Occupation · SOC 55-3014
Artillery and Missile Crew Members
Target, fire, and maintain weapons used to destroy enemy positions, aircraft, and vessels. Field artillery crew members predominantly use guns, cannons, and howitzers in ground combat operations, while air defense artillery crew members predominantly use missiles and rockets. Naval artillery crew members predominantly use torpedoes and missiles launched from a ship or submarine. Duties include testing, inspecting, and storing ammunition, missiles, and torpedoes; conducting preventive and routine maintenance on weapons and related equipment; establishing and maintaining radio and wire communications; and operating weapons targeting, firing, and launch computer systems.
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
Inmate counts — conduct scheduled headcounts under direct supervisor oversight within an assigned housing unit.Institutional regulations — review and apply basic rules and procedures with guidance from a senior crew member during initial on-post assignments.Post orders — follow written post orders step-by-step to maintain security protocols in a supervised correctional environment.Verbal communication — deliver clear, direct instructions to inmates using approved language under the observation of a shift supervisor.Incident awareness — recognize early warning signs of potential disturbances and report observations promptly to a supervising officer.Security equipment — operate standard locking mechanisms, intercoms, and entry-control devices following established procedures on a correctional facility floor.Written documentation — complete basic shift logs and count records accurately using office suite and word processing software under supervisor review.Emergency response protocols — follow prescribed steps during escape or disturbance drills under direct instruction from a senior crew member.Active listening skills — receive and interpret verbal orders and inmate requests accurately during routine security operations on an assigned post.Behavioral observation — monitor assigned areas for unusual activity and note findings in facility database software as directed by shift leadership.
developing
Periodic inmate counts — perform independent scheduled and unscheduled counts across multiple housing units and reconcile discrepancies with count records.Order and discipline — maintain routine security and inmate compliance within assigned areas with minimal oversight in a medium-security correctional setting.Policy enforcement — apply institutional rules and government regulations consistently across diverse inmate populations during standard and non-standard shift conditions.Emergency notifications — initiate alarm and lockdown procedures autonomously upon confirming an escape or security breach, coordinating with responding units.Situation monitoring — track behavioral patterns across an assigned post using observational skills and electronic monitoring tools to identify emerging risks.Interpersonal de-escalation — apply social perceptiveness and verbal communication techniques to resolve low-level conflicts between inmates before escalation occurs.Database entry and retrieval — input incident reports, disciplinary actions, and count data accurately into facility database systems and retrieve records for supervisory review.Coordination with support staff — liaise with medical, mental health, and administrative personnel to address inmate needs within security guidelines.Regulatory comprehension — read and interpret updated institutional policies and legal directives, applying changes to daily security practices without additional prompting.Shift documentation — prepare complete, factually accurate shift reports using spreadsheet and word processing software for supervisor sign-off at end of watch.
proficient
Complex count reconciliation — independently investigate and resolve count discrepancies across multiple housing blocks, applying deductive reasoning to identify the source of errors.Security environment management — sustain order and institutional discipline across a full facility area during high-tension periods, adapting methods to non-routine circumstances.Policy mastery — interpret, implement, and explain all applicable institutional, legal, and governmental regulations to junior crew members operating across varied post assignments.Emergency command — lead on-the-ground response to escapes, riots, or medical emergencies, directing crew actions and coordinating with external law enforcement agencies.Inductive risk assessment — synthesize behavioral observations, inmate history, and environmental cues to forecast and preempt security threats before incidents occur.Advanced documentation — draft detailed after-action reports, disciplinary hearing summaries, and incident analyses using full office suite tools for administrative and legal use.Staff coordination — organize and synchronize the activities of multiple crew members across overlapping posts to maintain continuous security coverage during shift transitions.Critical decision-making — apply sound judgment in ambiguous or rapidly evolving situations, balancing inmate rights, safety requirements, and legal obligations simultaneously.Technology utilization — configure and troubleshoot facility database and electronic mail systems used for count tracking, incident reporting, and inter-departmental communication.Training delivery — demonstrate correct procedures for inmate management, count protocols, and emergency response to developing crew members during on-post field training.
advanced
Institutional security strategy — design and implement facility-wide security policies, count procedures, and emergency response frameworks aligned with government and correctional standards.Leadership development — mentor, evaluate, and develop junior and mid-level crew members through structured coaching, performance feedback, and scenario-based training programs.Regulatory governance — establish compliance frameworks ensuring all crew members adhere to evolving institutional, legal, and governmental regulations across an entire correctional facility.Organizational emergency preparedness — create and exercise comprehensive emergency response plans for escapes, mass disturbances, and critical incidents, coordinating with external public safety agencies.Culture of discipline and integrity — model and institutionalize standards of professional conduct, self-control, and ethical behavior that shape organizational climate at the facility level.Cross-functional coordination — direct collaboration between security, administration, mental health, legal, and external oversight bodies to achieve integrated facility safety outcomes.Technology and systems oversight — evaluate, procure, and oversee deployment of database, surveillance, and communication platforms that support facility-wide security operations.Policy development and briefing — author institutional policy documents and deliver executive-level presentations to command staff and government stakeholders on security operations and outcomes.Workforce planning — assess staffing requirements, post coverage needs, and skill gaps across shifts to ensure continuous operational readiness within a medium-to-large correctional environment.Incident accountability and review — lead formal after-action reviews and systemic audits following major security events, producing findings that drive corrective action and prevent recurrence.
Also known as
60 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Advanced TOMAHAWK Weapon Control System (ATWCS) AN/SWG-4 Operator and Maintenance TechnicianAir and Missile Defense (AMD) CrewmemberAircraft Armament MechanicAnti-tank MissilemanArtillery Meteorological ManATWCS Launch Control Group Replacement (LCGR) Operation and Maintenance TechnicianCannon CrewmemberCannon Fire Direction SpecialistField Artillery Automated Tactical Data System SpecialistField Artillery BasicField Artillery CannoneerField Artillery CrewmemberField Artillery Fire Control ManField Artillery Operations ManFire Control MechanicFire Control Technician B (Ballistic Missile Fire Control)Fire Control Technician G (Gunfire Control)Fire ControlmanFire Support ManFire Support SpecialistGCS MK 160 MOD 4 Fire Control TechnicianGuided Missile Launching System Maintenance TechnicianGuided Missile Launching System TechnicianGunner's MateGunner's Mate G (Guns)Gunner's Mate M (Missiles)GWOT Support Assignment-Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM)HARPOON (AN/SWG-1A) Engagement Planning OperatorHAWK Missile System CrewmemberHigh Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) OperatorHONEST JOHN Rocket Crew MemberIn-Tube Conversion TechnicianLANCE CrewmemberLANCE Crewmember/MLRS SergeantLow Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) GunnerMan Portable Air Defense System Crewmember (RC)Master Fire Control TechnicianMissile And Missile Checkout TechnicianMissile TechnicianMultiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Crewmember