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Marine Corps MOS · Communications

5979 Tactical Air Operations/Air Defense Systems 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

Tactical Air Operations/Air Defense Systems Technicians perform or supervise diagnosis, field-level repair, and modification of electronic systems and subsystems in selected Marine Air Control Group and Marine Littoral Regiment units. They install, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain MADIS radar systems, radio communications equipment, Tactical Data Link equipment, networking and data storage devices, and configure software and firmware for Ground Based Air Defense equipment.

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.

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Core Skills

  • Tactical data link installation and operation
  • Ground-based air defense software and firmware configuration
  • Network and data storage equipment troubleshooting
  • Aviation command and control systems integration

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.

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

Diagnosis, field-level repair, modification, and maintenance reporting for radar and communications electronics transfer directly to commercial electronic equipment repair.

How to prepare: Complete a bench troubleshooting exercise on commercial electronic equipment and document the fault, test results, repair, and post-repair verification.

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

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Installing and troubleshooting radio communications, tactical data link, and networking equipment provides closely related experience for telecommunications equipment installation and repair.

How to prepare: Build a commercial switching-equipment lab and practice installation, fault isolation, and post-update functional testing using the manufacturer's specifications.

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

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 foundational circuit theory, test-equipment knowledge, and telecommunications fundamentals for civilian electronics repair.

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

  • CompTIA Network+ · Funded

    Strengthen commercial networking knowledge for telecommunications equipment work; CompTIA recommends A+ certification and 9 to 12 months of junior network administration or network support experience as preparation.

    For: Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (5 documents)
  1. NAVMC 1200.1L (FY26, in force): MOS 5979

    [1] MOS 5979 section "a. Summary"; cached text line 48301; NAVMC 1200.1L signed 2025-03-07, in force until 2026-10-01

    Supports: Tactical data link installation and operation, Ground-based air defense software and firmware configuration, Network and data storage equipment troubleshooting, Aviation command and control systems integration, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (O*NET 49-2094.00), Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers (O*NET 49-2022.00)

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

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

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

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

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

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

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

    [4] 5979 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Associate Electronics Technician (CETa)

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

    Supports: Associate Electronics Technician (CETa)

  5. COOL credential mapping: CompTIA Network+

    [6] 5979 cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: CompTIA Network+

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

    Supports: CompTIA Network+

Defense contractor jobs for 5979

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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