Satellite Communications Operator

  • Ratings Average Rating:
  • Required Test Average Duration: 2.1
  • Desinnation Designation: 0627
  • Number Employed Number Employed: 1,083
  • Category Category: Communications
  • Age Average Age: 22
The Satellite Communications Operator is a Marine that’s trained to install, operate and maintain various satellite communication platforms from the Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMARTT/AEHF) AN/TSC-154, the Lightweight Multi-Band Satellite Terminal (LMST/SHF) AN/USC-65(V), the Phoenix Tactical SHF Terminal (TSST) AN/TSC-156 and Very Small Aperture Terminal-Large (VSAT-L)AN/TSC-181B, providing classified and unclassified data, voice and video teleconferencing capabilities in garrison or tactical environments.
Category Requirements
Age17-28
Citizenship RequiredCitizen or Green Card
Minimum Duration4 years
High School DiplomaPreferred
GED AcceptedYes (limited)
Minimum ASVAB (AFQT)~31
Waivers AvailableModerate
Drug History WaiversPossible
Tattoo PolicyStrict
Face/Neck TattoosNo
Hand TattoosLimited
Height Requirement~58–78 in
Weight StandardsYes
Medical Exam (MEPS)Required
Vision StandardsModerate
Security Clearance JobsSome
Physical Fitness TestPFT/CFT
Basic Training Length~13 weeks
Basic Training DifficultyVery High
Deployment FrequencyHigh
Combat Job AvailabilityHigh
Technical JobsMedium
Overseas BasesMany
Signing BonusesModerate
Women in Combat RolesYes
Job Selection ProcessOften assigned
Promotion SpeedFast
Branch CultureWarrior Culture
Category Rating
Overall Rating
Bonuses, Pay & Promotions
Transferable Skills
Lifestyle & Culture
Training & Education
Risks & Physical Demands
A typical day at work could range between digging a hole to planning a network infrastructure. I guess what we did in down time would be maintenance, paperwork and mentoring our juniors/employees. I will generalize the myriad of things i learned: Leadership/Management, Mentoring, Personal Training/Physical Fitness, Risk Management, Networking, Radio Systems High Frequency – Ultra High Frequency, Electronics, Heavy Equipment Operation, Logistics, Customer Service, Hazardous Materials, peer and superior counseling(business and personal), teaching/training, presentations/public speaking. In the marine corps your “co-workers” come and go, but you build a family type relationship with them in a short amount of time. Hardest part of the job was working hours; there would times where you might not sleep for a few days and still have to go through the bugs of making a modern network run in the middle of nowhere. The most enjoyable part was getting to see and learn things that most people will never get the chance to.
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