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
Representative tasks
Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, reMaintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and r
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
3 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Infantry OfficerInfantry Unit LeaderInfantry Weapons Officer