Artillery and Missile Officers

Background

The United States military uses some of the most technologically advanced weapons systems in the world--from artillery weapons such as cannons and rockets to guided missiles that can be launched from land, air, or sea. The effective use of these systems requires technical expertise and sound military judgment. Artillery and missile officers normally specialize by type of weapon system. Artillery and missile officers direct artillery and missile crew members as they position, target, and fire weapons. 

What They Do

Artillery and missile officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Direct fire control operations and firing procedures
• Direct maintenance of artillery and missile system equipment
• Direct security operations at missile sites
• Direct testing and inspection of artillery and missile systems
• Direct training activities of artillery and missile crew members
• Select location of artillery and missile strikes and coordinate their use with other combat units

Physical Demands

Physical requirements vary depending upon the type of weapon system to which the officer is assigned. In most instances, artillery and missile officers must meet very demanding physical requirements. They must be able to perform for long periods of time under stressful conditions.

Special Requirements

A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career. Some specialties of this career are closed to women, and for others, a master's degree in management is preferred.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to learn and perform complex procedures
• Ability to motivate and lead others
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Decisiveness

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

Helpful fields of study include:

• Business administration
• Chemistry
• Computer science
• Engineering
• Physics
• Public administration

Work Environment

Artillery and missile officers work under different conditions depending on the type of weapon system they are responsible for. Some artillery officers spend a lot of time in field training exercises, where they work, eat, and sleep outdoors and in tents. Others work and live aboard ships.

Missile system officers may work in locations such as underground launch command centers or submarines.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for officers.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of three to 19 weeks of classroom instruction and field training. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Ammunition handling procedures
• Artillery tactics
• Fire direction control procedures
• Launch operations
• Maintenance programs
• Missile targeting
• Security coding and authentication procedures

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Although the job of artillery and missile officer has no equivalent in civilian life, the leadership and administrative experiences it provides are similar to those used in many civilian management careers.

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 12,000 artillery and missile officers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year, the services need new artillery and missile officers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After initial job training, new artillery and missile officers usually work under the direction of more experienced officers as they direct artillery units or gain more experience in missile operations. After demonstrating leadership ability, they may advance to senior management and command positions.