Air Force
16G

Air Force Operations Staff Officer

Combat and Warfare
Catalog listing
Live openings vary by location and recruiting needs.
Occupation audit finding

Occupation identified. This occupation was added from the cited evidence. Its listing does not establish a currently available recruiting contract.

Official occupation evidence: Department of the Air Force Officer Classification Directory, 30 April 2026 (reviewed 2026-09-26)

No dated public inventory confirmed a currently open recruiting contract for this role. This does not mean there are no openings. Confirm current eligibility and offers with a recruiter.

Job Description

Coordinate operations and staff work in support of Air Force missions.

Requirements

ASVAB Requirement

Officer specialty — ASVAB not applicable; commissioning requirements not verified

Rank Type

Not verified
Not verified

Maximum Rank

Not verified

Initial Term

Not verified; confirm with a branch recruiter

Career Info

Deployment Ratio

Not published

Qualified

No

Recommended

No
Current Mil Compensation & Long-Term Benefits (FY 2026)

Mil pay includes base pay and applicable allowances such as BAH and BAS. Housing and food allowances depend on service circumstances; enlistment bonuses are separate, conditional incentives, not a standard part of every career's pay. Per-MOS projections below are estimates, not verified bonus offers.

FY 2026 Base Pay

3.8% across-the-board active-duty pay raise effective Jan 1, 2026 (on top of the targeted 10% junior-enlisted raise from Apr 2025). E-1 base $2,407/mo ≈ $28,886/yr; E-5 with 6 yrs $4,300/mo ≈ $51,599/yr; O-1 with <2 yrs $4,150/mo ≈ $49,802/yr; O-3 with 6 yrs $8,126/mo ≈ $97,506/yr.

BAH (Housing Allowance)

Tax-free, varies by ZIP, rank, and dependents. 2026 rates effective Jan 1, 2026 — average 4.2% increase over 2025 (example: E-5 with dependents in Norfolk ≈ $2,430/mo). Rate protection applies: if your area's rate drops, you keep your current amount while stationed there.

BAS (Subsistence)

Tax-free monthly food allowance. 2026 rates: enlisted $476.95/mo ($5,723/yr); officers $328.48/mo ($3,942/yr).

BRS Retirement & TSP Match

Blended Retirement System (all members joining 2018+). DoD auto-contributes 1% of base pay to your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and matches up to an additional 4% — a 5% guaranteed return. Vest at 2 years, fully portable if you separate before 20.

20-Year Pension (Lifetime)

BRS multiplier: 2.0% × years × average of highest 36 months base pay (paid for life starting at retirement). 20-year E-7 ≈ $25K–$28K/yr; 20-year O-5 ≈ $55K–$65K/yr. Optional lump-sum (25% or 50%) at retirement, plus continued TRICARE.

TRICARE Health Care

$0 premium for active-duty members and their families (TRICARE Prime). Retirees pay modest enrollment fees — 2026 TRICARE Prime: $381.96/yr individual / $765/yr family (Group A); $462.96 / $927 (Group B, joined 2018+). Dental and vision available.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

After 36 months active duty: 100% in-state public tuition + monthly housing stipend (BAH at the school's ZIP) + $1,000/yr book stipend, for 36 months. Transferable to spouse/children after 6 years of service. Yellow Ribbon covers gaps at private/out-of-state schools.

VA Benefits (Lifetime)

Service-connected disability comp is tax-free, monthly, for life — 2026 rates (2.8% COLA, effective Dec 1, 2025): 10% = $180.42/mo, 50% = $1,132.90/mo, 100% = $3,938.58/mo (single, no deps). VA home loan with $0 down/no PMI, VR&E (Chapter 31), VA health care, life insurance (VGLI), and PACT Act expanded toxic-exposure care.

Sources: DoD FY 2026 Military Pay Tables, DTMO 2026 BAH/BAS rates, DFAS BRS, VA.gov 2026 disability rates, VA Education benefits. Bonus programs vary by branch, component, contract and eligibility; confirm any offer with a recruiter. No bonus is included automatically in base pay.

Projected Compensation for This MOS

Estimated compensation (base pay + applicable allowances and benefits) at common career milestones. Bonuses are separate conditional offers, not guaranteed or verified as part of these projections. Actual pay depends on rank progression, location and dependents.

4 Years

N/A

10 Years

N/A

20 Years

N/A
What This Job Is Worth in the Civilian World

Related civilian careers in combat and warfare, with national median salaries. Military experience does not guarantee a civilian job or salary.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024 national medians). Click a career to see full details on O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor). Compare with the Mil compensation above — remember Mil pay includes tax-free housing and food allowances, free healthcare, and a pension.

Categories & Specializations
Operations
Planning

No occupation-specific initial enlistment offer verified here as of 2026-09-26. This does not mean there is no bonus; ask a recruiter about current options for this job.

Official source: U.S. Air Force — Active Duty Bonuses — Active duty initial enlistment; Reserve and Air National Guard separately. Branch overview is not an occupation-specific offer.

Inside the 16G Air Force Operations Staff Officer job

Occupation overview

Coordinate operations and staff work in support of Air Force missions.

Classification source: Official branch occupation evidence

A detailed day-to-day account, training outcomes, and post-service pathways have not been verified for this listing. Confirm current duties and requirements with a recruiter.

Job descriptions on this page are general and may be out of date. No military role is free from the risk of injury or death, including roles described as non-combat. See our Disclaimer.

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