Job: Artillery Mechanic (91P)

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The Army fields the impressive M109 series of self propelled howitzers. It's the Artillery Mechanic's responsibility to keep these weapons operating properly. The Artillery Mechanic is primarily responsible for supervising and performing maintenance and recovery operations of all self-propelled field artillery cannon weapon systems, including automotive, turret, fire control and chemical protection subsystems. Some of your duties as an Artillery Mechanic may include:

* Perform unit maintenance and recovery of all self-propelled field artillery cannon weapon systems, including automotive, turret, carriage mounted armament, associated fire control systems and chemical protection subsystems
* Perform maintenance on automotive, turret, carriage mounted armament and associated fire control and related systems and components on the M109-series self-propelled Howitzers, M992 FA Ammunition Carrier and M88A1 Medium Track Recovery Vehicle
* Maintain diesel power plants/packs, compression ignition engines and engine fuel systems, air induction systems, exhaust systems, cooling systems, engine starting and charging systems, track hull electrical
* Maintain hydraulic systems, automatic cross drive transmission assemblies, auxiliary drive assemblies, track vehicle suspension and suspension lock out systems
* Maintain mechanical/hydraulic steering and braking systems, fire extinguisher / suppression systems and gas particulate filter systems
* Diagnose malfunctions, troubleshoot and perform other unit maintenance on carriage-mounted armament, associated fire control and related systems and components on all self-propelled field artillery weapon systems

Job training for an Artillery Mechanic requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 14 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Electronic and mechanical principles and concepts
* Use of electronic, electrical and mechanical test equipment
* Use of schematics, drawings, blueprints and wiring diagrams
* Operation, testing and maintenance of specific types of weapons systems
* Operation and maintenance of fire control systems on ships

Helpful attributes include:

* An interest in science and math
* An interest in working with electronic or electrical equipment
* An ability to do work requiring accuracy and attention to detail
* An interest in working with weapons

Advanced level Artillery Mechanics provide guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within their discipline. As an advanced level Artillery Mechanic, you may be involved in:

* Troubleshoot, inspect and correct malfunctions in automotive systems, turret, carriage mounted armament, associated fire control systems
* Troubleshoot, inspect and correct malfunctions in chemical protection subsystems of self-propelled field artillery weapon systems and supporting track vehicles
* Perform battlefield damage assessment and repair (BDAR) of track vehicle armament/automotive systems
* Inspect, troubleshoot and diagnose faults in armament and automotive systems of the M109-series howitzer, M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Carrier (FAAC) and the M88A1 Medium Track Recovery Vehicle
* Supervise recovery operations

The skills you learn as an Artillery Mechanic will help prepare you for a future as an electronic mechanic, an avionics technician or a missile facility System Mechanic with civilian firms that design, build and test weapons for the military.

* M1 ABRAMS Tank System Maintainer (91A)
* Track Vehicle Repairer (91H)
* Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Maintainer (91M)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.