Occupation · SOC 55-1016
Infantry Officers
Direct, train, and lead infantry units in ground combat operations. Duties include directing deployment of infantry weapons, vehicles, and equipment; directing location, construction, and camouflage of infantry positions and equipment; managing field communications operations; coordinating with armor, artillery, and air support units; performing strategic and tactical planning, including battle plan development; and leading basic reconnaissance operations.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone —
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Periodic inmate counts — conduct and record under direct supervision following established counting protocols on an assigned correctional unit.Institutional rules and regulations — review and demonstrate basic knowledge of during initial on-the-job training in a military correctional facility.Order and discipline — monitor assigned areas under close guidance to identify potential rule violations in a structured detention environment.Oral instructions from senior officers — listen actively and repeat back key directives to confirm understanding during shift briefings.Incident logs and daily reports — complete standard entries using word processing software under supervisor review in a correctional operations office.Security posts and patrol routes — follow prescribed patrol schedules under direct oversight within an assigned correctional facility sector.Emergency response procedures — identify the correct protocol steps for common scenarios such as escapes or disturbances during training exercises.Inmate behavior patterns — observe and flag unusual conduct to a supervising officer using basic social perceptiveness on a residential housing unit.Institutional database systems — enter routine inmate tracking data into authorized software under procedural guidance in an administrative support role.Personal conduct and stress response — maintain self-control and composure when interacting with inmates during routine, low-risk encounters on a correctional floor.
developing
Scheduled and random inmate counts — independently conduct, reconcile discrepancies, and document results in compliance with facility counting standards on a rotating shift assignment.Institutional policies and standing orders — interpret and apply relevant rules to daily operational decisions with minimal supervisory input in a correctional unit environment.Order and security within assigned areas — enforce discipline routinely by issuing verbal warnings and initiating minor disciplinary reports on a housing block.Emergency situations such as escape attempts — respond promptly by activating established protocols, securing the perimeter, and notifying the chain of command during live incidents.Shift briefings and inter-shift communication — deliver clear, concise verbal reports to oncoming officers using effective speaking skills in a correctional operations handover setting.Inmate behavioral trends — monitor population dynamics over multiple shifts and apply inductive reasoning to anticipate potential disturbances in a medium-security unit.Coordination with support staff and medical personnel — collaborate to resolve routine inmate welfare issues and schedule interventions in a facility support services context.Spreadsheet and office suite software — maintain accurate administrative records, rosters, and shift reports in a correctional facility operations office.Law and government regulations — apply relevant legal standards when processing inmate requests, grievances, and disciplinary actions in a military detention environment.Judgment under pressure — make independent, time-sensitive decisions during non-routine security events using deductive reasoning on an active correctional post.
proficient
Full-unit inmate count accountability — oversee all counting procedures across an entire assigned section, resolve inconsistencies, and brief command on status in a large correctional facility.Comprehensive enforcement of institutional policies — autonomously interpret complex or conflicting regulations and apply them consistently across all aspects of daily operations in a military corrections environment.Non-routine security incidents — lead the immediate tactical response to escapes, riots, or hostage situations by directing personnel and coordinating with external law enforcement or military assets.Security assessments and vulnerability reviews — conduct independent evaluations of facility procedures, identify gaps, and recommend corrective actions to facility leadership.Inmate behavior and psychological cues — apply advanced social perceptiveness and psychological knowledge to assess individual and group risk levels and intervene before escalation in a correctional housing environment.Cross-functional coordination — synchronize operations between shift officers, administrative staff, medical, and legal teams to maintain facility order and compliance with all governing directives.Detailed operational reports and briefing materials — author and present comprehensive facility status reports using presentation and word processing software for senior command review.Training and mentorship of emerging officers — guide junior personnel through complex policy application, emergency drills, and real-time scenarios in an on-the-job training context.Electronic mail and database systems — manage sensitive inmate records, track disciplinary actions, and produce query-based analysis reports for operational decision-making in a correctional data environment.Critical reading of legal and regulatory updates — analyze and translate new law, government directives, or military regulations into actionable procedural adjustments for the assigned unit.
advanced
Facility-wide security policy and doctrine — develop, revise, and implement comprehensive institutional rules and operational frameworks aligned with military and legal standards across an entire correctional command.Strategic inmate population management — design and oversee classification, movement, and monitoring protocols that govern order and safety across multiple housing units or facilities.Command-level emergency response leadership — direct multi-agency and cross-functional responses to major security crises, including escapes or mass disturbances, and conduct post-incident reviews to refine doctrine.Officer corps professional development — establish and lead a structured training program that builds competency at all mastery levels within a military corrections organization.Organizational integrity and ethical standards — set behavioral and professional expectations for an entire officer corps, model integrity under adversity, and enforce accountability mechanisms throughout the command.Inter-agency policy coordination — represent the correctional command in negotiations with legal authorities, inspecting bodies, and higher military headquarters to align institutional practices with governing law.Performance metrics and data governance — design database-driven reporting systems and direct the analysis of facility-wide operational data to inform executive decision-making and resource allocation.Organizational stress and resilience frameworks — lead the development of officer wellness, critical incident stress management, and retention strategies that sustain mission readiness across a correctional command.Succession and talent management — identify high-potential officers, assign developmental assignments, and build a leadership pipeline capable of sustaining institutional effectiveness across career transitions.Institutional transformation and change leadership — lead large-scale reform initiatives — such as technology adoption, policy overhaul, or facility reorganization — by building organizational consensus and directing implementation across all operational levels.
Also known as
7 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Winter Mountain Leader (Marine Corps 0942)Ground Intelligence Officer (Marine Corps 0203)Infantry Weapons OfficerInfantry Unit LeaderSummer/Winter Mountain Leader (Marine Corps 0946)Summer Mountain Leader (Marine Corps 0944)Infantry Officer