What is a lieutenant's role in the Army?

I'm exploring military career paths and wondering what the duties of a lieutenant in the Army are. I'm interested in understanding what this position entails when it comes to leadership and daily tasks.

In the U.S. Army, a lieutenant is a junior officer rank that comes in two forms: second lieutenant and first lieutenant. Second lieutenant is the entry-level officer rank, right after graduating from officer candidate school or a ROTC program in college. The duties of a lieutenant can be multi-faceted and are heavily dependent on their expertise and the nature of their assigned unit or mission.

Primarily, lieutenants are responsible for leading a small unit of enlisted personnel, which is called a platoon. A platoon can consist of around 15 to 45 soldiers depending on its type (infantry, cavalry, artillery, etc). As a leader, it's a lieutenant's responsibility to ensure the welfare of their soldiers, provide training, maintain morale, and most importantly, ensure mission accomplishment.

Besides platoon leadership, lieutenants also undertake administrative tasks. They keep track of personnel, equipment, schedules, training, and conduct regular briefings to their superior officers. They could be responsible for ordering supplies, dealing with disciplinary issues, and placing soldiers in their jobs within the platoon.

In addition, lieutenants might also execute plans and operations laid out by higher-ranking officials or even contribute to planning at times. However, the level to which they're involved in planning varies based on their unit size and scope of operations.

As the lieutenant progresses in their career and gets promoted to first lieutenant, their responsibilities become more complex, including larger leadership roles and increased involvement in decision-making processes.

Keep in mind, this description is a general overview, and the actual responsibilities of a lieutenant can vary significantly based on the branch of service, type of unit, nature of the mission, and even individual circumstances. As with any military role, flexibility is key.