Army Radio and Communications Security – MOS 94E

YEONCHEON, South Korea – Pvt. John Kilburn from Denver, Colo., a radio and communications security repairer assigned to Company B, 70th Brigade Support Battalion, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, practices camouflaging his position during a field training exercise March 10 near Yeoncheon, South Korea. The battalion level exercise took place March 3-12 to help Soldiers practice their field craft skills.

U.S. Army / Pfc. Song Gun-woo, 210th Field Artillery Brigade Public Affairs

A Radio and Communications Security Repairer is an essential member of the Army communications maintenance team. If the communications equipment doesn't work, it can put soldiers, particularly those in the field, in jeopardy. These are the soldiers who ensure this highly sensitive equipment is up to par.

This job is a military occupational specialty (MOS) 94E. It's well-suited for people who have an interest in mathematics, are able to maintain a close focus on details for long periods and are interested in working with electronic and electromechanical equipment. 

The Radio/Communications Security (COMSEC) Repairer performs or supervises field and sustainment level maintenance on radio receivers, transmitters, COMSEC equipment, controlled cryptographic (CCI) items and other associated equipment.

Duties of MOS 94E

These soldiers are tasked with repairing and maintaining a variety of Army communications security (COMSEC) equipment, including receivers, transmitters, and controlled cryptographic equipment. They'll perform diagnostics to identify any malfunctions and to ensure equipment is meeting security standards.

If a piece of equipment is badly damaged, it's up to this MOS to decide whether to securely dispose of it, exchange it or send it for high-level repairs. And MOS 94E will perform maintenance checks on any tools, power generators, and vehicles that are used in conjunction with the COMSEC equipment. 

MOS 94E also provides technical and procedural guidance to subordinates, performs difficult repairs, and ensures that any National Security Agency equipment is used properly and securely, including cryptographic components. 

Training

Job training for a radio and communications security repairer includes ten weeks of Basic Combat Training (also known as boot camp) and 25 weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which is conducted at Fort Gordon in Georgia. 

Soldiers will divide their time between the classroom and the field. Soldiers will learn mechanical, electronic and electrical principles; preventive maintenance procedures; line installation and wiring techniques; and communication security policy and procedure.

Qualifying

To be eligible for this job, you'll need to score at least a 102 on the electronics (EL) section of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests, which are used to measure the skills and talents of all new Army recruits. If you want to be a radio and communications security repairer, you'll also need to be able to qualify for a secret security clearance from the Department of Defense.

This involves a background investigation, which will probe your finances and will look for any drug or alcohol use. Marijuana use over the age of 18 and possession or sale of narcotics and other drugs may be grounds for denying this clearance.

In addition to the above requirements, in order to serve as MOS 94E, you must be a U.S. citizen, have a normal color vision (no colorblindness), and have completed one year of high school algebra and general science.

Similar Civilian Occupations

There are some aspects of this job that are military-specific, but you'll be qualified to work as a civilian radio mechanic or radio dispatcher.