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Military Communications Equipment Operators

Military Career

General Information

Description

Communications equipment operators are responsible for generating, transmitting, tracking, and routing military communications. They operate sophisticated, state-of-the-art, electronic receivers and associated analysis and recording equipment to collect airborne, shipborne, land-based Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR), and other signals within the electromagnetic spectrum. They use this equipment to communicate a wide range of information, including operational plans and the transmission of classified information.

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Work Environment

Communications equipment operators may work either indoors or outdoors, depending on the specialty. They may be assigned to ships, aircraft, land bases, or mobile field units.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)
  • State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)
  • Radio and Television Broadcasting

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required
  • Officer
    • Managerial/professional
    • College degree required

Military Workforce

Communications Equipment Operators in the Military

76,471

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Salary

Average Salary

$60,079

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 52%
  • Post-secondary certificate 26%
  • Some college 11%
  • Associate's degree 5%
  • Post baccalaureate 2%
  • Bachelor's degree 1%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for communications equipment operators consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in operating a variety of communication systems. Training content varies depending on specialty, and may include: Radio/satellite equipment installation, operation, and maintenanceCommunications securityMessage encoding and decodingCommunications plan developmentSignals exploitation

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Military training

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All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for communications equipment operators consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in operating a variety of communication systems. Training content varies depending on specialty, and may include:

  • Radio/satellite equipment installation, operation, and maintenance
  • Communications security
  • Message encoding and decoding
  • Communications plan development
  • Signals exploitation

Related College Majors

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Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Public Safety and Security
  • English Language
  • Communications and Media

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.