Sources & Methodology

01 / Start with official sources

Branch career sites describe roles and recruiting pathways; classification publications provide occupation identities and categories. The references below are entry points. A source attached to an individual record is more specific and should be read alongside any source note.

• Army: Career directory
• Navy: NEOCS classification manuals
• Air Force: Career finder
• Marines: NAVMC 1200.1L classification publication
• Coast Guard: Enlisted career directory
• Space Force: Career finder
• National Guard: Career directory
• DFAS: military pay tables

02 / Compile, classify, and explain

The catalog combines authored occupation records with sourced additions and corrections. Records are organized by branch, code, career field, personnel category, and accession pathway where those distinctions are available. Some entries describe advanced qualifications or follow-on assignments rather than roles open directly to civilian applicants.

National Guard records include Army Guard and Air Guard specialties also listed under their parent services. Catalog totals count those component listings separately; they are not counts of unique jobs across the entire military. Featured career links are editorial starting points, not a statistical popularity ranking or a list of current vacancies.

03 / Read the provenance, not just the label

Source URL, label, and note

These identify the supporting reference and any record-specific caveat. A general branch directory is not proof of every requirement or benefit.

Record-specific verification date

Where present, this dates the recorded check for that occupation. It is distinct from the catalog date and does not establish that a source is still current today.

Confirmed, provisional, or retiring

These labels describe occupation classification evidence or a stated rescission concern. “Confirmed” does not certify eligibility, pay, training details, recruiting demand, or an open contract. Provisional and retiring records require particular caution.

Software organizes and displays the records and evidence; this is not automated independent verification. Requirements, pay estimates, and availability have not all been independently audited. No named expert review is asserted for every entry, and descriptive career narratives should not be mistaken for official policy or verified personal testimony.

04 / Keep estimates separate from entitlements

Military compensation depends on grade, time in service, location, dependency status, qualifications, and applicable policy. DFAS tables support pay references, but displayed career-stage totals are illustrations, not guaranteed promotion or earnings paths. Civilian outcomes and deployment context are estimates, not predictions for an individual. A listed incentive or specialty pay does not establish personal entitlement or a current offer.

05 / Updates are evidence-led, not a live feed

Updates are incorporated through catalog additions, source-backed corrections, and record-specific notes. Existing source history and distinct review dates provide context for those changes. There is no claim that every record is refreshed on a fixed schedule or automatically re-verified when an official source changes. Information can lag new policy, reclassifications, and recruiting conditions.

If sources conflict, check the publication date, personnel category, and component, then ask an official recruiter to resolve the question. Confirm eligibility, openings, bonuses, and written contract terms before acting.