Occupation intelligence

lieutenant

Snapshot

Are you a natural leader with a strong sense of duty? As a lieutenant, you'll command and guide teams of soldiers, playing a vital role in training, discipline, and strategic operations.

Summary

A lieutenant's role is multifaceted, requiring both tactical expertise and administrative skill. You’ll be responsible for the well-being and performance of your assigned platoon, ensuring they are prepared for a wide range of scenarios. This involves leading training exercises, enforcing discipline, and providing guidance to your team. You'll also handle administrative tasks and serve as a key advisor to higher-ranking officers.

Key responsibilities
  • • Commanding and leading platoons of soldiers in training and operational environments.
  • • Overseeing the discipline and welfare of personnel within your unit.
  • • Performing administrative duties related to personnel, equipment, and logistics.
74%
Resilience Score

Are you a natural leader with a strong sense of duty? As a lieutenant, you'll command and guide teams of soldiers, playing a vital role in training, discipline, and strategic operations.

Management & Entrepreneurship Upper secondary education 30% AI exposure
Start Career DNA assessment
Quick fit check

Could lieutenant fit you?

Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.

Progress0/3

Do you enjoy tasks that require Self-Control?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Stress Tolerance?

Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?

NexFuture

Future Outlook for lieutenant

lieutenant is entering a period of transformation. With a 47.7% exposure to AI tools, this role is not being replaced, it is evolving. Mastery of new digital tools will be the key to staying ahead.

How are these scores calculated?

The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.

Play the future

How could lieutenant change as AI adoption grows?

This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 18 years (around 2044) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
73%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP38%
Human advantage
MOAT70%
2026
2036
2049
AI Adoption Speed:

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

Human-owned 74% Human-owned
What still depends on people

This role remains strongly human-led where instruct in military duties depends on trust, nuance, and real-world judgement.

The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on military code and military combat techniques. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
Assist 48% Assist
Where AI may become a co-pilot

AI is more likely to assist supporting tasks such as manage administrative systems, documentation, search, and workflow coordination.

Automate 30% Automate
Tasks most exposed to automation

Automation pressure appears selective rather than broad, with the strongest signal currently coming from Cognitive software.

Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs, AI Vectors & Megatrends

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Vital Signs

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
Cognitive Software 47.7%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

Generative AI 44.6%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

AI / Machine Learning 22.5%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Robotic & Physical Automation 2.5%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

Megatrend Signals

0-100%
Spatial Change 31%
Demographic Shift 12%
Geopolitical Change 4%
Digital Transformation 3%
Regulatory Pressure 3%
Green Transition 0%

Model-derived scores. Indicates structural exposure to megatrends, not direct demand.

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v2.0 Sources: O*NET 30.0, ESCO v1.2.0 Updated: May 2026

NexFuture™ v2.0 combines O*NET ability and activity profiles with ESCO skill group distributions and six global megatrend signals. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture™ Methodology White Paper for full details.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Management & Entrepreneurship

Day in the life

A typical day as a lieutenant

09
09:00 · Morning
instruct in military duties
Give theoretical and practical classes to future soldiers concerning their military duties and activities.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
manage administrative systems
Ensure administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed and give the sound basis to work together with the administrative officer/staff/professional.
12
12:00 · Midday
advise superiors on military operations
Advise on the strategic decisions made by superiors on deployment, mission tactics, resource allocation or other military operation specifics, to help superiors reach a better decision and to provide them with any relevant information for a military operation or functioning of the military organisations in general.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
ensure compliance with policies
To ensure compliance with legislation and company procedures in respect of Health and Safety in the workplace and public areas, at all times. To ensure awareness of and compliance with all Company Policies in relation to Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities in the workplace. To carry out any other duties which may reasonably be required.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
lead military troops
Lead the actions of military troops on the field during a mission, either combat, humanitarian or otherwise defensive, compliant with the strategies devised prior to the operation and ensuring communication with other troops is maintained.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
maintain operational communications
Maintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that the organisation functions smoothly.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
Crime mapping softwareIntegrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System IAFISLaw enforcement information databasesMapInfo ProfessionalMapInfo StreetProMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordNational Crime Information Center (NCIC) databaseSmugMug FlickrWeb browser software
Knowledge areas
  • camouflage

    The different kinds of materials and specialised clothing used for concealment of people, vehicles or other equipment.

  • geographic information systems

    The tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).

Cross-sector skills
  • military code
  • military combat techniques
  • military drill
Essential skills
training on operational procedures
  • train military troops

    Train military troops or people in training to join the force in drill, combat techniques, weaponry, regulations, operation procedures, camouflage, and other military practices.

  • instruct in military duties

    Give theoretical and practical classes to future soldiers concerning their military duties and activities.

leading and motivating
  • lead military troops

    Lead the actions of military troops on the field during a mission, either combat, humanitarian or otherwise defensive, compliant with the strategies devised prior to the operation and ensuring communication with other troops is maintained.

advising on business or operational matters
  • advise superiors on military operations

    Advise on the strategic decisions made by superiors on deployment, mission tactics, resource allocation or other military operation specifics, to help superiors reach a better decision and to provide them with any relevant information for a military operation or functioning of the military organisations in general.

performing general clerical and administrative tasks
  • manage administrative systems

    Ensure administrative systems, processes and databases are efficient and well managed and give the sound basis to work together with the administrative officer/staff/professional.

technical or academic writing
  • write situation reports

    Write reports according to specifications and regulations of an organisation on the situation which needs to be reported on, such as the status of an investigation, of intelligence gathering, or of missions and operations.

supervising a team or group
  • ensure compliance with policies

    To ensure compliance with legislation and company procedures in respect of Health and Safety in the workplace and public areas, at all times. To ensure awareness of and compliance with all Company Policies in relation to Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities in the workplace. To carry out any other duties which may reasonably be required.

communicating with colleagues and clients
  • maintain operational communications

    Maintain communications between different departments of an organisation, between the staff, or during specific operations or missions, to ensure that the operation or mission is successful, or that the organisation functions smoothly.

Skill DNA

Skill DNA

Work personality traits and values that define this role

Key traits you need
Self-Control Stress Tolerance Integrity Dependability Leadership Initiative Adaptability/Flexibility Attention to Detail Cooperation Concern for Others Independence Analytical Thinking Persistence Achievement/Effort Social Orientation Innovation
Key rewards you can expect
AchievementWorking Condit…RecognitionRelationshipsSupportIndependence
Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Career landscape

Where does lieutenant fit?

This role
lieutenant This role

Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What kind of training would I receive to become a lieutenant?
Training varies depending on the branch of service, but generally includes officer candidate school or a military academy, followed by specialized training relevant to your area of assignment. This training focuses on leadership, tactics, strategy, and military law.
What are the typical career progression paths for a lieutenant?
Following experience as a lieutenant, opportunities exist to advance to captain and beyond, taking on progressively greater responsibilities in command, staff positions, or specialized roles. Continued professional development and education are often required for advancement.
What skills are most important for success as a lieutenant?
Strong leadership abilities, excellent communication skills, the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, and a commitment to teamwork are crucial. Adaptability, problem-solving skills, and a thorough understanding of military procedures are also highly valued.