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Marine Corps MOS · Aviation

5954 Air Traffic Control Communications Technician

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

An Air Traffic Control Communications Technician surveys sites, installs communications systems, conducts inspections, and performs preventive maintenance. The technician diagnoses and corrects faults, assists with flight inspections, maintains tools and records, manages system parts and supplies, and trains less qualified personnel.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Minimum ASVAB: EL 110

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-19

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: navmc-1200-1l-fy26 (source date 2025-03). Policy applicability has not been established.

See if you would hit this score: free ASVAB practice test

Core Skills

  • Communications site surveys and system placement
  • System tuning, adjustment, and alignment
  • Fault isolation and verified corrective repairs
  • Technical support during system flight inspections

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Installing ATC communications systems, isolating faults, and verifying repairs transfer directly to telecommunications equipment installation and service.

How to prepare: Complete a hands-on lab installing and testing data or telephone switching equipment to extend your ATC communications experience to civilian telecommunications systems.

What the civilian work involves
  • Test circuits and components of malfunctioning telecommunications equipment to isolate sources of malfunctions, using test meters, circuit diagrams, polarity probes, and other hand tools.
  • Test repaired, newly installed, or updated equipment to ensure that it functions properly and conforms to specifications, using test equipment and observation.
  • Assemble and install communication equipment such as data and telephone communication lines, wiring, switching equipment, wiring frames, power apparatus, computer systems, and networks.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Cisco IOS

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

Your experience diagnosing system faults, replacing faulty components, aligning equipment, and recording maintenance closely matches electronic equipment repair work.

How to prepare: Build a sample repair report for an industrial electronic unit that documents fault diagnosis, component replacement, and post-repair testing.

What the civilian 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.
  • Install repaired equipment in various settings, such as industrial or military establishments.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Circuit evaluation software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS

Avionics Technicians

ATC communications troubleshooting, system alignment, and flight-inspection support provide a foundation for testing and repairing aviation electronics.

How to prepare: Take an aircraft-electronics lab course covering aircraft wiring and component testing to bridge from ATC systems to onboard equipment. Work maintaining, adjusting, or internally repairing FCC-licensed aviation radiotelephone transmitters requires the General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG).

What the civilian work involves
  • Test and troubleshoot instruments, components, and assemblies, using circuit testers, oscilloscopes, or voltmeters.
  • Adjust, repair, or replace malfunctioning components or assemblies, using hand tools or soldering irons.
  • Set up and operate ground support and test equipment to perform functional flight tests of electrical and electronic systems.

Training & Development

Choose credentials for your target role. COOL funding markers describe program listings, not a guarantee of eligibility or funding.

Getting Started

  • Associate Electronics Technician (CETa)

    Validate electronics fundamentals, circuit knowledge, and test-equipment knowledge relevant to equipment repair.

    For: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment, Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

  • CompTIA Network+

    Develop networking knowledge for telecommunications work involving computer systems and networks.

    For: Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

  • ASTM NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET)

    Validate aircraft-electronics fundamentals and maintenance knowledge while preparing for the move into avionics.

    For: Avionics Technicians

  • General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

    Support aviation radio maintenance work through examination in radio law, operating practice, and transmitter and receiver maintenance.

    Eligibility and preparation: Pass or receive credit for FCC written Elements 1 and 3, demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of FCC rules, and be able to send and receive spoken messages correctly in English.

    For: Avionics Technicians

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (11 documents)
  1. NAVMC 1200.1L (FY26, in force): MOS 5954

    [1] MOS 5954 section "a. Summary"; cached text line 47934; NAVMC 1200.1L signed 2025-03-07, in force until 2026-10-01

    Supports: Communications site surveys and system placement, System tuning, adjustment, and alignment, Fault isolation and verified corrective repairs, Technical support during system flight inspections, Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (O*NET 49-2022.00), Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (O*NET 49-2094.00), Avionics Technicians (O*NET 49-2091.00)

  2. O*NET: Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (O*NET 49-2022.00)

  3. O*NET: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (O*NET 49-2094.00)

  4. O*NET: Avionics Technicians

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Avionics Technicians (O*NET 49-2091.00)

  5. COOL credential mapping: General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

    [5] 5954 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Avionics Technicians (O*NET 49-2091.00), General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

  6. COOL credential mapping: ASTM NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET)

    [6] 5954 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Avionics Technicians (O*NET 49-2091.00), ASTM NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET)

  7. COOL credential mapping: Associate Electronics Technician (CETa)

    [7] 5954 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Associate Electronics Technician (CETa)

    [8]ETA International: Associate Certified Electronics Technician · CETa description and CETa Exam Info; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: Associate Electronics Technician (CETa)

  8. COOL credential mapping: CompTIA Network+

    [9] 5954 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: CompTIA Network+

    [10]CompTIA: Network+ (Plus) certification exam details · Exam details; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: CompTIA Network+

  9. SpaceTEC Partners, Inc.: Qualifications for ASTM NCATT Certifications

    [11] Sole qualifications statement on page; retrieved 2026-09-23

    Supports: ASTM NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET)

  10. eCFR: 47 CFR 13.201 - Qualifying for a commercial operator license or endorsement (FCC)

    [12] sec. 13.201(a) and (b)(2); eCFR current through issue date 2026-09-21, text retrieved 2026-09-23 via eCFR API

    Supports: General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

  11. eCFR: 47 CFR 13.203 - Examination elements (FCC commercial radio operators)

    [13] sec. 13.203(a)(1)-(2); eCFR current through 2026-09-21, retrieved 2026-09-23 via eCFR API

    Supports: General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG)

Defense contractor jobs for 5954

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

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