Job: Common Ground Station (CGS) Analyst (35H)

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To be a U.S. Army Soldier is to be a part of the strongest fighting force in the world. You'll spend your days training, working and serving together to protect America's freedoms. But you'll also have time after work for family, friends and personal interests. From recruitment to retirement, the U.S. Army provides a unique and diverse lifestyle for Soldiers.


In today's multi-dimensional operating environment it is absolutely imperative to observe and track movement on the ground. The Common Ground Station Analyst accomplishes this through the use of the Common Ground Station and the US Air Force Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS). The information collected and analyzed by Common Ground Station Analysts is used to evaluate strategy and tactics in order to counteract the effects of the enemy. The Common Ground Station Analyst is primarily responsible for the detection, locating and tracking of ground targets also known as Moving Target Indicators or MTI. Some of your duties as a Common Ground Station Analyst may include:

* Provide direct support to intelligence and artillery operations
* Send and receive digital messages using highly technical communication systems
* Perform in-depth analysis of Near Real Time MTI data
* Perform in-depth analysis of historic MTI data
* Cross-cue other intelligence assets
* Analyze softcopy imagery
* Maintenance of the Common Ground Station and related peripheral equipment
* Operate airborne radar equipment onboard the JSTARS E8 aircraft

Job training for a Common Ground Station Analyst requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 20 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. This time is spent in the classroom learning hands-on, practical exercises using a wide variety of different associated equipment. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Operation and maintenance of Common Ground Station equipment and MTI related software applications
* Interpretation of different types of imagery and activity
* Networking in order to communicate and report intelligence information

Helpful attributes include:

* An interest in imagery and geography
* An ability to concentrate for long periods
* An interest in working with electronic equipment and digital networks

Advanced level Common Ground Station Analysts provides guidance, supervises and train other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Common Ground Station Analyst, you may be involved in:

* Supervise Common Ground Station operations
* Perform reconnaissance and advanced analysis of MTI data
* Perform intelligence preparation in support of intelligence operations
* Brief intelligence information based upon the Common Ground Station collection
* Conduct post-mission analysis

The skills you learn as a Common Ground Station Analyst and the expanding need for Intelligence Professional will provide a wide variety of employment opportunities with agencies such as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) or the Department of Homeland Security. The training and experience you receive in collecting, recording, analyzing and distributing tactical and technical intelligence information will also prepare you for other fields, such as research, management or business planning.

Civilian occupations that use radar equipment include weather service technicians, air traffic controllers, ship navigators and ocean salvage specialists.

* Imagery Analyst (35G)
* Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator (15W)

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