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Job Description: Artillery includes weapons that fire large shells or missiles. The military uses artillery to support infantry and tank units in combat. Artillery is also used to protect land and sea forces from air attack. Artillery and missile crew members position, direct, and fire artillery guns, cannons, howitzers, missiles, and rockets to destroy enemy positions and aircraft. They normally specialize in a particular type of artillery.
Duties: Military artillery and missile crew members may perform some or all of these duties:
- Determine target location using computers or manual calculations
- Set up and load artillery weapons
- Prepare ammunition, fuses, and powder for firing
- Fire artillery weapons according to instructions from artillery officers
- Clean and maintain artillery weapons
- Drive trucks and self-propelled artillery
Working Conditions: Military artillery and missile crew members work outdoors when on land maneuvers. Some work in sheltered fire control stations. At sea, they mainly work below deck. Artillery and missile crew members must have physical stamina to perform strenuous activities for long periods without rest. They are also required to have normal color vision to identify color-coded ammunition and to read maps and charts.
Educational Requirements: Job training consists of between 10 and 16 weeks of classroom instruction and field training under simulated combat conditions. Course content typically includes methods of computing target locations, ammunition handling techniques, artillery tactics and gun, missile, and rocket system operations. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses. The Army, Navy, and Marines offer a certified apprenticeship program for one specialty in this occupation.
Outlook: The military services have about 39,000 artillery and missile crew members. On average, they need about 6,100 new crew members each year due to changes in personnel and demands in the field. Some specialties in this occupation are open only to men. For more information for Enlisted Personnel Careers in Combat Specialties visit Today's Military online.
Military service: Military artillery and missile crew members are enlistees in the Army, Navy, and the Marines. Some specialties in this occupation are open only to men.
Please see your local recruiter for current pay scales.
Last updated on: May 10, 2007