Special forces officer
Also known as: commando, counter-terrorism officer, air force officer, counter-insurgency officer, airborne operations officer, unconventional warfare officer
About this occupation
Special forces officers operate in specialised missions such as counter terrorism missions. They perform combat and intelligence missions in order to impede with enemy equipment and installations, and to gather information on enemy strategy and movement.
Essential skills and knowledge
- identify terrorism threats
- develop investigation strategy
- surveillance methods
- handle surveillance equipment
- use geographic information systems
- ensure public safety and security
- assess danger in risk areas
- geographic information systems
- camouflage
- apply information security policies
- use different communication channels
- identify security threats
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Intelligence Analysts (O*NET 33-3021.06). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Validate known intelligence with data from other sources.
- Gather, analyze, correlate, or evaluate information from a variety of resources, such as law enforcement databases.
- Evaluate records of communications, such as telephone calls, to plot activity and determine the size and location of criminal groups and members.
- Gather intelligence information by field observation, confidential information sources, or public records.
- Analyze intelligence data to identify patterns and trends in criminal activity.
- Prepare comprehensive written reports, presentations, maps, or charts, based on research, collection, and analysis of intelligence data.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Investigative, Conventional, Enterprising
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning
US median pay: US$93,790 a year (2025), 114,430 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.3)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentVery important (4.1)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.5)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Digital Forensics Analysts
- Private Detectives and Investigators
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Information Security Analysts
- Data Scientists
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
- Information Security Engineers
- Security Management Specialists
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Forensic Science Technicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.