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Army MOS · Support

49A Operations Research/Systems Analysis

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

An Operations Research and Systems Analysis officer conducts quantitative and qualitative analysis of military operations, doctrine, tactics, force design, personnel, logistics, and weapon systems. This officer designs tests and experiments, evaluates risk and effectiveness, interprets data, supports resource decisions, and instructs other officers in operations research, systems engineering, and mathematics.

Core Skills

  • Weapon system test and experiment design
  • Force structure and manpower allocation analysis
  • Acquisition risk and effectiveness assessment
  • Recruiting and retention program analysis

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Operations Research Analyst

Military experience analyzing resource allocation, designing experiments, and interpreting empirical data transfers directly to quantitative decision support and model evaluation.

How to prepare: Build a portfolio case using public data to compare resource-allocation alternatives in Python, document model validation, and present a decision recommendation.

What the civilian work involves
  • Present the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
  • Define data requirements, and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests.
  • Perform validation and testing of models to ensure adequacy, and reformulate models, as necessary.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Python
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Structured query language SQL

Logistics Engineer

Analysis of military logistics programs, resource allocation, and measures of effectiveness transfers to supply chain studies and logistics performance improvement.

How to prepare: Develop a commercial logistics case study in Microsoft Excel that compares distribution alternatives using cost and service metrics.

What the civilian work involves
  • Identify cost-reduction or process-improvement logistic opportunities.
  • Conduct logistics studies or analyses, such as time studies, zero-base analyses, rate analyses, network analyses, flow-path analyses, or supply chain analyses.
  • Develop logistic metrics, internal analysis tools, or key performance indicators for business units.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Excel
  • SAP software

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. Army COOL MOC feed: 49A Operations Research/Systems Analysis

    [1] data/authority/army-codes.json entry 49A (OSD COOL feed, fetched 2026-07-25); DB rank officer, authority codeType officer

    Supports: Weapon system test and experiment design, Force structure and manpower allocation analysis, Acquisition risk and effectiveness assessment, Recruiting and retention program analysis, Operations Research Analyst (O*NET 15-2031.00), Logistics Engineer (O*NET 13-1081.01)

  2. O*NET: Operations Research Analysts

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Operations Research Analyst (O*NET 15-2031.00)

  3. O*NET: Logistics Engineers

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Logistics Engineer (O*NET 13-1081.01)

Defense contractor jobs for 49A

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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