One of the more vital jobs in the U.S. Army is the Patriot Missile Operator. It is part of the defenses that are used on the front lines to protect the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as equipment and facilities. A missile system consists of a communications group relay, a power plant, a control station, and as many as eight launching stations. The control operator for the Patriot Missile System works directly with the missile launching stations. The Patriot system is able to launch and take out multiple targets.
Some of the duties of a Patriot Missile System Operator are:
-Performing various routine and preventative maintenance on the systems in the field.
-Loading and handling Patriot ammunition.
-Supplying each of the Launching stations with missiles in the field.
-Placement and movement of the Patriot system in the field.
-Using the Control station and operating, launching and firing the Patriot Missile system.
Being a Patriot Missile operator sounds like an exciting job, and it is, but it’s not for lightweights. You should be in good to excellent physical shape, and able to do strenuous activity for extended periods, sometimes without rest. Not only should you be in top physical shape, but also you have to be able to maintain mental alertness and clarity during such periods of activity and stress. You should have normal color vision, and be able to interpret and understand charts, maps, and understand the color-coding on different types of ammunition.
To prepare for a job as an Army Patriot Missile Operator you will have to undergo the standard nine weeks of Basic training, where you will learn the same soldiering skills as the rest of your army brethren. Then you will be required to take eleven weeks of Individual Advanced training some of which is in the classroom, and the rest is in the field under drill and simulated combat situations.
Skills you will learn during this advanced individual training will be:
-Operating strategies, basic Battle strategy, and various artillery tactics.
-How to operate various technologies that are unique to the Patriot Missile System.
-How to operate various rocket, gun and missile system used by the Patriot.
As you progress in your Army Career, advancement and training opportunities will continue. As you gain rank and seniority, the training you will receive will also become more advanced and more options to take in depth planning and Patriot Placement courses. Skills learned, as a Patriot Missile system team member will be highly valuable in the civilian world after you leave the Army. The leadership, teamwork and discipline skills you gain will help in any career choice you choose in the civilian world.
