Are Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)/High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Crewmembers at Risk Due to AI?

Target, fire, and maintain weapons used to destroy enemy positions, aircraft, and vessels. Field artillery crew members predominantly use guns, cannons, and howitzers in ground combat operations, while air defense artillery crew members predominantly use missiles and rockets. Naval artillery crew members predominantly use torpedoes and missiles launched from a ship or submarine. Duties include testing, inspecting, and storing ammunition, missiles, and torpedoes; conducting preventive and routine maintenance on weapons and related equipment; establishing and maintaining radio and wire communications; and operating weapons targeting, firing, and launch computer systems.

The occupation "Artillery and Missile Crew Members" carries an automation risk of 0.0%, meaning it is currently not susceptible to being fully replaced by automated systems or robots. This very low risk stems from the unique combination of physical actions, critical decision-making in high-stakes environments, and the necessity for real-time situational awareness that the role demands. While some supportive or peripheral tasks involved in this occupation could be enhanced with technology, the core responsibilities remain inherently human due to the unpredictability and dynamic nature of military operations. The use of advanced equipment and weaponry also requires nuanced judgment, coordination, and the ability to rapidly process complex situational inputs, which existing automation technologies struggle to replicate comprehensively. Therefore, despite technological advances, the core functions remain reliant on human skill and adaptability, justifying the 0.0% base risk. The most automatable tasks within this occupation generally involve those that follow predefined procedures and require minimal real-time judgment. Among these, the top three are: (1) loading artillery shells or missiles, which involves repetitive motion that could theoretically be mechanized; (2) performing routine equipment checks and maintenance, which might be aided by diagnostic tools and robotics; and (3) relaying standardized data or status reports to command units, which could be streamlined with digital communication systems. However, even for these tasks, complete automation is challenged by the unpredictable and high-risk environment typical of military operations, where flexibility and rapid adaptation are crucial. Conversely, the tasks most resistant to automation include: (1) interpreting battlefield conditions and adjusting firing solutions in real time, which involves cognitive flexibility and integrating multiple sensory cues; (2) coordinating closely with other team members and responding to rapidly evolving commands or threats, which demands nuanced, real-time communication and teamwork; and (3) executing emergency troubleshooting or improvising under extreme pressure when unexpected malfunctions or hostile actions occur. Bottleneck skills that anchor these resistant tasks include advanced situational awareness (level: expert), complex problem-solving (level: advanced), and effective team coordination (level: expert). The need for these high-level skills—blending physical, cognitive, and social abilities—firmly establishes why automation cannot currently supplant "Artillery and Missile Crew Members."