Also called: Air Force 3P0X1B, CATM Instructor
Runs Air Force firing ranges, teaching airmen to shoot rifles and pistols safely and repairing the base's weapons.
Combat arms instructors set up ranges, teach classes on safe weapon handling, and coach shooters through qualification. They inspect and repair rifles, pistols and machine guns in the armory. Range safety is everything.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Junior troops often live in free barracks, so cash in hand is lower early on.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.75 years after high school. High school diploma, Air Force basic training, Security Forces training, then combat arms school. 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.
Majors to look at: Criminal Justice.
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.
Low risk for 10 years. Simulators help training; live range safety and coaching stay human.
Classes: Physical education, Shop class.
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.