Military Occupational Specialty

     

    63S - HEAVY-WHEEL VEHICLE MECHANIC

    Description

    Major duties: The Heavy-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic performs unit maintenance on heavy-wheel vehicles (prime movers designated as more than 5 tons and their associated trailers) and material handling equipment.

    1. Skill Level I - Maintains:
      • compression ignition engines
      • compression ignition engine fuel systems
      • compression ignition air induction systems
      • wheel vehicle exhaust systems
      • vehicle liquid cooling systems
      • vehicle starting systems
      • vehicle charging systems
      • wheel chassis electrical systems
      • standard transmission assemblies
      • automotive transmission assemblies
      • air-controlled semi-automatic transmission assemblies
      • transfer assemblies
      • propeller shaft assemblies
      • axle assemblies
      • drum brake systems
      • hydraulic brake systems
      • air/hydraulic brake systems
      • air (wedge, s-cam) brake systems
      • mechanical brake systems
      • wheel vehicle suspension systems
      • wheel vehicle wheel/hub assemblies, wheel vehicle hydraulic (power) steering systems
      • fifth wheel assemblies
      • wheel vehicle crane/hoist/winch assemblies and
      • material handling equipment hydraulic systems.
    2. Skill Level II - Performs Duties In:
      • preceding skill level
      • supervises lower grade soldiers and
      • provides technical guidance to the soldiers in the accomplishment of their duties.

    Training

    Job training for a Heavy-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 12 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

    • Engine repair and tune-up
    • Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical problems
    • Repair and replace body panels, fenders and radiators
    • Recovery Operations

    Skills

    Helpful attributes include:

    • An interest in auto mechanics and the industrial arts
    • A preference for physical work
    • An interest in troubleshooting and repairing mechanical problems
    • An interest in automotive engines and how they work

    Responsibilities

    Advanced level Heavy-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Heavy-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic, you may be involved in:

    • Supervise recovery team performance of wheeled vehicle recovery operations
    • Supervise compliance with shop safety program and use, maintenance and security of hand and shop power tools
    • Supervises and performs diagnostic troubleshooting to determine maintenance repair criteria using Test Measurement Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE)
    • Perform equipment classification inspections and annotate and submit appropriate forms and documents
    • Perform battlefield damage and assessment and repair (BDAR)

    Civilian Related

    The skills you learn as a Heavy-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic will help prepare you for a future with civilian service stations, auto dealers, farm equipment companies and state highway agencies. You'll be able to pursue a career as a garage mechanic, carburetor mechanic, transmission mechanic, radiator mechanic, construction equipment mechanic or endless track vehicle mechanic.

     

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