US Army Cannon Crewmember (13B) Job Description

US Army Cannon Crewmember (13B) Job DescriptionUS Army Cannon Crewmember (13B) Job DescriptionA cannon crewmember is an important contributor to the Armys success on the battlefield. Artillery teams are used to support infantry and tank units in combat, but also have responsibilities during peacetime. Cannon crewmembers work on cannons known as howitzers, a heavy artillery machine piece with single-barrel firing capability. Duties of Cannon Crewmembers (13B) Cannon crewmembers perform the following duties Operate high technology cannon artillery weapon systems.Load and fire howitzers.Set fuses and charges on a variety of munitions, including high explosive artillery rounds, laser-guided projectiles, scatterable mines, and rocket assisted projectiles.Use computer-generated fire direction data to set elevation of cannon tubes for loading and firing.Employ rifles, machine guns,grenades and rocket launchers in offensive and defensive operations.Drive and operate heavy and light wheel ed trucks and tracked vehicles. Transport and manage artillery ammunition.Participate in reconnaissance operations to include security operations and position preparation.Operate in reduced visibility environments with infrared and starlight enhancing night vision devices and other equipment.Coordinate movements into position.Camouflage position areas.Communicate using voice and digital wire and radio equipment.Use critical combat survival skills to operate in a hostile environment.Maintain operational readiness of vehicles and equipment. Supervise handling, transportation, accountability, and distribution of ammunition.Assist section chief in supervision of howitzer operations, maintenance, and training.Lay weapons for direction, conducting bore sighting and basic periodic tests.Supervise the operation, loading, and maintenance of the Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle. Training Required for Cannon Crewmembers Job training for a cannon crewmember requires ten weeks of B asic Combat Training and seven weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field under simulated combat conditions.Instruction includes basic soldier skills and critical combat survival skills duties of a soldier in a field artillery howitzer section, identification of howitzers, and techniques of handling ammunition, setting fuzes, preparing charges, loading, and firing howitzers and maintenance and communications training. Some of the skills youll learn are Calculating targets manually and electronicallyHandling ammunitionOperating gun systemsArtillery tactics and battle strategy Qualifications and Requirements ASVAB Score93 in aptitude area Field Artillery (FA)Security ClearanceNoneStrength RequirementVery heavyPhysical Profile Requirement222221 Candidates for MOS 13B must also satisfy the following requirements Color discrimination of red/green. Similar Civilian Occupations There is no c ivilian occupation that is directly equivalent to MOS 13B. However, the following civilian occupations make use of the skills developed through MOS 13B training and experience. Bus drivers, transit, and intercityBus and truck mechanics and selbstznder engine specialistsBusiness operations specialistsData entry keyersFirst-line supervisors/managers of protective service workersFirst-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operatorsMobile heavy equipment mechanics, except enginesTraining and development specialists Options for Job Recruitment after the Army After serving in the Army as a cannon crewmember, you may be eligible for civilian employment by enrolling in theArmy PaYS program. The PaYS program is a recruitment option that guarantees a job interview with military friendly employers that are looking for experience and trained Veterans to join their organization. Organizations that participate in the PaYS program and actively seek skilled Veterans as employees include ATT, Inc.Hewlett-Packard CompanyKraft Foods Global, Inc.Sears Holdings CorporationTime Customer Service, Inc.Walgreen Co.

5 Ways to Maintain Your Sanity When Youre Out of Work

5 Ways to Maintain Your Sanity When Youre Out of Work5 Ways to Maintain Your Sanity When Youre Out of Work Whether you quit your job without another one lined up or got laid off unexpectedly, being out of work is a tough pill to swallow. Not only can it constitute a major financial strain, but it can also wreck your self-esteem and send your stress levels skyrocketing. If youre without a job, here are a few things you can do to make the situation more manageable while you look for work.Not having a job to report to gives you a prime opportunity to invest some time into boosting your skills, so if theres a course youve always wanted to take or a certification youve been meaning to pursue, nows your chance to get it done. Taking steps to further your career will help you make good use of your time while youre unemployed, and itll also make for a more appealing resume to aid in your job search.Being cooped up at home looking for work can get depressing when youve been at it for a while. So rather than hibernate inside with your laptop, get mobile. Set up shop at a local coffeehouse, or plant yourself on a park bench for several hours while you work on cover letters . Being out and about will make for a less isolating experience, and thatll help keep you motivated when your search is getting you down.Sometimes, getting a job isnt about what you know, but who you know. Even if youre not in a great place mentally as a result of being out of work, you should still make an effort to meet your old associates for lunch and pick up the phone to call those business contacts you havent spoken to in quite some time. You never know when someone in your network might have an opening thats perfect for you, so even if your self-esteem has been taking a beating, it pays to push yourself to be as social and communicative as possible.When youre stuck in a jobless situation, and your search is going nowhere, its easy enough to hit a low. So, why not spend some of you r newfound time helping others? Volunteering is a great way to occupy your days in a meaningful fashion and feel good about yourself in the process. And as an added bonus, the volunteer work you do might make a great addition to your resume , thereby increasing your chances of getting hired.Maybe youd rather not take a part-time job because you want the flexibility to go on interviews and focus on landing a permanent role. But that doesnt mean you cant be your own boss while you look for work. If theres a hobby you enjoy with money-making potential , you might as well take the opportunity to earn a little side cash. Having that extra money will relieve some of the anxiety you might be experiencing as a result of missing your steady paycheck, which will help make your jobless period less painful on a whole.Being out of work isnt easy, so be kind to yourself when you land in that situation. Remember, youre going to find a job eventually, and until you do, you might as well make the mo st of the free time you have on your hands, even though youd rather not have it in the first place.This article was originally published on The Motley Fool . It is reprinted with permission.

Essential Career Book How to Win Friends and Influence People

Essential Career Book How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleEssential Career Book How to Win Friends and Influence PeopleWith hundreds of business books published every year, its easy to get overwhelmed by the latest and greatest book that might just hold the key to your career success. But what if the onslaught of new releases is distracting you from a classic career book youre missing out on?In an effort to make sure our younger readers dont miss out on famous and life-changing reads from before your time, wed like to share some essential career books you cant afford to miss. Over the next few months well introduce the titles that established the industry of partieal growth and career success.The first book well read is Dale Carnegies How to Win Friends and Influence People, first published in 1936. While written in an old fashioned voice, this classic self-help book provides incredible insight into understanding other people and creating long-lasting, mutually-beneficial relation ships with them. As you read the book (or to inspire you to read the book), consider these three important lessons from Carnegie that can help you win friends and influence people People are important, so make them feel that way.In a digital, virtual and email-heavy kind of world, its easy to forget how important people are for your personal growth. However, whom you meet and whom you befriend has a huge effect on your career and earning power over your lifetime. As you gain proficiency in your field and take on new jobs youll meet a wide range of people, Carnegie emphasizes that the key to all human relationships is understanding that we all want to feel important, remembered and helpful. We all also play an important role in helping others feel that way so what you do and say early on in a conversation and in a relationship matters a great deal.Career Tip 1 The people in your life and in your workplace now are very important. Think of what you can do to help others feel important. People like people who appreciate their interests. When you start a relationship youre a blank slate meeting a blank slate. The best way to get started is to focus on what the person youre speaking with finds interesting and agreeable. Once you get to this common ground or get to this, Yes, youll find that the other persons interest will help them be interested in you. From this mutual place of agreement, a real relationship can grow.The common holdback at this point in a relationship is to be too consumed with your own opinion, your own interests or your desire to correct someone or win them to your side without hearing them out first. Its important to understand that until someone feels that you truly understand them or are willing to consider their side, they will never be moved to hear you out or consider your side. Career Tip 2 Start with the other persons interests and build familiarity from there. Dont start with your own agenda in mind seek first to understand. Never argue, always discuss. We like to think that the most convincing or detailed argument wins and that there is a clear right and wrong answer, and anyone with the wrong answer should admit it. However, Carnegie provides a lot of anecdotes that show how argument never successfully changes anyones mind. In fact, he coined the phrase, A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Arguments and disagreements are bound to come up. However, the most successful communicator will approach these differences from a friendly, discussion-focused position rather than an argumentative one. Its only patient, friendly discussion that allows people to put their walls down and truly consider a different viewpoint.Career Tip 3 If you start at two opposite positions, youll end there, too. Get them saying Yes as soon as possible to find common ground.These are only three great points from a book bursting with insights and examples. Have you read this classic book? Share with us your favorite qu otes and thoughts on how this book can change your career