Air Force Enlisted Job Descriptions

Specialty Summary

Installs, inspects, repairs, and manages plumbing, water distribution, wastewater collection systems and components, fire suppression and backflow prevention systems. Complies with environmental and safety regulations. Related DoD Occupational Subgroups: 720.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Installs and operates plumbing, water, wastewater, fire suppression and backflow prevention systems and components.

Monitors systems operation to ensure efficiency and compliance. Ensures compliance with safety and environmental regulations for hazardous materials. Installs and operates field potable water treatment equipment.

Maintains, inspects, and repairs plumbing, water, wastewater, fire suppression and backflow prevention systems, and components. Performs inspection, recurring maintenance, and seasonal overhaul on systems and components. Troubleshoots malfunctions. Uses drawings and schematics to analyze and isolate system malfunctions. Removes, repairs, and replaces defective components. Modifies equipment for specific missions or to increase efficiency. Locates and determines quality and quantity of water sources.

Solves complex maintenance problems by studying as-built and schematic drawings. Solves complex maintenance problems by studying layout drawings, wiring and schematic drawings, and by analyzing construction and operating characteristics.

Develops and establishes operation and maintenance procedures to ensure maximum efficiency. Coordinates locations of field latrines and pits with engineering and medical staff. Analyzes water for chemical and physical characteristics to determine water purification treatment methods.

Performs planning activities.

Performs facility surveys. Surveys proposed work to determine resource requirements. Prepares cost estimates for in-service work. Applies engineered performance standards to plan and estimate jobs. Coordinates plans and other activities.

Specialty Qualifications:

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: nomenclature, types, sizes, and uses of plumbing materials such as pipes, valves, fittings, metals, caulking, packing, and gaskets; shop mathematics; reading and interpreting drawings and specifications; contingency water and waste water operations; maintenance of water, waste collection systems; corrosion prevention; military and commercial publications; and environmental regulations.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in mathematics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, drawing and specification use, and shop mechanics is desirable.

Training. For award of AFSC 3E431, completion of a basic utilities course is mandatory.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated: (Note: See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes).

3E451. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3E431. Also, experience in functions such as operation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing, water and waste water systems, and water quality testing and analysis.