Electronics Material Officer Course

MODULE NUMBER ONE

LESSON TOPIC THREE

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL TRAINING

LESSON TOPIC OVERVIEW

LESSON TOPIC THREE

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL TRAINING

This lesson topic presents information about the Combat Systems Training Program, EMO training responsibilities, types of technical training, and training sources.

The LEARNING OBJECTIVES of this LESSON TOPIC are as follows:

The student should review the "LIST OF STUDY RESOURCES" and read the Lesson Topic LEARNING OBJECTIVES before beginning the lesson topic.

LIST OF STUDY RESOURCES

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL TRAINING

To learn the material in this LESSON TOPIC, you will use the following study resources:

Written Lesson Topic presentations in the Module Booklet:

Additional Materials:

References:

LESSON TOPIC SUMMARY

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL TRAINING

This lesson topic will introduce you to training assets available to you as an EMO. You will become familiar with shipboard and shore-based training, as it pertains to electronics. The lesson narrative is organized as follows:

NARRATIVE FORM

OF

LESSON TOPIC 1.3

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL TRAINING

To have a well-trained crew, you must have a formal training program. An effective program provides the professional training required to maintain combat readiness, and compensate for shortages and frequent rotation of qualified personnel. Quality training will improve the morale and motivation of personnel, in addition to their skills and knowledge. Constantly reevaluate your training program to ensure that it is meaningful and effective. Remember that safety is a fundamental objective of training. Technicians must be trained to troubleshoot and maintain electronic equipment safely. A technical expert with a disregard for safety endangers personnel and equipment.

You may recall from SWOS Division Officer Course that the basic policies for the administration and conduct of shipboard training are set forth in U.S. Navy Regulations, and in the Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S. Navy (SORM), OPNAVINST 3120.32C. Remember that training methods and records will vary from ship to ship, depending on the ship's size, design, personnel allowance, and operational requirements. As a division officer, you are also a training group supervisor. Training groups are groups of individuals that require similar training; for example, a division of ETs and the SERT. As a training group supervisor, you will be responsible for submitting weekly inputs to your department head in preparation for the Planning Board for Training (PBFT). You may also be responsible for submitting inputs for, developing, or updating the following:

Consider the following when scheduling training:

Responsibility for training does not end with issuing a training schedule. Every exercise or training program must be formally reviewed by the PBFT. Division officers and petty officers should review the effectiveness of the training program on a daily basis.

The EMO must stay informed of the quotas and entrance requirements for schools that offer electronics training. Some electronics training sources are described in the following paragraphs. Note that, for certain equipment, e.g., copier equipment, technicians must be sent to factory schools. Table 1.3-1 on page 1-3-8 provides information regarding school quotas.

There are five basic types of navy schools available to train technicians:

Electronics Technician Class A School provides personnel with the basic technical knowledge and skills required to perform as junior electronic technicians.

Class C schools train enlisted personnel in a skill related to specific electronic systems, equipment, and skills.

Type commanders sponsor short courses of instruction on various electronic equipment. Training is conducted by a technical specialist. The actual electronic equipment is normally used as a training device, providing hands-on training. The courses are usually short in duration, yet effective. The knowledge acquired compensates for the time the trainee spends away from their shipboard duties. The courses offered, their subject matter, and the frequency with which they are scheduled, are governed by fleet requirements. This information is promulgated locally. If a course does not exist for a particular piece of equipment, a special course can be requested. When in port, you can personally contact the type commander's training staff. They can answer any questions and advise you of unexpected training openings. Normally, the local Readiness Support Group (RSG) is responsible for scheduling this type of training, using assets such as systems commands and contractors to provide the training.

The Afloat Training Group (ATG) and Fleet Technical Support Centers (FTSC) offer courses at various training activities. These courses provide equipment maintenance or team training. They may also be used to train strikers and petty officers in basic equipment operation. There is no formal catalog for these schools. Course offerings are promulgated in local bulletins and/or messages. You can also obtain course information over the telephone. Identify available FTSC training in order to take full advantage of their assets. FTSCs are staffed by experienced senior technicians and tasked with providing training on any equipment for which they have the capability. Do not wait until equipment breaks due to inadequate maintenance to request FTSC training. Additionally, the Combat Systems Training Group (CSTG) offers a variety of team training courses, which can be arranged through your type commander.

The complexity and classified nature of cryptographic equipment places the maintenance technician in a critical position of responsibility for its secure operation and maintenance.

Table 1.3-1 School Quotas

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The school quota request for a BUPERS-controlled school is forwarded to the rating control section of BUPERS. If there is a quota available, it will be returned by

BUPERS along with the type of quota, class convening date, and the authority for transfer. If the request is denied because a quota is unavailable, contact the school to take advantage of cancellations. If there is a cancellation greater

than three working days of the class convening date, BUPERS will normally reassign

the quota. More information is contained in the TRANSMAN and Catalogue of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC).

Previously trained and qualified cryptographic technicians must be retrained and/or requalified by an approved examination if either of the following applies:

It is necessary at this point to define limited and unlimited maintenance. Limited maintenance is field level maintenance. Limited maintenance includes repairs accomplished by swapping entire units/modules using cryptographic maintenance aids and preventive maintenance. Unlimited maintenance is depot level maintenance. Repair is accomplished at the component level. Most shipboard technicians are trained to perform only limited maintenance. Unlimited maintenance technicians are normally assigned to Cryptographic Repair Facilities (CRF) and Intermediate Maintenance Activities (IMA). Only personnel who are graduates of an approved course of instruction for either unlimited or limited maintenance of specific cryptographic equipment or associated cryptoancillary equipment shall be permitted to install, maintain, or repair such equipment. If maintenance action or external wiring changes are not involved, cryptographic equipment may be installed/removed by personnel who are not certified limited or full maintenance technicians (e.g., operators and custodians). This exception does not apply to initial cryptographic equipment installations, which must be accomplished by a certified maintenance technician.

Note that the COMNAVSURFLANT TEMPEST Instruction requires, at a minimum, that the Communications Officer, EMO, ERO, leading radioman, and leading electronics technician attend a TEMPEST familiarization course. The Communications Security (COMSEC) Equipment Maintenance and Training instruction requires that personnel maintaining cryptoancillaries receive general TEMPEST training. TEMPEST training is available at FTSC dets.

SHIPBOARD TECHNICAL TRAINING RESOURCES

Shipboard training can be highly effective. When technical training is conducted in the shipboard environment, the student benefits from hands-on experience. This is a realistic, cost-effective approach to achieve training objectives.

The primary purpose of professional electronics training is material readiness. The EMO is responsible for the training of assigned personnel. The EMO is also responsible for training equipment operators since the effectiveness of electronic equipment depends on proper operation.

Shipboard training assets include qualified personnel, actual equipment, and lessons learned from deployments, inspections, assist visits, and exercises.

Sources of training information and aids include:

Your petty officers will serve as shipboard instructors. You can obtain a quota for the week-long Shipboard Instructor Course to enhance their effectiveness. Check the Catalogue of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC) for course information. To develop instructor techniques and build morale and ownership, choose instructors from all ranks. Even newly reporting and junior personnel can conduct effective training; consider that they may be highly motivated and may have completed a school enroute to the ship. Your Training Petty Officer (TPO) should have a file of locally-developed lesson topic guides. Instructors should review and update these prior to conducting training. If lesson topic guides do not exist, your TPO can assign personnel to research and develop them. To ensure that your training program is effective, you and your chiefs must observe and critique training regularly.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING (OJT)

OJT should be conducted as a matter of routine. Senior personnel and work center supervisors should train junior and/or inexperienced personnel during equipment troubleshooting and planned maintenance. Technicians should be encouraged to discuss job-related problems in the classroom environment. They can relate on their experiences by describing the symptoms of equipment failure, troubleshooting techniques, and corrective actions.

Trained operators save technicians many needless hours of adjustment and repair. Senior electronics technicians must train or ensure the training of operators. An operator's duties should be limited to non-technical procedures or to the performance of simple maintenance operations for which adequate training has been given. Operator should be trained to perform preventive maintenance only on that equipment to which they are assigned on the planned maintenance schedule. The technician assigned to maintenance on the equipment should be assigned responsibility for training the operator.

PQS is the primary means of qualifying watchstanders and team members. The PQS program is used to qualify officer and enlisted personnel to perform their assigned duties and provides a record of qualifications. The PQS Management Guide provides information on the concepts, management, logistics, and implementation of the PQS program. PQS Qualification Progress Records (QPR) are stocked at local SERVMARTs.

When a PQS does not exist for the needs of your unit, Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) Program, OPNAVINST 3500.34C, directs units to develop Job Qualification Requirements (JQR). This authorization gives units considerable flexibility in format, content, use, and revision. The term JQR distinguishes locally developed qualifications from fleet-wide mandatory PQS. JQRs must be approved by the type commander or appropriate major staff.

ECC personnel must have a superior knowledge of damage control, first aid, and equipment repair. Each must be skilled in counteracting damage to electronic spaces, systems, and equipment. ECC personnel are trained to operate, maintain, and repair a variety of electronic equipment. The most important part of this training is system fault recognition. ECC training begins by conducting exercises that simulate casualties in an operational environment. Realistic exercises are required to build confidence and prepare for actual battle scenarios.

As the EMO, you must ensure that all personnel assigned to the electronics division are properly organized and trained in established ECC procedures. These procedures are delineated in your ECC Manual/CSOSS, and should be exercised frequently. Guidelines for evaluating the performance and structure of the ECC organization are provided by the Afloat Training Organization (ATO). Use these guidelines as a checklist to evaluate your organization.

The Combat Systems Training Team (CSTT) is composed of the most experienced shipboard technicians. The SERT is responsible for training combat systems personnel in the operation and maintenance of installed equipment, as well as supervising the conduct of combat systems related exercises. The objective of the SERT is to provide a core of combat systems level trained technicians with the knowledge and skills required for the effective execution of total combat systems preventive and corrective maintenance. SERT uses the CSOSS for standardized training and qualification, with the CSTT as the trainers.

The best feedback on your training program is on-the-job performance. If evidence exists of poor technical performance by trained personnel, e.g. improper maintenance and injury, the EMO must identify training deficiencies to prevent recurrence. Feedback can also be obtained by asking your technicians what they think should be taught, analyzing advancement in rate examination results, and reviewing training records.

Training should be scheduled as early in the day as possible (shortly after morning quarters is ideal). At this time people are rested, ready to start the day, and more receptive. Plan well in advance and ensure that all personnel are aware of the training schedule. Hold training in a suitable location. Consider space, seating, lighting, noise, and availability of training aids.

Films are a valuable training resource. The Catalog of Navy and Marine Corps Visual Information Productions, OPNAV-P-09B1-01-88, lists all U.S. Navy training films by "DN" number. Training films are available from the Naval Education and Training Support Command Pacific (NETSCPAC) and Naval Education and Training Support Command Atlantic (NETSCLANT) film libraries. Additionally, any command holding an account with the Defense Audio Visual Information System (DAVIS) has access to the DAVIS audiovisual database. DAVIS information can be accessed by identification number, title, or subject. DAVIS provides a synopsis, history, source, and cost information. Check with your local support activities and audio visual centers.

PROCEED TO ASSIGNMENT SHEET 1-3-1A IN THE ASSIGNMENT BOOKLET. UPON COMPLETION, TAKE THE ASSIGNMENT BOOKLET TO THE LEARNING CENTER INSTRUCTOR.