Summary
Designs, welds, heat treats, fabricates, and machines precision tools, components, and assemblies for aerospace weapon systems and related support equipment (SE).
Technical School
Days: 67
Locations: Sheppard, Texas
Other Names
None
Bonus
4-Year Bonus: None
6-Year Bonus: $5,000
Badge
Aircraft Maintenance Badge
Duty Identifier
MTECH Duty Identifier
Clearance
None
Open Aptitude Category
Mechanical
AFSC Entry Requirements
Demographics
Males: 787
Females: 33
Total: 820
Community College of the Air Force Degree
Metals Technology
CCAF Degree Plan
AFSC YouTube Videos
AFSC Reddit Posts
Duties and Responsibilities
Advises on metals machining, welding, designing, and production problems. Designs, manufactures, or modifies special precision tools, gauges, dies, and fixtures to facilitate metal working operations.
Performs metals technology shop calculations such as determining cutting speeds and settings, welding processes, and preheat and post heat requirements. Welds, brazes, solders, and heat treats metals.
Uses manual and computer numerical controlled (CNC) metal working machines, mills, and lathes to manufacture and repair cams, gears, slots, and keyways for aircraft components and SE.
Writes programs for CNC machines using manual and Computer Aided Design- Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) methods. Checks completed components and determines serviceability in accordance with drawings and specifications.
Disassembles, assembles, and fits component parts using machine screws, bolts, rivets, press fits, and welding techniques. Uses metal working equipment, tools, and supplies to produce surface finishing specifications for components.
Extracts broken or damaged hardware. Checks components for wear tolerances using precision measuring devices.
Maintains and inspects hand tools and metal working machinery. Performs operator maintenance and service inspections on shop equipment and tools.
Ensures lock out and tag out procedures are accomplished prior to maintenance on all equipment. Uses and disposes of hazardous waste and materials according to environmental standards.
Specialty Qualifications
Knowledge is mandatory of:
- Metal repair and fabrication processes.
- Composition of metals and machinable materials.
- Weld specifications.
- Metal tempering.
- Forging.
- Mechanical drawings.
- Use of precision measuring devices and tools.
- Metal fabricating by oxyacetylene, metallic arc, and inert gas shielded arc.
- Operation and capacity of metal working and welding equipment.
- Use and fabrication of layout and fixture devices.
- Safety codes and practices regarding equipment and supplies.
- Hazards of explosive gasses, hazardous rays, and fumes.
- Proper handling, use, and disposal of hazardous waste and materials.
For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in shop mathematics, metal working, or mechanical drawing is desirable.
Training-
The following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
- For award of AFSC 2A731, completion of a basic aircraft metals technology course is mandatory.
The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
- 2A751. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A731. Also, experience in functions such as gas and electric welding, boring, milling, shaping, grinding metal, or using precision measuring devices.
- 2A771. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A751. Also, experience performing or supervising functions dealing with welding, using precision measuring devices, and machining.
The following are mandatory as indicated:
For entry, award, and retention of AFSCs 2A711/31/51/71:
- Normal depth perception as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
- Must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
Civilian Career Options
High Salary: $103,650
Low Salary: $31,630
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians: $66,440
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers: $53,160
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators: $42,260
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: $57,740
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand: $31,630
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $70,240
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plasti: $41,430
- General and Operations Managers: $103,650
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders,
- Metal and Plastic: $36,880
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $39,530
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:
- $41,380
- Machinists: $45,840
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: $40,850
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $43,150
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic: $54,780
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters: $35,440
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $37,510
- Sheet Metal Workers: $51,370
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers: $44,190
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: $39,410
***This information was retrieved from Veterans Job Matcher at CareerOneStop (www.careeronestop.org), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Shreadouts
None