An Air and Missile Defense Crewmember is a member of the Army's air defense artillery team using the AVENGER system. The AVENGER system is a lightweight, highly mobile and transportable surface-to-air missile/gun weapon system. It provides mobile, short-range air defense protection against air and land attacks. The Air and Missile Defense Crewmember serves as a member of the highly mobile Avenger operations team.

Some of your duties as a Air and Missile Defense Crewmember may include:

• Prepare, operate and fire the Avenger and Man Portable Air Defense System weapons systems
• Establish and maintain radio and wire communications
• Assist in maintaining situation maps
• Perform target engagement evaluations
• Apply infrared techniques to detect and engage targets
• Operate 'friend or foe' identification equipment
• Resupply ammunition
• Prepare systems for firing

Air and Missile Defense Crewmembers must have the physical stamina to perform strenuous activities for long periods without rest. They're also required to have normal color vision in order to identify color-coded ammunition and to read maps and charts.

Job training for an Air and Missile Defense Crewmember requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 10 weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction. Part of this time is spent in a classroom and part in the field under simulated combat. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Methods of computing target locations
• Ammunition-handling techniques
• Gun, missile and rocket system operations
• Artillery tactics

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to think and remain calm under stress
• An interest in mathematics
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Interest in rocket operations
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties

Advanced level Air and Missile Defense Crewmembers provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advance level Air and Missile Defense Crewmember, you may be involved in:

• Supervise, prepare and fire of the Avenger/Man Portable Air Defense System weapons systems
• Collect and consolidate intelligence information
• Process special and periodic reports
• Prepare and maintain situation maps
• Transmit intelligence and grid locations of incoming targets
• Designate fighting positions

The skills you will learn as an Air and Missile Defense Crewmember, such as teamwork, discipline, leadership and a strong background in surveillance techniques, will help you in any civilian career you choose.

• Air Defense C4I Tactical Operations Center Enhanced Operator Maintainer (14J)
• PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer (14E)
• PATRIOT Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer (14T)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.