For example there is civil engineering, which focuses primarily on construction of bridges, water and sewage treatment facilities, highways, and dams. Industrial engineering technicians help in manufacturing mechanical equipment. Environmental engineering technicians develop alternative methods to handle environmental hazards. Aerospace engineering technicians work with many different types of space vehicles. Mechanical engineering technicians manufacture industrial machinery. Electro mechanical engineering technicians design, and manufacture electronic computer controlled mechanical systems.
In the military, typically jobs are narrowly focused and require very specific training and education. Those who work as military engineering technicians will require, just as civilian technicians, an extensive knowledge of CADD or computer aided design and drafting programs in their area of expertise.
In military engineering technicians jobs there are certain degree experience levels that are gained through years of experience and knowledge acquired. The different levels will determine the type of responsibilities and supervision one would have. For example, those who aim to become engineering technician instructors must reach all the different GS levels. The GS-05 is trainee level under closer supervision; GS-07 is developmental level under less supervision and can work independently to a certain degree; GS-09 level student has a good grasp on the basic knowledge of his/her technical occupation, can work more independently, and can recommend course changes; GS-11 is an upper division with advanced knowledge in his/her technical occupation and can participate in course modifications; GS-12 is an upper-division undergraduate, can develop course to meet requirements, and will be reviewed in a more strict, detailed manner; GS-13 is a graduate level and the graduate may design course methods on approved subjects and is a bonafide technical expert at this point.
An instruction specialist is nearly the same as an instructor, who needs to be more detailed and also requires one more level, GS-14. A GS-14 serves as the central figure in a staff organization and is the top educator in his/her given field. The responsibilities of a GS-14 include revising, planning, and proposing new methods of study. Simply, a GS-14 level position sets the guidelines in curriculum planning for all others below them, to follow. The instruction specialist is also responsible for evaluation of current procedures to ensure that students and instructors are meeting all requirements. Those course studies, which are not up-to-date, may be modified to suit the needs of the students with additional research in implementing them. A GS-14 level takes on a more managerial role as well, by monitoring the performance of the subordinates. GS-14 introduces new standards and sets new goals for the students to achieve, by reevaluating the standards previously set.
Some of the duties of a military engineering technician would include preparing and developing all levels of the project using the CADD systems in his/her specific field. With engineering technical terms being highly complex, translating such terms into simpler definitions is critical.
Like with most engineering jobs there are many benefits attached with a military engineering technicians job, such as paid holidays, health/life insurance, retirement programs, and paid additional training and educational programs and certificates.
There is enough room for advancement as a military engineer technician because the military itself is built on rank. Those who show their grasp on technical knowledge as well as leadership skills and abilities will have the best opportunities for promotions. Out of all the types of engineering technicians, the number of aerospace engineering technicians is the least, being between 8,000-9,000. The number of aerospace military engineering technicians is expected to rise over the next decade because of the rapid growth of new technologies.
Your earnings will vary, depending upon your field of engineering. Those who work as military engineering technicians may earn between $60,000-$80,000 per year. There being few aerospace engineers in the work field, the earnings for aerospace engineers are slightly higher than those who are in a more common field of engineering, such as electrical and electronic engineers.
There are a variety of paths to become an engineering technician and military is just one way to fulfill such a goal. Military engineering technician just as any other engineering technician requires certifications and degrees to earn a job. With competition for these jobs being very high, only those who have high knowledge and skills will land these much sought after positions. Those who enter the military will be trained and educated in a similar manner as in vocational schools and universities, but the opportunities may be greater because of the lesser number of engineering technicians in the armed forces.
