a geographically dispersed unit throughout the 48 continental states, plus Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Europe, Guam, Saipan, Japan, and Korea.
There are over 1,400 recruiting stations nationwide and overseas, so you can find your nearest one and send your resume if you are interested in getting an internship with them.
Government Internship Program Portals
The United States government is in charge of a Federal Internship Portal that provides information for open internships in any imaginable work field, including the army. You can look it up by the name of “USA Jobs” and apply filters to your job search to sort by salary, location, or agency.
Crafting a Standout Application
Guidelines from Official Army Channels
Now that you’ve found where to look for job openings, you need to know what they look for in your application. As for any other job, your resume must include your past experience and education coursework. You are also encouraged to list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards you may have.
If selected, you’ll need to provide other supporting resources, such as a cover letter and the proper documentation proving your eligibility. Once again, check the official army sources to be sure of the exact requirements for your particular case.
Practice for the Interview
When you get this far in a military internship application process, you are considered a potential asset to the army, so try to shake off those nerves and focus on demonstrating your competence. They may ask about your strengths, weaknesses, fitness level, and what motivates you.
When you get this far in a military internship application process, you are considered a potential asset to the army, so try to shake off those nerves and focus on demonstrating your competence. They may ask about your strengths and weaknesses, your fitness level, and the things that motivate you.
One common question you might not see coming is whether you get homesick. This is especially important information for recruiters because they need to assess your capability of living independently and away from your family since army jobs frequently involve postings in different parts of the country for short or long periods. To answer this question effectively, you can include experiences from your previous jobs or college life where you lived away from your family and friends.
Conclusion
Following all these steps, you should be able to land your perfect internship in the army. The best part is that you will not only gain the experience you’re looking for in the work field, but you will most likely make lifelong friendships and acquire skills you weren’t expecting to get. After all, it’s not in vain that the Army considers its officer internship program “the best gap year ever”.