Job: Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer (25R)

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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.


While the Army may not produce movies that involve Hollywood movie stars or speeding car chases, television and film productions are still an important part of Army communications. Films are used to train personnel and to record military operations, ceremonies and news events. Audiovisual and broadcast technicians, such as the Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer, perform many specialized tasks, ranging from filming to script editing to operating audio recording devices Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainers work with equipment such as Teleconferencing VI, and are primarily responsible for supporting Army operations with visual information equipment and systems. Some of your duties as a Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer may include:

* Operate and perform maintenance on all assigned equipment
* Operate television receivers/monitors and cameras
* Operate studio accessories consisting of computer controlled video switchers and audio mixers/consoles, synchronous generators, distribution equipment, and amplifying equipment
* Operate motion/still photo imaging equipment
* Operate closed circuit systems
* Operate visual imagery satellite, microwave, RF transmission and cable distribution systems associated with VI operations
* Operate and maintain VI equipment used for Battlefield Video Teleconferencing and in a Video Teleconferencing facility

Job training for a Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 26 weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Motion picture equipment operation
* Audio recording
* Scripting and special effects techniques
* Maintenance of public address sound equipment

Helpful attributes include:

* Interest in creative and artistic work
* Preference for working as part of a team
* Experience in school plays or making home movies

Advanced level Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer, you may be involved in:

* Adjust and maintain television equipment to prescribed standards
* Monitor proper techniques and procedures used to diagnose malfunctions of teleconferencing VI and associated equipment
* Supervise receipt, storage and issue of Class VI supplies
* Provide technical guidance on complex operations and maintenance tasks

The skills you learn as a Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer will help prepare you for a future with civilian film production companies, government audiovisual studios, radio and television stations and advertising agencies. You'll be qualified to pursue a career as a motion picture camera operators, audiovisual production specialists, sound mixers, recording engineers, and broadcasting and recording technicians.

* Combat Documentation/Production Specialist (25V)

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