Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator

Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operators are designated by their Military Occupation Specialty as 13R (MOS 13R). Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operators, also called simply Firefinder Radar Operators, are responsible for the operation of firefinder radar systems, maintaining radio communications, and constructing fortifications for field artillery equipment.

The term “firefinder” is applied to specialized equipment that uses radio or sound waves to detect and determine the location of mortars, aircraft, or other objects. Firefinder radar operators are responsible for using this information to apprise friendly forces of the location of enemy forces.

Firefinder radar operators must be have normal color vision in order to correctly interpret data on the radar display screen.

Firefinder radar operators go through two training phases: nine weeks of Basic Training, and eight weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT). After basic training, students attend AIT courses at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. AIT courses will teach students the basics of operating radar equipment, field tactics, combat communications protocol, and how to estimate the altitude, speed, and direction of travel of objects on the firefinder radar display screen. Firefinder radar operators are also trained how to select appropriate sites for setting up radar equipment in the field.

Firefinder radar operators must be U. S. citizens and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. To obtain the MOS 13R rating, they must be between the ages of 17 and 42, hold a security clearance of SECRET, and must have a minimum score of 100 on the Surveillance and Communications (SC) sub-test of the Army Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). In addition, they must satisfy the requirements of the military’s physical profile system. The physical profile for firefinder radar operators is designated by the PULHES number of 222221. The firefinder radar operator position is not open to women.

The starting salary for a firefinder radar operator is tied to an individual soldier’s pay grade classification; therefore, annual salaries may vary somewhat. However, the annual base pay for firefinder radar operators is between $17,400 and $22,300. Some enlistment bonuses may apply.