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Security & DefenceISCO 0110

Army major

An army major is a person who commands large units of officers and soldiers, supervises their training and their welfare, and oversees their administration and the management of their equipment.

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Rate 5 of the 10 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

manage troop deployment

advise superiors on military operations

give battle commands

train military troops

monitor military equipment use

About army major

Army major responsibilities cover the unit as a whole. The major manages the deployment of troops, deciding where sub-units go, in what order and with what support, and issues orders during combat, where the decision has to be made and transmitted while the situation is still moving. The major maintains communication during operations, upwards to higher command and downwards to company commanders, so that each knows what has changed.

The major trains military troops and supervises military drill, which requires knowledge of military weapons at the level needed to assess whether soldiers are competent with them. The major also knows the military codes that govern how orders are issued and recorded.

The major is also responsible for the soldiers' welfare and the unit's administration. The major monitors the use of military equipment, which means accounting for what the unit holds, what condition it is in and what has been lost, and answers for the conditions the soldiers live and work in. Promotion to this rank is governed by rules set by each country's armed forces.

European Skills Framework

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

Essential (10)

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.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...advise superiors on military operationsadvise superiors on military operationsAdvise on the strategic decisions made by superiors on deployment, mission tactics, resource allocation or other military operation specifics, to help superiors reach a better decision and to provide ...give battle commandsgive battle commandsGive commands during a battle or similar confrontation with enemy units to guide the activities of the troops, ensuring the safety of the troops and success of the operation, and give these commands i...train military troopstrain military troopsTrain military troops or people in training to join the force in drill, combat techniques, weaponry, regulations, operation procedures, camouflage, and other military practices.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...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 ...
Optional (18) — show
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...geographic information systemsgeographic information systemsThe tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).surveillance methodssurveillance methodsSurveillance methods used in the gathering of information and intelligence for investigation purposes.lead military troopslead military troopsLead the actions of military troops on the field during a mission, either combat, humanitarian or otherwise defensive, compliant with the strategies devised prior to the operation and ensuring communi...perform military operationsperform military operationsPerform military operations according to given instructions from superiors, such as battle operations, rescue missions, aid missions, search and intelligence missions or other operations concerning de...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...use geographic information systemsuse geographic information systemsWork with computer data systems such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).coordinate humanitarian aid missionscoordinate humanitarian aid missionsCoordinate the deployment of troops and resources to areas where humanitarian aid is required, and the operation in the area itself to ensure that the area is safe, the people have access to medical a...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...ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.ensure compliance with types of weaponsensure compliance with types of weaponsComply with legal requirements when using different kinds of firearms and other types of weapons and their matching ammunition.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.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...coordinate patrolscoordinate patrolsCoordinate the investigation and inspection of a certain area by assigning patrollers to routes and areas, establishing the area that needs patrolling, and coordinating the activities during the patro...write situation reportswrite situation reportsWrite reports according to specifications and regulations of an organisation on the situation which needs to be reported on, such as the status of an investigation, of intelligence gathering, or of mi...test safety strategiestest safety strategiesTest policies and strategies related to risk and safety management and procedures, such as testing evacuation plans, safety equipment, and carrying out drills.coordinate rescue missionscoordinate rescue missionsCoordinate rescue missions during the event of a disaster or during an accident, ensure that all possible methods are being used to ensure the safety of the people being rescued, and that the search i...assist in military logisticsassist in military logisticsAssist the upper management of a military organisation in the supply of goods and resources to military troops on the field and on base, and the disruption of enemy flow of resources, and other logist...

Related Occupations

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

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Frequently asked questions

What does an army major do?

Army majors command large units of officers and soldiers, supervise their training, and oversee their wellfare. They also supervise their administration, and equipment management.

What skills does an army major need?

An army major needs 10 essential skills, including military code, military combat techniques, military weaponry, military drill, manage troop deployment.

Will AI replace army major jobs?

The AI disruption score for army major is 24/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: ensure equipment availability, write situation reports, monitor military equipment use. Most resilient: military drill, military combat techniques, give battle commands.

Quick Facts

SectorSecurity & Defence
ISCO GroupCommissioned armed forces officers
Essential Skills10

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