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Computer Systems Specialists

The military uses computers to store and process data on personnel, weather, finances, and many other areas, as well as to operate sophisticated equipment during combat and peace time maneuvers.

Job Details:

What They Do:

Computer systems specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

Install, configure, and monitor local and wide area networks, hardware, and software
Collect, enter, and process information using computers
Provide customer and network administration services, such as electronic mail accounts, security, virus protection, and troubleshooting
Use computer programs to solve problems
Determine and analyze computer systems requirements
Program information into languages that computers can read
Develop, test, and debug computer programs

Training Provided:

Job training varies between 7 and 13 weeks of classroom instruction, depending upon the specialty area. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses in specific computer systems and languages. Course content typically includes:

Use of computers and peripheral equipment
Computer systems concepts
Planning, designing, and testing computer systems
Program structuring, coding, and debugging
use of current programming languages
Computer security issues
Network management

Work Environment:

Computer systems specialists in the military work in offices or at computer sites on military bases or aboard ships.

Opportunities:

The services have about 24,000 computer systems specialists. Each year, they need new specialists to meet the changing demands in the field. After training, computer systems specialists work under the direction of experienced computer systems officers. With experience they may manage other computer systems specialists.

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