Your vocation is the job you do for most of your two years. It's decided near the end of BMT, and for most people it feels like it comes out of nowhere.
Here's how postings actually work, and the common vocations you can land in.
How postings are decided
It's a mix of your profile and what the army needs that intake. The main factors:
- PES status: your medical grade is the biggest filter. PES A and B1 open up combat vocations. Lower PES pushes you toward service and support roles.
- IPPT and fitness: stronger results help you get (or avoid) the more physical vocations.
- Education and aptitude: some vocations screen for qualifications or specific test results.
- BMT performance: standing out can get you picked for command school or specialist tracks.
- Manpower needs: the army posts to fill slots. Even with a good profile, you go where the vacancies are that intake.
That last point is why it feels random. Two guys with the same profile can get very different postings.
Combat vs non-combat
- Combat: you carry a weapon, train in the field, and do more physical work.
- Combat support and service: you keep the machine running, often with more admin time and a more routine schedule.
Neither is automatically better. Combat pays a higher vocation allowance, but service vocations are usually more chill.
Common vocations
Not a full list, but the ones most people end up in.
Combat
| Vocation | What it's like |
|---|---|
| Infantry | The classic soldier. Lots of field, route marches, and fieldcraft. |
| Armour | Crew the Bionix and other vehicles. Heavy on vehicle work. |
| Artillery | Gun crews and fire support. Field-heavy. |
| Combat engineer | Demolitions, bridging, obstacles. |
| Signals | Comms and radio. A mix of field and technical work. |
| Guards | Elite infantry. Tougher training, higher standard. |
Combat support and service
| Vocation | What it's like |
|---|---|
| Transport | Drive for the army and get a licence after the course. |
| Supply / store | The storeman life. Lots of saikang, lots of admin time. |
| Medic | Train as a combat medic or work in a medical centre. |
| Military Police | Security, traffic, and enforcement. |
| Clerk / admin | Office work, processing, and S1 duties. |
| Intelligence | Analysis and ops support roles. |
Higher-risk and specialised
| Vocation | What it's like |
|---|---|
| Commando | Among the toughest. Volunteer or selected on profile. |
| Naval diver | Navy's elite divers. Very demanding. |
| Aircrew | Air force flight roles. |
These pay the highest vocation allowance, but the training is no joke.
The command school route
If you do well in BMT, you may be picked for command school:
- Specialist Cadet School (SCS): train to become a sergeant.
- Officer Cadet School (OCS): train to become an officer. See the command school page.
Both add training time but rank you up faster and pay more by the end of your two years.
Can you choose your vocation?
Mostly no, but a few things help:
- Volunteering: for some vocations (like commandos) you can volunteer, subject to passing the tests.
- Profile: there's no cheat code, but your PES and IPPT shape what's on the table.
- OOC and reposting: if you're taken out of a course for medical or other reasons, you get reposted, often to a service vocation.
Common questions
When do I find out my vocation?
Near the end of BMT, usually around posting time before your passing out parade.
Does a better IPPT get me a better vocation?
It helps for combat and specialised roles, but manpower needs still decide a lot.
Can I change vocation after I'm posted?
It's hard once you're in unit. The easiest changes happen early, through OOC or medical reposting.
Which vocation has the most admin time?
Service and support roles like storeman and clerk usually do. Combat vocations spend more time in the field.