Machinists

Background

Sometimes when engines or machines break down, the parts needed to repair them are not available. In these cases, the broken parts must be repaired or new ones made. Machinists operate lathes, drill presses, grinders, and other machine shop equipment. Machinists make and repair metal parts for engines and all types of machines.

What They Do

Machinists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Bore holes using drill presses
• Cut metal stock using power hacksaws and bandsaws
• Measure work using micrometers, calipers, and depth gauges
• Set up and operate lathes to make parts such as shafts and gears
• Shape and smooth parts using grinders
• Study blueprints or written plans of the parts to be made

Physical Demands

No information available.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to apply mathematical formulas
• Interest in making things and finding solutions to mechanical problems
• Preference for working with the hands

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• General science
• Math
• Mechanical drawing
• Metal working

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Machinists work in machine shops, which are often noisy.

Services offering this career:

• 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 ten to 12 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in machine operation.

Course content typically includes:

• Machine setup and operation
• Machine types and uses
• Safety procedures
• Uses of different metals

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian machinists work for factories and repair shops in many industries, including the electrical product, automotive, and heavy machinery industries. They perform duties similar to military machinists.

Related Civilian Careers

• Machinists

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 2,000 machinists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new machinists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, machinists perform routine repairs under close supervision. In time, they perform more difficult repairs and may train others. Eventually, they may become managers of one or more machine shops.