Pavements and Construction Equipment

What does the Pavements and Construction Equipment career field do?

: Constructs and maintains concrete and asphalt runways, aircraft parking aprons, and roads. Operates and maintains heavy construction equipment, such as loaders, graders, dozers, backhoes, and dump trucks. Operates tractor-trailer combinations, transporting construction equipment, and materials. Ensures compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 171000.

Duties and responsibilities

• Plans, constructs, and repairs airfield pavements, roads, streets, curbs, surface mats, membranes, and other improved areas using paving and surfacing procedures. Takes soil, aggregate, asphalt, and concrete samples for laboratory tests. Interprets construction drawings and surveys using information such as subgrade contours and grade alignment. Inspects pavements for surface, base, and sub- base damage, or defects. Repairs damaged or defective areas by removing and replacing joint and crack sealant, surface overlays, and seal coats. Determines material and equipment requirements and prepares cost estimates for construction activities. Provides erosion control.
• Determines type and application of equipment to use in various construction, maintenance, and repair operations. Operates construction equipment to finish grade, level, slope, and compact construction materials. Operates snow and ice removal equipment. Applies chemicals and other ice control products.
• Inspects, lubricates, and performs operator maintenance on construction and snow removal equipment. Adjusts and changes attachments on equipment. Connects and repairs wire rope rigging to cable-operated equipment. Schedules and coordinates equipment repair and servicing with the vehicle maintenance activity and other servicing facilities.
• Investigates proposed work sites to determine resource requirements. Applies engineered performance standards to plan and estimate jobs. Coordinates and plans work requirements with other civil engineering and base agencies. Inspects work to ensure quality and compliance with policies, regulations, and other publications.
• Designs demolition projects, places, and detonates explosives. Performs quarry demolition, clearing and base denial operations as required. Operates water well drilling, rock crushing equipment, and fixed and mobile concrete and asphalt batch plants.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of characteristics, capabilities, operation, and maintenance of equipment used in construction and paving; soil types, properties, limitations, and compaction methods; soil stabilization, drainage, and erosion control; construction and maintenance of asphalt and concrete surfaces; roadbeds; structure erection; landscaping; safety and environmental concerns; and pavement maintenance plans.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in general science, shop mechanics, and use of drawings is desirable.

Training. For award of AFSC 3E231, completion of a basic pavements and equipment operator courses JCAQP3E231 00AB, J9AQA3E231 04RA, and JCABP3E231 00AE. JCAQP3E231 00AA is mandatory.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3E251. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E231. Also, experience in functions such as operating tools and equipment to prepare areas for construction and to maintain roads, runways, and grounds; and mixing and placing concrete and bituminous materials.
• 3E271. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E251. Also, experience performing or supervising functions such as construction equipment operation; special techniques in using construction equipment to prepare areas for constructing and maintaining roads, grounds, and airfield surfaces; or concrete work, soil stabilization, and rigid and flexible pavement construction and maintenance.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty:
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• For entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs, must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate government motor vehicles (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Ground Transportation.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs, must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 3 skill level, 2 years of lack of recent performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 5 skill level, 4 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW AFMAN 36-2100.
• For retention of the AFSC if awarded 7or 9 skill level, 6 years of lack of recent performance then downgraded to 3 skill level and then 2 more years of non performance AFSC is withdrawn IAW DAFMAN 36-2100.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $32,750–$97,180 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Agricultural Equipment Operators: $32,750
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers: $46,000
• Construction Laborers: $37,890
• Construction Managers: $97,180
• Crane and Tower Operators: $59,710
• Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas: $47,920
• Earth Drillers: $48,510
• Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining: $45,150
• Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters: $48,510
• Fence Erector: $37,550
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: $67,840
• First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand: $54,870
• First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators: $54,870
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers: $47,130
• Highway Maintenance Workers: $41,660
• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators: $37,560
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: $49,770
• Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operator: $41,540
• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators: $56,370
• Segmental Pavers: $39,660