Power Plant Operators
Operating and maintaining military power plants with generators rated 500 kW and higher directly overlaps civilian generating-equipment operation and monitoring.
How to prepare: Submit documented generator-operation and maintenance experience to a nonnuclear plant employer for assessment against its onsite qualification program, identifying remaining equipment-specific training gaps. Operators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and extensive employer training, usually several years of onsite training and experience to reach full competence, followed by regular training; some duties require state licensing.
What the civilian work involves
- Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, or voltage of electricity supplied to panels.
- Monitor power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems.
- Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, or other power plant equipment as necessary.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS