Military combat operations require careful planning and coordination of combat resources. Combat mission support officers ensure that everything is in the right place at the right time during military operations. They provide battle management from specialized aircraft, ground locations, and ships. Combat mission support officers normally specialize according to their area of expertise.
What They Do
Combat mission support officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Develop plans, policies, and procedures for battle management
- Train, establish standards, and conduct evaluations of unit personnel
- Advise commanders of ground, air, and naval units on deployment of combat forces
- Assist in the planning and execution of combat operations
- Direct the movement of resources within the combat zone
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to absorb large amounts of data in a short period of time
- Ability to coordinate with others
- Ability to make decisions in stressful situations
- Ability to manage a large staff
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
- Relationships among air, ground, and naval forces
- Capabilities of weapon systems
- Communications systems
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.
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.
