NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Special Forces

SOC 55-3018.00Job Zone —v.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers correctional and special operations security practice across count management, discipline enforcement, emergency response, policy compliance, and staff leadership within institutionalized public-safety environments calibrated to Job Zone 3 preparation.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Periodic inmate counts — conduct and record under direct supervision following established count protocols in a correctional facility.
  2. Institutional rules and regulations — review and memorize with guidance from senior personnel during initial assignment orientation.
  3. Assigned post orders — follow step-by-step to maintain basic security and order within a designated area under close oversight.
  4. Emergency response procedures — identify and rehearse correct actions for scenarios such as escape attempts during supervised drills.
  5. Oral communications — listen actively and relay information accurately to supervisors and colleagues on a correctional facility floor.
  6. Inmate behavior patterns — observe and report anomalies to a senior officer using standard incident documentation templates.
  7. Database and records software — enter routine data such as count logs and incident notes under supervision using facility systems.
  8. Public safety and security policies — demonstrate basic comprehension by correctly applying written post instructions in a low-risk setting.
  9. Physical security equipment — inspect and operate standard locks, doors, and intercoms under guidance during routine rounds.
  10. Social perceptiveness — recognize basic changes in inmate demeanor and escalate concerns promptly to a supervising officer.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Scheduled and random inmate counts — perform independently and reconcile discrepancies with facility records during routine and non-routine count periods.
  2. Institutional policies and regulations — apply consistently without prompting to maintain order across an assigned housing unit during a full shift.
  3. Discipline and security protocols — enforce calmly and consistently in familiar situations, de-escalating minor conflicts among inmates without supervisor intervention.
  4. Emergency response actions — execute assigned role in escape or disturbance scenarios following post orders with limited real-time guidance.
  5. Written incident reports — compose clear, factually accurate reports using word processing and office suite software within required timeframes.
  6. Inmate welfare monitoring — assess and document behavioral and physical changes across a unit population using facility database tools.
  7. Coordination with shift personnel — communicate count results, security concerns, and relief information clearly during shift handovers.
  8. Law and government knowledge — apply relevant regulations to routine classification, housing, and disciplinary decisions within scope of authority.
  9. Electronic mail and communication platforms — use proficiently to receive directives, report status, and coordinate with adjacent units.
  10. Judgment under moderate stress — make sound, rule-based decisions when confronting unexpected inmate behavior or minor security breaches during a shift.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Facility-wide inmate count integrity — oversee, verify, and troubleshoot count discrepancies across multiple housing units exercising independent judgment.
  2. Complex security situations — manage non-routine incidents such as disturbances or contraband discoveries autonomously, applying critical thinking and deductive reasoning.
  3. Full-scope policy compliance — interpret, apply, and explain institutional rules to inmates and junior staff across all areas of the facility without oversight.
  4. Emergency operations — lead assigned response team during escape attempts or medical crises, coordinating staff actions in real time under high-stress conditions.
  5. Inductive pattern recognition — synthesize observations from multiple sources to identify emerging threats or organized inmate activity and brief supervisors proactively.
  6. Staff coordination across shifts — facilitate seamless security continuity by directing handover briefings and clarifying post assignments for an entire unit.
  7. Psychological principles application — employ understanding of inmate psychology to anticipate behavior escalation and intervene before incidents occur.
  8. Advanced records and reporting — generate analytical spreadsheets and trend summaries on security incidents to inform operational adjustments.
  9. Cross-unit communication — draft and distribute accurate security advisories using presentation and word-processing tools for facility-wide dissemination.
  10. Mentorship of developing personnel — guide junior correctional staff through post procedures, policy interpretation, and situational judgment during live operations.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Facility security strategy — design and continuously refine count schedules, post assignments, and emergency protocols to achieve institution-wide safety objectives.
  2. Policy and regulatory leadership — interpret evolving law and government mandates and translate them into actionable institutional rules affecting all staff and inmates.
  3. Organizational emergency preparedness — develop, exercise, and evaluate comprehensive emergency response plans for escape, riot, and mass-casualty scenarios.
  4. Performance standards development — establish measurable competency benchmarks for correctional security staff and integrate them into formal evaluation systems.
  5. Cross-agency coordination — represent the facility in joint operations, inspections, and policy discussions with external law enforcement and government bodies.
  6. Staff development programs — design and oversee structured training curricula using education and training best practices to build technical and judgment competencies across all ranks.
  7. Data-driven security management — direct analysis of facility-wide incident databases and trend reports to allocate resources and reduce security risks.
  8. Organizational culture of integrity — model and institutionalize standards of dependability, self-control, and ethical conduct that shape the behavior of the entire security workforce.
  9. Executive decision-making under crisis — exercise final authority during high-stakes emergencies, balancing safety, legal obligations, and institutional mission in real time.
  10. Strategic communication leadership — present facility security posture, staffing needs, and policy recommendations to senior administrators and external oversight bodies using data and presentation tools.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors38 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Advance Seal Delivery System Maintainer · Amphibian Crewmember · Basic Combatant Swimmer · Combatant Swimmer (SEAL) · Joint Special Operations · Master Naval Parachutist · Naval Special Warfare Medic · Parachutist · Pararescue Craftsman · Pararescue Manager · Reconnaissance Crewmember · Reconnaissance Man
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination
Knowledge domains
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingAdministration and ManagementPsychologyComputers and Electronics
Abilities
Problem SensitivityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningNear Vision
Work styles
DependabilityIntegrityStress ToleranceSelf-ControlCautiousnessAttention to Detail
Technology
Data base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation softwareWord processing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.
  2. Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations,
  3. Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and regulations
  4. Respond to emergencies, such as escapes.
CIP education codes
28.050629.020129.020229.020329.040443.030443.040443.0407

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.