Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers

Background

The military uses precision instruments and equipment to perform a variety of functions. Some precision instruments are used to measure distance, pressure, altitude, temperature, underwater depth, and other physical properties. Other types of precision equipment include photographic and imaging equipment such as cameras, projectors, and film processing equipment. All of these items have many sensitive mechanisms that require regular attention to stay in good working order. Precision instrument and equipment repairers may specialize by the type of equipment that they work on. Precision instrument and equipment repairers maintain and adjust these delicate items. 

What They Do

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

• Adjust and repair weapons aiming devices such as range finders, telescopes, and periscopes
• Calibrate and repair instruments used in aircraft
• Calibrate electrical test instruments
• Calibrate measuring instruments such as barometers, thermometers, and telemeters
• Diagnose and repair problems in all types of cameras and photo processing equipment
• Repair watches, clocks, and timers

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 solve mechanical problems
• Ability to use repair tools

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• Electronics
• Math
• Science
• Shop mechanics

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Precision instrument and equipment 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 varies between nine and 34 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in repairing precision instruments and equipment. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Calibration and repair of precision measuring instruments
• Test and repair of aerial sensor equipment
• Test and repair of cameras and darkroom equipment
• Use of blueprints and schematics

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian precision instrument and equipment repairers work in a variety of industries that use precision instruments and equipment. They may work for manufacturing firms, airlines, machinery repair shops, photographic labs, or engineering firms. Civilian precision instrument and equipment repairers perform duties similar to military repairers. Depending on their specialty, they may also be called instrument mechanics, calibration specialists, camera repairers, or photographic equipment technicians.

Related Civilian Careers

• Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
• Computer, ATM, and Office Machine Repairers
• Medical Equipment Repairers
• Watch Repairers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 7,000 precision instrument 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, precision instrument and equipment repairers make routine adjustments and simple repairs under close supervision. With experience, they perform more complicated repairs and may supervise others. They may eventually become managers of repair shops.