Being in the military can be rewarding. Having a steady paycheck, medical and housing benefits that are provided for your service, and even tuition and scholarships for you and our family members. However, it may be challenging to make ends meet if your family size increases or you have to relocate, and suddenly there's only one income coming into the household. To help you find the best way to earn extra income while in the military, I asked career coaches and business leaders for their best advice. From getting a part-time job to working as a virtual assistant, there are several ways active-duty military servicemen and women can earn extra money.
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Earning Extra Income in the Military
Get a Part-Time Job
Most military individuals don't know they can get a part-time job. The first step is ensuring that the job does not interfere with your military duties or be a conflict of interest with the military. Then, you will need to speak with your chain of command to ensure they approve of the part-time job. The part-time job you enter should be flexible with your military schedule if you are in a military occupational specialty with weekend work or irregular hours. Today, many part-time jobs like Uber, Lyft, or Rover can be done when you are available.
- Annette Harris, Harris Financial Coaching
Engage in Freelance Work
One great way to earn extra income while in the military is to take advantage of the many available freelance work opportunities. Whether you're a writer, a graphic designer, a copy editor, or have some other skill or expertise, there are often websites and publications that will pay you to do freelance work. You can also do freelance work for businesses and even some military bases. One benefit of freelance work is that it most often does not require you to be physically present, which is a huge advantage for military personnel.
- Matthew Ramirez, Paraphrase Tool
Look for On Base Jobs with Flexible Schedules
One tip for earning extra income while in the military is to get a part-time job on base. Many businesses on most military bases are always looking for reliable employees. This can be a great way to earn extra money while having a flexible schedule. This means you can still participate in your military duties and responsibilities while also having some extra money. Talk to your chain of command or the human resources office on base to see what opportunities are available.
- Brian Meiggs, My Millennial Guide
What are jobs on base that have flexible schedules?
Selling your unique items in the Post-Exchange mall
Restaurant Host
Tutor
Offering fitness classes at the MWR
You can even sell your unique, handmade items on Etsy!
Work as a Trainer or Instructor
With your military training, you have a lot of knowledge and physical skills to offer. Therefore, one way of earning extra money is to take up a side job as a trainer or instructor. Various organizations, groups, or institutions may be interested in the martial and weapons handling skills you can offer. With military training, you will easily find a job as a self-defense instructor in schools, private companies, or professional training centers. You may be a valuable asset to professional entities offering technical knowledge and understanding of weapon handling. Do you like survival trips? Without a doubt, you will prove yourself as a perfect instructor.
Just imagine how you can improve civilians' life with some military-related knowledge. What's great about a trainer or instructor job is that you can continue this career after retirement. It's never too late to start your training institution.
- Nina Paczka, Resume Now
Look for Military-Friendly Employers
Look for employers that are considered military-friendly. Some of these companies include Home Depot, AT&T, PenFed, US Postal Service, CVS, Walmart, Hilton, and USAA, among others. These companies are more likely to work with your schedule and special circumstances. The Military Friendly program creates civilian opportunities for veterans and is one valuable resource you can use to find more of these employers in your community.
- Natalia Morozova, Cohen, Tucker & Ades P.C.
Work as a Virtual Assistant
As a military veteran, you get a lot of highly relevant training that could be used in starting your freelancing side hustle. Use these skills, such as administration skills, record keeping, and management skills, to make an extra income online as a virtual assistant. You can structure your work hours depending on your availability and provide virtual assistant services to earn income on an hourly basis. The good thing with this means of earning income is that you will not have to invest much to get the income flowing. It is one of the spaces with the simplest ways to learn and earn.
- yongming Song, Imgkits- Photo Editor