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2889 Career Guide

Marine Corps

2889: Ground Radar Maintenance Specialist

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Ground Radar Maintenance Specialist (2889)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 2889 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Radar Technician

$78K
High matchStable demand

Avionics Technician

$75K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA certificationAircraft-specific training

Electronics Technician

$65K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specific industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA)PLC knowledge

Field Service Technician

$60K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Customer service skillsSpecific product knowledge

Wind Turbine Technician

$62K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Wind turbine safety certificationMechanical aptitudeClimbing certification

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 2889 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

Ground radar maintenance requires understanding how different components interact within the radar system to effectively troubleshoot and repair malfunctions.

The ability to understand complex systems and their interdependencies is highly valuable in roles that involve designing, analyzing, or improving complex processes or products.

Procedural Compliance

Maintenance specialists strictly adhere to detailed technical manuals and established procedures during installation, inspection, testing, and repair to ensure accuracy and prevent damage.

Your experience in meticulously following protocols translates directly into roles requiring strict adherence to regulations and standards.

Degraded-Mode Operations

When radar systems malfunction or operate sub-optimally, maintenance specialists must diagnose and repair with limited resources or partial system failures, maintaining operational capability under duress.

Your ability to troubleshoot and maintain functionality under pressure and with limited resources makes you an ideal candidate for roles requiring problem-solving in challenging environments.

Situational Awareness

Ground radar maintenance specialists must remain aware of the operational environment, including weather conditions and potential interference sources, to ensure optimal radar performance and interpret data accurately.

The heightened sense of awareness developed in the field equips you well to thrive in roles that demand constant vigilance and fast adaptation to changing circumstances.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Quality Assurance Analyst

SOC 19-4041

You've been meticulously inspecting and testing complex radar systems, ensuring they meet stringent performance standards. This directly translates to the core responsibilities of a Quality Assurance Analyst, where you'll use your sharp eye for detail and systematic approach to identify and resolve defects in products or processes.

Technical Trainer

SOC 25-9044

You're intimately familiar with the intricacies of radar systems and the procedures for maintaining them. You've likely trained junior personnel. This experience positions you perfectly to become a Technical Trainer, where you can leverage your expertise to educate others on complex technical subjects, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to succeed.

Field Service Technician

SOC 49-2099

You've honed your skills maintaining radar equipment in the field, under diverse conditions. This experience makes you an ideal Field Service Technician, where you'll travel to client locations to install, troubleshoot, and repair complex equipment, providing essential support to keep their operations running smoothly.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Ground Radio Maintenance Course, Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School, Twentynine Palms, CA

640 training hours16 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • Basic Electronics Theory
  • Radar Principles and Operation
  • AN/PPS-15 Lightweight Search Radar System Maintenance
  • AN/PPN-19 Radar Transponder System Maintenance
  • Preventive Maintenance Procedures
  • Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
  • Use of Test Equipment
  • Technical Documentation

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60% covered

Requires studying broader electronics principles not specific to radar, such as circuit analysis and various electronic components beyond radar-specific equipment.

CompTIA Network+40% covered

Ground radar maintenance specialists need to study broader networking concepts, security, and troubleshooting techniques not specific to radar systems. Additional study on network infrastructure, protocols, and security best practices would be beneficial.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/PPS-15 Ground Surveillance RadarGround-based motion detection and surveillance radar systems used in security and border patrol.
AN/PPN-19 Radar TransponderADS-B transponders used in aviation, marine, and land vehicle tracking.
Tektronix OscilloscopesTektronix or Keysight oscilloscopes used in electronics testing and repair.
AN/USM-636 Radar Test SetVector Network Analyzers (VNAs) for RF signal testing and analysis.
Spectrum AnalyzersHandheld spectrum analyzers for signal analysis and interference detection used in telecommunications.
MultimetersFluke or Keysight multimeters for electrical testing and troubleshooting.

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