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27N Career Guide

Army

27N: FAAR System Maintainer

Career transition guide for Army FAAR System Maintainer (27N)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 27N veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Radar Technician

$78K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FCC LicenseSpecific radar system certifications

Avionics Technician

$75K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) licenseAircraft-specific training

Electronics Engineering Technician

$65K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Associate's degree in electronics technologyCAD/CAM softwarePLC programming

Field Service Technician

$70K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Customer service skillsSpecific product line trainingCompTIA A+

Wind Turbine Technician

$60K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

OSHA safety certificationsTechnical training in wind turbine maintenanceClimbing and rescue certification

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 27N training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

Troubleshooting complex electronic systems requires creating mental models of how the different components interact, predicting how failures in one area might affect others, and using this to efficiently isolate the root cause.

The ability to conceptualize and understand how complex systems operate, predict potential points of failure, and diagnose issues is valuable in various technical fields.

Degraded-Mode Operations

Maintaining radar and missile systems often involves working with limited resources, faulty equipment, and under pressure to get systems back online quickly. Adapting to these constraints and finding creative solutions is key.

The capacity to effectively troubleshoot and maintain functionality in challenging circumstances, improvising solutions when resources are scarce, is crucial for high-stakes environments.

Procedural Compliance

Adhering to detailed maintenance procedures and technical manuals is critical for ensuring safety and maintaining the operational readiness of complex military systems. Attention to detail and following protocols precisely are essential.

The ability to meticulously follow established procedures and documentation to ensure consistent and safe operation of equipment translates into reliability and accuracy in regulated industries.

Situational Awareness

Supervising maintenance activities on multiple weapon systems requires maintaining awareness of the status of each system, the progress of maintenance tasks, and the availability of resources to allocate them effectively.

The capability to monitor multiple streams of information simultaneously, understand the current state of operations, and anticipate potential problems is highly valuable in leadership and coordination roles.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

SOC 49-9041.00

You've been maintaining complex electronic and mechanical systems. This role allows you to use that troubleshooting experience on a wide range of industrial equipment, keeping factories running smoothly. Your leadership experience is also applicable in training and mentoring junior mechanics.

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9099.01

You've honed your skills in system modeling and maintenance under pressure with radar systems. Now, apply that to maintaining and repairing wind turbines, a growing field with a high demand for skilled technicians like you.

Robotics Technician

SOC 49-9092.00

Your experience maintaining sophisticated radar and missile systems translates directly to robotics. You've already developed the ability to troubleshoot complex electro-mechanical systems and follow detailed procedures, which are essential for success in this rapidly growing field.

Training & Education Equivalencies

AIT, Fort Sill, OK

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Radar Theory and Maintenance
  • TADDS (Tactical Air Defense Data System) Maintenance
  • IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) Systems
  • Unit Maintenance Test Set (OMTS) Procedures
  • Intermediate Maintenance Test Set (SMTS) Procedures
  • Electronic Assembly Repair
  • Technical Guidance and Supervision
  • Chaparral/Redeye, Vulcan, and FAAR Systems Maintenance

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60% covered

Requires study of current electronics theory, troubleshooting techniques, and industry best practices not explicitly covered in the AN/MPQ-49 FAAR system maintenance.

CompTIA Network+40% covered

Requires study of modern networking concepts, protocols, and security practices not specific to the FAAR system's internal communication.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP)Project Management Professional (PMP)Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/MPQ-49 Forward Area Alerting Radar (FAAR)WeatherBug Earth Networks Total Lightning Network
Tactical Air Defense Display System (TADDS)Air Situation Display Systems
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
Unit Maintenance Test Set (OMTS)Automated Test Equipment (ATE)
Intermediate Maintenance Test Set (SMTS)Advanced Diagnostic and Repair Equipment
Chaparral Missile SystemShort Range Air Defense System
Redeye Missile SystemMan-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS)
Vulcan Air Defense SystemGatling gun based CIWS

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