Army MOS · Combat & Infantry

13R Field Artillery (FA) Weapons Locating Radar (WLR) Specialist

Overview

A Field Artillery Weapons Locating Radar Specialist tactically employs heavy and light radars to track surface to surface munitions, report their point of origin, and predict their point of impact. The specialist provides early warning and target information for counterfire operations, identifies hostile land based indirect fire weapons, and supports calibration and registration for friendly indirect fire systems.

Core Skills

  • radar system operation
  • sensor calibration and alignment
  • tactical data interpretation
  • target acquisition and tracking
  • fault isolation and troubleshooting
  • preventive maintenance procedures
  • digital fire control systems familiarity
  • map reading and geolocation
  • radio and digital communications procedures
  • time-sensitive decision making

Civilian Software & Tools

  • Circuit evaluation software
  • Maintenance record software
  • Work record software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Database software

Civilian Career Paths

  • Radio Frequency Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Intelligence Analysis

Training & Development

Getting Started

  • Associate Certified Electronics Technician (CETa) · Funded · Promotion points
  • Basic Systems Technician (BST)
  • CompTIA A+ · Funded · Promotion points

Career Growth

  • Certified Remote Sensing Technologist (ASPRS) · Funded · Promotion points
  • RADAR Electronics Technician (RAD)
  • RF Interference Mitigation (RFIM)

What the Work Involves

  • Test faulty equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test equipment or software, and applying knowledge of the functional operation of electronic units and systems.
  • Maintain equipment logs that record performance problems, repairs, calibrations, or tests.
  • Test repaired, newly installed, or updated equipment to ensure that it functions properly and conforms to specifications, using test equipment and observation.
  • Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
  • Compile, sort, and verify the accuracy of data before it is entered.

Related Occupations

  • Computer Network Architects
  • Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
  • Rail Car Repairers
  • Data Scientists

Typical preparation for these civilian roles: vocational training or an associate degree.

Defense contractor jobs for 13R

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

Report an error on this page