How to Join the Army Corps of Engineers

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 28, 2020 References

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is one of the world’s largest employers of engineers and other technical roles. USACE hires both civilian workers and active duty military personnel, and the application process depends on your career path. To apply as a civilian, search and apply for positions on USAJOBS. If you’d like to become a military engineer, apply to enlist with the U.S. Army and work with your career counselor to find the right position.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Joining as a Civilian

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Create login.gov account. In order to apply for a job, you’ll need create an account at https://secure.login.gov/. After clicking “Create an account,” you’ll be prompted to enter your email address. You’ll then receive a confirmation email; click the link to create a password, type in your name, and enter your contact information.^{[1]
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- You’ll receive a security code via text or phone call that will allow you to log into your account for the first time. You can then create your profile, upload resumes and other required documents, and search for and save job postings.
- Be sure to use an email address that’s not affiliated with your current job or institution. You’ll eventually lose access to your current school or work email. When that happens, you won’t be able to access your login.gov account.
- A login.gov account allows you sign into multiple government websites with a single email address and password. It launched in April 2017; if you created a USAJOBS account before that date, you’ll need to set up a new login.gov account.
2
Search for civilian jobs by keyword or location. Start your job search at https://armycivilianservice.usajobs.gov. Find the left search bar labelled “Keyword," and type “Army Corps of Engineers” and, if desired, a specific occupation, such as “civil engineer.” You can also enter a location into the search bar on the right.^{[2]
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- Click “Search” after entering your keywords. On the next page, you’ll see job announcements listed in the left column, and filter options on the right. The filters allow you to sort jobs by title, type, salary, security clearance required, and location.
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Check job listings for application requirements. Click on the title of the job listing to see more details about the position. Use the tabs that run along the top of the listing to find information about the position’s duties, location, required education and experience, and required documents.^{[3]
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- In addition to a resume and cover letter, required documents may include transcripts, writing samples, professional licenses, most recent performance appraisals, proof of citizenship, and proof of eligibility if you’re a federal employee or veteran.
- You’ll also see a box at the top right corner that states whether the job is open to the public or only available to federal employees and veterans.
- Make sure you meet all requirements before applying. You wouldn’t want to spend time creating an application only to find you don’t have a required license or that the job isn’t open to the public.
4
Tailor your resume to the job listing. Your resume should list your relevant experience, education, certifications and licenses, and key skills. For example, if you're applying to be a mechanical engineer, detail your professional engineering experience and highlight related coursework, such as physics, thermodynamics, and math.^{[4]
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- If you are applying to be a realty specialist, highlight your work in real estate, your qualifications in land management, or your certification as a realtor.
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Click “Apply” to begin your application. Find the blue button at the top right of the listing marked “Apply.” Clicking it will prompt you to log into your login.gov account, if you haven’t already. After signing in, you’ll be guided through a 5-step application process.^{[5]
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- You’ll upload your resume on the first page, then you’ll submit any other required documents, enter your personal information, and review your application.
- After completing the USAJOBS application process, you’ll be directed to the USACE website, where you might need to enter more information, upload additional documents, or fill out an occupational questionnaire. Any additional steps will be listed in the job listing on USAJOBS.
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Submit and track your application. After completing your forms, head back to the Applications page on your USAJOBS profile. Within a few hours, your application status will be updated to “Received.” After several days (or 2 or 3 weeks, depending on the number of applicants), you should see your status updated to “Reviewed,” “Referred,” or “Not Referred.”^{[6]
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- ”Reviewed” means the agency is hasn’t determined if you qualify for the job yet. “Referred” means you’ve made it to the next step of the selection process and you’ll be contacted to schedule an interview.
- If you believe there are issues with your application, check the job listing for the contact information of the position’s USACE district. You could also try calling USACE Human Resources at 202-761-0559.
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Schedule and attend interviews if your application has been referred. USACE will call you if you’ve been selected for the interview process. You may be asked to visit your local USACE office, or the interview may be conducted over the phone or video chat.^{[7]
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- You might have an initial phone or video interview, then 1 or more in-person interviews.
- The interviewers will ask questions about your experience and skills. They may give you a problem and ask you what you would do in that scenario. For example, if you’re applying to be a civil engineer specializing in flood control projects, they might ask how you would address a problem with faulty dam or levee.
- They may ask about your experience with certain machines, systems, or industrial applications. For example, they might ask about your experience working with soil analysis, earthwork excavation, or gas turbines.
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Complete the security check process, if necessary. After the interview process, successful candidates receive a tentative job offer. When you accept this offer, the agency will begin a background investigation. There may be additional security checks for jobs that require higher-level clearance.^{[8]
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- You’ll fill out at least 1 form that will ask you to enter personal information from the last 10 years, such as where you’ve lived, worked, and went to school. The background investigation will verify this information and check your criminal and credit histories.^{[9]
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- After passing the background investigation, you’ll be contacted to finalize the job offer and set a start date.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Applying to be a Military Engineer

1
Explore job options before enlisting. Learn about engineering job opportunities prior to applying for enlistment, then discuss potential careers with your recruiter. Create a GoArmy account, then enter your education, experience, and ASVAB test scores (if applicable) on your profile. Your information remains private until you choose to release it to a recruiter through your GoArmy account.^{[10]
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- Create a GoArmy account at https://my.goarmy.com/accounts/register/user_agreement.jsp. You only need a valid email address to create a GoArmy account. After creating your account, you can apply to enlist or just explore potential Army jobs.
- Use the U.S. Army career explorer tool to browse jobs that suit your interests and qualifications: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/help-choosing-a-career-job/army-career-explorer.html.
- If you haven’t taken the ASVAB, you can submit your SAT or ACT scores to find careers that suit your knowledge and skills.
2
Apply to enlist with the U.S. Army, if you haven’t already. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you’re eligible for an enlisted position. Visit your local recruiting station or apply to enlist online through the U.S. Army website. If you have a background in engineering, list your relevant experience on your enlistment application.^{[11]
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- If you’re not already enlisted, visit your local recruiter or apply online at https://www.goarmy.com/learn/apply.html.
- Find your local recruiting office at https://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html.
3
Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. After applying for enlistment, you’ll take the ASVAB to determine your job qualifications. Your recruiter will provide information about when and where to take the test.^{[12]
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- The ASVAB is a 10-section test that evaluates your knowledge and skills. It helps you decide which military occupations are best for you. There’s no need to study; just get a good night’s rest before the test.
- Some people take it in high school or through an ROTC program. If you’ve already taken the test, ask your recruiter if your scores are still valid. If they are, you won’t need to take the test again after you apply for enlistment.
- To qualify for an engineering job, you typically need a score between 90 and 100 in Combat, General Maintenance, or Skilled Technical, which are individually scored sections of the ASVAB.
- You can take a practice ASVAB test at https://secure.military.com/Recruiting/first?lpid=asvab&asvab=yes&member_id=
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Apply for jobs through your GoArmy account. After taking the ASVAB, you’ll be able to search for and apply to jobs. Search for positions through your GoArmy account and click on a listing to learn about its requirements. From there, select “Apply online” to submit your resume, test scores, and other required information.^{[13]
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- To search and apply for engineering positions, visit https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/about-army-stem/engineering-jobs.html.
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Discuss your job options with your career counselor. During the enlistment process, you’ll be assigned a career counselor who will help you choose your Army job. While you can apply for jobs and specify your preferences, it's not guaranteed that you'll get the job you want. Your choices of assignment will depend on availability, your qualifications, and the service’s current needs.^{[14]
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- If engineering isn’t currently an option, you’ll need to select another career path, and consult your career counselor about future openings.
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Complete your required training. Your specific training program depends on which role or position was assigned to you. You may need to travel to a base for training, which can take from 9 to 44 weeks. For USACE roles, training might include:^{[15]
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- Basic Combat Training
- Advanced Individual Training
- Formal Classroom Training
- Basic Officer Leadership Course
- Officer Candidate School
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Apply for an officer position if you have a bachelor’s degree. In order to become an officer, you need to enroll in ROTC training, receive a direct commission, attend officer candidate school after graduating college, or graduate from a U.S. military academy.^{[16]
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- Engineering Officer: An engineer who contributes to infrastructure, civil works, and combat support. You must complete the ASVAB test and have a bachelor’s degree in Engineering.^{[18]
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- Environmental Science/Engineering Officer: An officer who assesses environmental and health hazard risks. You may be responsible for checking weapons, material systems, and industrial machinery to make sure it is safe. You must have a bachelors degree in the biological sciences (such as biology, biochemistry, or marine biology) or physical sciences (such as chemistry or earth sciences).^{[19]
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Community Q&A

Question

What if I'm not American? Can I still do it?

Community Answer

Check with your recruiter first. Most positions in the military require you to hold at least a permanent residency in the US. Some require full citizenship.