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Average Rating: -
Average Duration: 3.1 -
Designation: 1171 -
Number Employed: 652 -
Category: Utilities -
Average Age: 23
Water Support Technicians install, operate, inspect, and perform preventive and corrective maintenance on pumps, water purification equipment, water storage/distribution systems, and laundry and shower facilities. They conduct and evaluate water surveys, water reconnaissance, and water quality analysis as well as establish, maintain, and close sanitation systems. When on Humanitarian Assistance and Civil Military Operations these technicians also plan, install, and repair the plumbing systems of structures. These duties include cutting, bending, and threading pipes; joining pipes using screws, bolts, fittings, solder, and plastic solvent; cleaning tanks; testing water to determine acidity, impurities, turbidity, and conductivity; and regulating the flow of raw water for treatment while mixing it with specified amounts of chemicals in the purification process.
Typical day at work began at 6AM for a platoon run, then return to the shop at 8AM for the work day. Daily maintenance varied from oil changes, re-fueling equipment, doing op-checks on our gear before taking it to the field. Preforming monthly inventories and service checks for records. The military has a rank structure, that’s how management worked for us, anyone that is a higher rank will be your superior. Any rank the same or below are your co-workers, or juniors to mentor. Hardest part of the job was the longer days during field exercises. The days or weeks spent out there varied, making things unpredictable. Most enjoyable part of the job was always meeting new people, becoming family with fellow Marines, learning new trades almost daily with your own job or cross training with someone else’s job.