Field Artillery Officer (13A)

• Officer
• Active Duty

The Army’s Field Artillery Branch is responsible for neutralizing or suppressing the enemy by cannon, rocket and missile fire and to help integrate all fire support assets into combined arms operations. The role of a Field Artillery Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Field Artillery Branch and to be an expert in the tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of fire support systems.

The responsibilities of a Field Artillery Lieutenant may include:

• Leading and controlling Field Artillery troops and combined armed forces during land combat.
• Coordinating employment of Field Artillery Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations.

Training:

Field Artillery Officer training includes completion of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (FAOBC), where you will learn leadership skills, tactics, maintenance and operational aspects of weapons and vehicles used in a Field Artillery platoon.

Helpful Skills:

Being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities. A leader exhibits self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. They are physically fit and can perform under physical and mental pressures. Leaders make decisions quickly, always focusing on completing the mission successfully, and show respect for their subordinates and other military officers. Leaders lead from the front and adjust to environments that are always changing. They are judged by their ability to make decisions on their own and bear ultimate moral responsibility for those decisions.

Advanced Responsibilities:

Field Artillery Officers can continue in the Operations career field, serving in the Field Artillery Branch at ever increasing levels of leadership and responsibility.

Responsibilities of a Field Artillery Captain may include:

• Commanding and controlling Field Artillery units and combined armed companies and company-sized units (200-300 Soldiers).
• Coordinating employment of Field Artillery Soldiers at all levels of command, from company to division level and beyond, in U.S. and multi-national operations.
• Developing doctrine, organizations and equipment for unique Field Artillery missions.
• Instructing Field Artillery skills at service schools and combat training centers.
• Serving as a Field Artillery advisor to other units, including Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve organizations.