Also called: GMD Fire Control Operator, Missile Defense Crew (100th Missile Defense Brigade)
Part of the Guard crews that would launch interceptor missiles from Alaska and California to stop an enemy nuclear missile headed for the U.S.
Crews of officers and NCOs work 24/7 shifts in secure command centers, watching radar and satellite feeds and running practice engagements. If a real missile launch happened, they would have minutes to fire interceptors. Most crew members are full-time Army National Guard soldiers.
Full-time Guard members earn active-duty RMC; part-time members earn drill pay on top of a civilian job. 2026 estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 2 years after high school. Enlist or commission in the Army National Guard (Colorado, Alaska or California), qualify in an air-defense or related specialty, then GMD crew certification. 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: Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science.
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. Tracking and targeting are automated; humans still decide and verify each step.
Classes: Physics, Computer science, Math.
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.