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Navy NEC · Engineering

B08A Advanced Equipment Operator

Current service use not established

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

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating. Part of the Equipment Operator rating

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Overview

An advanced equipment operator applies foremanship, mathematics, surveying, and soil stabilization principles to earthwork, paving, trenching, recovery, and transportation operations. The operator runs, adjusts, and services pavers, rollers, excavators, scrapers, tractor trailers, soil stabilization machines, graders, and dozers, and plans line haul operations.

Core Skills

  • Earthwork calculations and construction surveying
  • Grader control system setup and servicing
  • Soil stabilization machine operation and adjustment
  • Trenching and trench box placement

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.

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operating and servicing excavators and scrapers, applying earthwork surveying, and setting up grader control systems transfer directly to construction equipment operation.

How to prepare: Arrange a practical equipment assessment with a contractor or operator training program to identify any gaps on its excavators, dozers, or graders.

What the civilian work involves
  • Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
  • Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
  • Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Maintenance record software

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Operating, adjusting, and servicing asphalt pavers, distributors, and rollers provides direct overlap with civilian paving equipment work.

How to prepare: Arrange supervised practice with a paving contractor on its paver controls, focusing on material flow and adjustments for uneven distribution.

What the civilian work involves
  • Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
  • Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
  • Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC B08A

    [1] NEC entry "B08A - Advanced Equipment Operator"; cached text line 2031; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Earthwork calculations and construction surveying, Grader control system setup and servicing, Soil stabilization machine operation and adjustment, Trenching and trench box placement, Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (O*NET 47-2073.00), Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (O*NET 47-2071.00)

  2. O*NET: Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (O*NET 47-2073.00)

  3. O*NET: Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (O*NET 47-2071.00)

Defense contractor jobs for B08A

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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