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General Info: These specially trained sailors operate, repair and perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on mechanical components of gas turbine engines, main propulsion machinery including gears, shafts and controllable pitch propellers; and assigned auxiliary equipment and propulsion control systems.

What They Do: The duties performed by GSMs include: maintaining and repairing gas turbine engines and auxiliary equipment; working with blueprints, schematics and charts; performing administrative procedures related to gas turbine propulsion system operation and maintenance; performing work area inspections; testing lubricating oil and distillate fuels for contamination, neutralization and precipitation; operating standard test equipment; stopping engines and checking proper performance; replacing and adjusting operating tolerance of contacts, microswitches, relay switches, pressure switches and temperature switches; operating electric plant control and main propulsion equipment; operating pumps, turning gear, air compressors, oil purification system, low pressure air dehydrators and engineering control systems; performing preventive maintenance on ship's fuel system and air system; maintaining sea water service system, waste drain system, oil purification system and manually operated valves; using hoisting and lifting devices and maintaining special tools. maintaining and operating ship's service gas turbine generators and support systems; maintaining and controlling ship's service steam water chemistry; maintaining the controllable pitch propeller system.

Detailed List of Required Duties

ASVAB Score Requirements: VE+AR+MK+AS=195 or VE+AR+MK+AO=200

Other Requirements: Must have normal color perception. 72 month obligation

Technical Training Information: Enlistees are taught the fundamentals of this rating through formal Navy schooling. Advanced technical and operational training is available in this rating during later stages of career development. Temporary assignments to general duty, sometimes aboard ship, may be required while awaiting advanced training assignments.

Engineering Common Core Great Lakes, IL 3 weeks

Introduction to technical documentation, basic mechanical theory, safety precautions and programs, alignment and operation of piping systems and equipment, hand tools, precision instruments, lubricants and lubricant systems, bearings, couplings, gears, valves, pumps and the Maintenance Material Management (3M) System. Group instruction and practical application

Mechanical Core Great Lakes, IL 4 weeks GS "A" School Great Lakes, IL 8 weeks

Introduction to technical documentation, basic watch standing procedures, alignment and operation of piping systems and equipment, hand tools, precision instruments, lubricants and lubricating systems, bearings, couplings, gears, valves, pumps, the Maintenance Material Management System (3M), gas turbine engine theory, propulsion machinery, digital logic control system, electromechanical and electrohydraulic servo devices, electrical power and generative distribution Group instruction

Console Operator Training Great Lakes, IL 2 weeks Operation of engineering Control Consoles. Group Instruction GSM "C" School Great Lakes, Il 12 weeks Advance technical training for gas turbine power ships. GSM "C" School taught in electronic classroom. All instruction is computer-based.

During a 20-year period in the Navy. GSMs spend about 65 percent of their time assigned to fleet units and 35 percent to shore stations.

Working Environment: Gas turbine systems technicians usually work in engine rooms or shops that may be hot and noisy aboard many types of modern ships. At shore they may work at major repair facilities. Work is mainly physical and analytical (trouble shooting) for mechanical components.

Opportunity Rating:

Advancement (Promotion) Trends

College Credits for Training/Experience

Career Progression

Above Information Courtesy of United States Navy

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