Careers

Career Description

How do we know someone has tested a nuclear weapon somewhere in the world? By the clues such tests leave behind. As a Technical Applications specialist, you'll learn how to detect, gather, analyze and report on those clues using a host of classified techniques and tools. Your skills will be heavily based in mathematics, electronics, physics, data analysis and careful observation. The information you gather and the determinations you make will help shape our policies and responses to nuclear proliferation.

Career Tasks

• Perform data collection, analysis, research and development, fielding of prototype and operational electronic sensors and systems on specialized geophysical, nuclear radiation, chemical, biological, electro-optic, radio frequency, infrared discrimination, radar and rapidly deployable and fixed airborne materials sampling platforms
• Process and analyze scientific data; and derive, develop, and report firsthand signature information to national command authorities and war fighters
• Proficient in all technical application fundamentals from basic electron flow to component-level analysis
• Knowledgeable in computer skills (UNIX, Windows and DOS), advanced mathematical skills, statistics, mechanical physics, thermodynamics, electromagnetic radiation, light optics, chemistry and fundamentals of nuclear radioactivity
• Skilled in weapons of mass destruction as they pertain to nuclear, chemical and biological sources
• Educated in materials ranging from computer workstations (LANs) to maintenance of collection systems to operations and analysis of multimedia environments (e.g., satellite, seismic, hydroacoustics and radio frequency)

Relevant Interests & Skills

• Weaponry
• Science
• Computers
• Electronics
• Maintenance and Repair
• Information Technology

Training

After eight-and-a-half weeks of Basic Military Training, every Airman goes to technical training to learn their career. Here's the basic information about Technical Applications Specialist technical training:

School location: Goodfellow AFB [TX]

Length of course: 45 days

College degree earned: Scientific Analysis Technology

College credits earned: 13