Lead Marines in the fight on land — infantry, artillery, engineers, reconnaissance, amphibious vehicles, and air defense.
Ground combat officers lead Marines in the fight on land — from infantry assaults to artillery fires, engineer mobility, amphibious vehicle operations, reconnaissance, and air defense. Featured below are primary Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) in ground combat roles.
Infantry Officers lead Marines employed from the team to regimental level to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy in all environments and weather conditions, day and night. They must be masters of field craft and proficient in the use and operation of small arms, demolitions, rockets, and mortars.
Field Artillery Officers command or assist commanders in directing field artillery units. They direct tactical employment of the field artillery unit in combat, and coordinate unit fires with other artillery units, mortars, air, and naval surface fire support ships. They evaluate intelligence, plan targeting at all echelons, and direct administration, communication, supply, maintenance, and security activities of artillery units.
Combat Engineer Officers command or assist in commanding engineer units consisting of Marines whose duties include repair, maintenance, and operation of heavy equipment; engineer reconnaissance; obstacle system emplacement; breaching operations, to include reducing explosive hazards; mine/countermine operations; employment of demolitions and explosives; urban breaching; route clearance operations; assault, tactical and non-standard bridging; design, construction and maintenance of combat roads and trails; design and construction of expedient roads, airfields and landing zones; design and construction of survivability positions; expedient horizontal and vertical construction; and design, construction and maintenance of base camps/forward operating bases and combat outposts; storage and dispensing of bulk fuel products; and the installation, operation and maintenance of Tactical Utility Systems.
Light Armored Reconnaissance Officers command or serve as assistant commanders in LAR battalions. They lead LAR units in reconnaissance, security, and combat operations by planning and directing the employment of armored reconnaissance vehicles to gather intelligence, screen friendly forces, and conduct offensive and defensive missions.
Expeditionary Ground Reconnaissance Officers plan, direct, and assist in the deployment and tactical employment of reconnaissance units. They evaluate intelligence; estimate the operational situation; and formulate, coordinate, and execute appropriate plans for ground reconnaissance, amphibious reconnaissance, raids, fire support, special insertion and extraction, communications, operational logistics, and maintenance.
ACV Officers command, or assist in commanding, amphibious combat vehicle units and provide recommendations to the supported unit commander for the tactical employment of those units. They direct amphibious combat vehicle units on maneuvers, tactical problems, and in combat. In conjunction with U.S. Navy units, they control the ship-to-shore movement of ACVs.
Low Altitude Air Defense Officers command, or assist commanders in commanding, Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) units. They coordinate tactical employment of LAAD units through air command and control agencies, sensors, and other air defense weapons.
