Marine Corps Job: MOS 2171 Electra-Optical Ordnance Repairer

As night vision devices and lasers become more sophisticated and more critical to military operations, the need for experts will continue to grow. In the Marine Corps, electro-optical ordnance repairers do exactly what the job title suggests: repair electro-optical equipment on weapons systems. 

The Marine Corps considers this a primary military occupational specialty (PMOS), and it's open to Marines between the ranks of private and gunnery sergeant. It's categorized as MOS 2171.

What is Electro-Optical Equipment

This is a catchall phrase for some of the most sophisticated equipment in use by the Marines and other branches of the U.S. military. This includes devices like night-vision goggles that amplify existing light, allowing Marines to see a target at night without being easily spotted themselves.

Duties of Electro-Optical Ordnance Repairers

These Marines repair ground ordnance laser and night vision devices, small missile systems and other fire control equipment. This may include equipment used in tanks, howitzers, guided missile systems, and light armored vehicles. They also repair and troubleshoot night vision scopes and other night vision equipment. 

Marines in this MOS learn the electronics of these highly intricate systems, including how to repair digital and analog circuits, series and parallel circuits, AC/DC circuits and similar circuits and schematics. They become adept at soldering and performing diagnostic checks on electro-optical equipment. 

They also repair, inspect and troubleshoot fire control instruments and systems. MOS 2171 ranked sergeant or higher may supervise and manage an electro-optical ordnance repair shop or facility.

Qualifying as an Electra-Optical Ordnance Repairer

Marines in this job need a score of at least 105 on the mechanical maintenance (MM) segment of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests, and a score of 115 or higher on the electronics (EL) section. 

Normal color vision is required, so colorblindness is not permissible, and this job is only open to U.S. citizens. If you want to serve as an electro-optical ordnance repairer, you need to qualify for a secret security clearance from the Department of Defense since you'll be handling sensitive information.

This involves a background check of character and finances, and a history of drug or alcohol abuse may disqualify you from this clearance. A criminal record may also prevent you from receiving a security clearance.

Training for MOS 2171

After the requisite basic training at a Marine Corps Recruit Depot (either Parris Island, South Carolina or San Diego, you'll go to the Marine Detachment at Fort Lee in Virginia, where you'll take the electro-optical ordnance repairer course as part of the Weapons Training Battalion.