Security & DefenceISCO 0110

Army general

An army general is a person who commands large army divisions and carries the managerial, administrative, planning and strategic duties that go with that command.

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Rate 5 of the 11 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

manage budgets

manage staff

defend human rights

manage administrative systems

set organisational policies

About army general

The general develops policies intended to improve military and overall defence and to provide for national security, and develops organisational policy for the formations under their command. The general also plans and sets strategic tasks for the divisions under their command.

The general manages personnel, including the senior officers of subordinate formations, manages budgets, allocating funds between the units under their command, and works from military logistics, planning how the forces under their command are moved, fed, fuelled and supplied.

The general maintains communication during operations, making sure that reports and orders reach every level of command, and manages the administrative systems of the headquarters. The general also defends human rights, which set limits on the orders the general may give. Promotion to general follows a long career of command and staff service, through the officer ranks, under rules set by each country's armed forces.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (11)

military logisticsmilitary logisticsThe operations of the supply and demand of goods and recources on military bases and during military operations on the field, the disruption of enemy supplies, cost analysis, equipment demands, and ot...manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...ensure public safety and securityensure public safety and securityImplement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.defend human rightsdefend human rightsProtect human rights towards and between colleagues and also towards the civil populations one is in contact with.manage administrative systemsmanage administrative systemsEnsure administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed and give the sound basis to work together with the administrative officer/staff/professional.set organisational policiesset organisational policiesParticipate in setting organisational policies that cover issues such as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits for the service users.develop defence policiesdevelop defence policiesDevelop strategies for the development and implementation of defence policies, for national or international defence organisations and operations, to improve security and to better operate in dangerou...maintain operational communicationsmaintain operational communicationsMaintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that t...manage military logisticsmanage military logisticsManage the supply and demand of resources on a military base or during a mission on field to troops in need, analyse equipment needs, interfere with enemy supplies, perform cost analysis, and other lo...analyse potential threats against national securityanalyse potential threats against national securityAnalyse the possibilities of potential threats and actions taken against national security in order to develop preventive measures and aid with the development of military tactics and operations.
Optional (13) — show
military codemilitary codeThe code language used in specific intelligence or military organisations and operations, how to use and decipher them.military combat techniquesmilitary combat techniquesThe fighting techniques specific to military operations, using military weapons and equipment, and the regulations concerning military combat actions.military weaponrymilitary weaponryThe types of arms used by different military organisations, such as army, navy or air force and in different nations worldwide; the weapons' aspects, damage potential and ways to defend against them.military drillmilitary drillThe marching techniques and use of weapons, and other disciplinary methods applied in military operations.undertake inspectionsundertake inspectionsUndertake safety inspections in areas of concern to identify and report potential hazards or security breaches; take measures to maximise safety standards.manage troop deploymentmanage troop deploymentManage the deployment of troops to areas in conflict, or in need of aid, and oversee the deployment procedures. Manage the deployment of the troops within an area for specific missions, and ensure the...ensure information securityensure information securityEnsure that the information gathered during surveillance or investigations remains in the hands of those authorised to receive and use it, and does not fall into enemy or otherwise non-authorised indi...manage security clearancemanage security clearanceManage the systems and monitor the functioning of the security clearance system and staff working to ensure security of the facility, to ensure no non-authorised individuals acquire access and to moni...devise military tacticsdevise military tacticsDevise the strategic and tactical components of a military operation, taking into account the available equipment and assigning tasks to the different troops, and supervising the use of weapons and ot...identify security threatsidentify security threatsIdentify security threats during investigations, inspections, or patrols, and perform the necessary actions to minimise or neutralise the threat.apply health and safety standardsapply health and safety standardsAdhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.monitor military equipment usemonitor military equipment useMonitor the use by military staff of specific military equipment to ensure that no unauthorised personnel gains access to specific types of equipment, that everyone handles the equipment according to ...conduct public presentationsconduct public presentationsSpeak in public and interact with those present. Prepare notices, plans, charts, and other information to support the presentation.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

Frequently asked questions

What does an army general do?

Army generals command large divisions of the army. They perform management duties, administrative duties, and planning and strategic duties. They develop policies for the improvement of the military and general defence, and ensure the nation's safety.

What skills does an army general need?

An army general needs 11 essential skills, including military logistics, manage budgets, manage staff, ensure public safety and security, defend human rights.

Will AI replace army general jobs?

The AI disruption score for army general is 28/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: manage budgets, manage administrative systems, monitor military equipment use. Most resilient: military drill, military combat techniques, defend human rights.

Quick Facts

ISCO GroupCommissioned armed forces officers
Essential Skills11

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