Electrical Products Repairers

Background

Much of the military's equipment is electrically powered. Electric motors, electric tools, and medical equipment require careful maintenance and repair. Electrical products repairers specialize by type of equipment. Electrical products repairers maintain and repair electrical equipment. 

What They Do

Electrical products repairers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Inspect and repair electric instruments, such as voltmeters
• Inspect and repair electrical, medical, and dental equipment
• Maintain and repair portable electric tools, such as saws and drills
• Maintain, test, and repair electric motors in many kinds of machines, such as lathes, pumps, office machines, and appliances

Physical Demands

Normal color vision is required to work with color-coded wiring.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to use tools
• Interest in electric motors and appliances
• Interest in solving problems

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Electricity
• Math
• Shop mechanics

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Electrical products repairers usually work in repair shops on land or aboard ships.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of four to 22 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in repairing electrical products. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Maintenance and repair procedures
• Use of electrical test equipment

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian electrical products repairers work in many industries, including hospitals, manufacturing firms, and governmental agencies. They also work in independent repair shops. They perform duties similar to military electrical products repairers. They may be called electric tool repairers, electrical instrument repairers, electromedical equipment repairers, or electric motor repairers.

Related Civilian Careers

• Electric Motor Repairers
• Home Electronic Repairers
• Medical Equipment Repairers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 34,000 electrical products repairers. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new repairers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, they normally make simple repairs under the direction of more experienced workers. With experience, they perform more complicated repairs. In time, repairers may become electrical repair shop supervisors.