Also called: Army 14S, Marine 7212 LAAD Gunner, Counter-drone gunner
Defends troops from enemy drones, helicopters, and aircraft using Stinger missiles, guns, and counter-drone systems.
SHORAD crews ride in armored vehicles near the front, scanning for drones on radar and sights and firing missiles or electronic jammers. Drone warfare has made this job suddenly critical.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Cash in hand is lower early on because junior troops often live in free barracks and eat in dining halls. Enlistment bonuses can add thousands.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma and ASVAB, then basic training plus about 9 weeks of air defense job training. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Medium risk for 10 years. Counter-drone systems detect and shoot more on their own; crews shrink and shift to supervising.
Classes: Physics, Computer science, Electronics CTE.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.