Army National Guard Soldiers use all kinds of devices to test and measure the accuracy of equipment and weapon system components to help diagnose problems. These devices need to be maintained in order to provide accurate readings, and it's the role of the Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE) Maintenance Support Specialist to make sure that happens. As a member of the precision instruments maintenance team, the TMDE Maintenance Support Specialist calibrates and repairs test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment, such as weapon-aiming devices, weather instruments, gyrocompasses, radiation-detecting equipment, and instruments used in aircraft.Job Duties --- Adjust and repair weapon-aiming devices, such as range finders, telescopes, and ballistic computers --- Repair and calibrate engineering instruments, such as transits, levels, telemeters, and stereoscopes --- Repair gyrocompasses, watches, clocks, and timersSome of the Skills You'll Learn --- Use of blueprints and schematicsHelpful Skills --- Interest in mathematics, science, electronics, and shop mechanics --- Ability to solve mechanical problems and work with tools Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with civilian firms that manufacture or use precision instruments. You'll be able to pursue a career as an instrument mechanic or a calibration specialist. With additional study, you may be able to qualify for Electronics Technician Association certification.Earn While You Learn Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance. Job training for TMDE Maintenance Support Specialists consists of 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 34 weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction, including practice in repairing precision instruments. Training consists of both classroom and field work.
