Electronic Instrument and Equipment Repairers

Background

The military uses electronic instruments and equipment in many different areas, including health care, weather forecasting, and combat, to name a few. Electronic instrument and equipment repairers normally specialize by type of equipment or instrument being repaired. Electronic instrument and equipment repairers maintain and repair instruments and equipment, such as computers, communications equipment, radar and sonar systems, precision measuring equipment, and biomedical instruments. 

What They Do

Electronic instrument and equipment repairers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Install and repair circuits and wiring using soldering iron and hand tools
• Install computers and other data processing equipment
• Maintain, test, adjust, and repair electronic equipment using frequency meters, circuit analyzers, and other specialized test equipment
• Monitor the operation of air traffic control, missile tracking, air defense, and other radar systems to make sure there are no problems
• String overhead communications and electric cables between utility poles
• Use technical guides and diagrams to locate defective parts and components of equipment

Physical Demands

Normal color vision is required to work with color-coded wires. Some repairers may work from ladders or tall utility poles.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to apply electronic principles and concepts
• Interest in solving problems
• Interest working with electrical, electronic, and electrochemical equipment

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Electricity or electronic repair
• Math
• Physics
• Shop mechanics

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Electronic instrument and equipment repairers usually work in repair shops and laboratories on land or aboard ships.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• 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 ranges from eight to 40 weeks of classroom instruction and includes practice in repairing electronic instruments and equipment. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Line installation and wiring techniques
• Maintenance and repair procedures
• Mechanical, electronic, and electrical principles
• Use of test equipment

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian electronic instrument and equipment repairers work for a variety of organizations, such as manufacturing firms, communications firms, commercial airlines, and government agencies. They perform the same kind of duties as military electronic instrument and equipment repairers. Depending on their specialty, they may be called electronics mechanics, telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, radio mechanics, or computer technicians.

Related Civilian Careers

• Communications Equipment Mechanics
• Computer, ATM, and Office Machine Repairers
• Industrial Electronics Repairers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 58,000 electronic instrument and equipment 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 are assigned to an operations or equipment maintenance unit where they perform routine repair jobs. In time, they may perform more difficult repairs and supervise other repair personnel. Eventually, they may become supervisors or managers of electronic equipment maintenance units.