Combat Missions Support Officers

Background

Military combat operations require careful planning and coordination of combat resources. Combat mission support officers provide battle management from specialized aircraft, ground locations, and ships. They normally specialize according to their area of expertise. Combat mission support officers ensure that everything is in the right place at the right time during military operations.

What They Do

Combat mission support officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Advise commanders of ground, air, and naval units on deployment of combat forces
• Assist in the planning and execution of combat operations
• Develop plans, policies, and procedures for battle management
• Direct the movement of resources within the combat zone
• Train, establish standards, and conduct evaluations of unit personnel

Physical Demands

Combat mission support officers must meet different physical requirements depending on their specialty. Those who work on an aircraft, for example, must pass a special physical exam to qualify for flight duty.

Special Requirements

A four-year college degree is normally required to enter this career.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to absorb large amounts of data in a short period of time
• Ability to make decisions in stressful situations
• Ability to manage a large staff

Helpful School Subjects

No information available.

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Combat mission support officers work in a variety of settings. Some work in offices or command and control centers. Others work primarily outdoors in the field during training exercises and actual combat situations. Depending on the service branch and specialty, combat mission support officers may work in aircraft, and aboard ships.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• 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 classroom instruction and field training under simulated combat situations. Training length varies depending on position.

Course content typically includes:

• Battle tactics and management
• Capabilities of weapons systems
• Communications systems
• Relationship among air, ground, and naval forces

Civilian Counterparts

There are no direct civilian counterparts for combat mission support officer specialties. However, their leadership ability and management skills are sought after by many organizations in the public and private sector.

Related Civilian Careers

• General and Operations Managers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 2,000 combat mission support 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 job training, combat mission support officers typically assist commanders in battle management activities. Based on performance and demonstrated leadership ability, they may become responsible for larger forces.