About This Career

Armored assault vehicle crew members work as a team to operate armored equipment and fire weapons to destroy enemy positions. They normally specialize by type of armor, such as tanks, light armor (cavalry), or amphibious assault vehicles.

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster National Security pathway.

A person in this career:

• Operates tracked and wheeled vehicles over varied terrain and roadways in combat formation and armor marches
• Reads and interprets maps and aerial photographs; evaluates terrain, selected routes, and firing positions
• Provides protection in offensive and defensive combat; operates breaching/bridging systems as needed
• Participates in reconnaissance, security, cordon/search, and other combat operations while employing principles of cover and concealment; gathers information on the size, activity, location, and equipment of the enemy
• Assists and performs target detection and identification; places turret in operation and determines range to target
• Positions vehicle in firing position and secures battle position; loads, fires, evaluates, and monitors fire
• Directs, requests, observes, supports, and/or adjusts fire; coordinates actions with platoon and supporting elements
• Maintains responsibility for individual weapons, crew-served weapons, and assigned vehicle and equipment, as well as their preventative and corrective maintenance
• Supervises or assists in all aspects of the platoon, company, or battalion, including planning, training, employment, maintenance, accountability, welfare, and logistical support (e.g., ammunition allocation and resupply)
• Secures, prepares, and stows ammunition aboard tank; loads, unloads, clears, and performs misfire procedures on main gun; exercises safety precautions in ammunition handling

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Requires getting into awkward positions
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Exposed to hazardous situations involving possible injury such as cuts, bites, stings, and minor burns more than once a month
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of special protective items such as a breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suit, or radiation protection

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Moving the arms, legs and torso together when the whole body is in motion
• Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
• Short periods of running, jumping, or throwing
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Seeing clearly in low light conditions
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overnight travel