The Operator Artillery Meteorology and Survey trade is part of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RAA) Corps. The Corps mission is to provide firepower on the battlefield. The Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, as part of the RAA, assists in this task by providing meteorological data, to correct for atmospheric effects on a projectile in flight, survey data, to orientate user units and to place them on a common geographic grid. The battery is also responsible for locating enemy targets, and to produce combat intelligence.
The Operator Artillery Meteorology and Survey (OPAMS) is a soldier who operates Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (TUAV) and meteorological equipment to sample the atmosphere, measuring conditions aloft, for use by artillery, and other units. He is also required to operate GPS survey equipment to determine accurate locations and orientation for artillery units.

Duties

• Operates survey equipment including Global Positioning System (GPS), Differential GPS systems.
• Observes and records survey data using the above equipments.
• Computes survey information.
• Distributes survey information to Artillery, and other units.
• Operates TUAV
• Distributes information gained from the TUAV to Artillery, and other units.
• Assists in the preparation of filling, launching and tracking of meteorological balloons and radiosondes.
• Measures and records meteorological data for Artillery units.
• Passes meteorological data to Artillery units, as an artillery communicator.
• Maintains survey and meteorological equipment.
• Assists in the defence of the Troop position.
• Carries out the duties of a driver within the AMS Troop.

Employment Training

Twelve week OPAMS course at the School of Artillery, at Puckapunyal, Victoria.

Employment Location

Artillery Meteorologist and Surveyors are employed with the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, with its Headquarters in Brisbane, Queensland, and can be employed with the Gun Regiments, as an AMS Section, across Australia.
 

Pay

This particular job is classified as a Pay Group 3 occupation, with increases to Pay Group 4 on completion of the Subject Four Bombardier (Advanced AMS), and on to Pay Group 5 on completion of the Subject Four Sergeant (SPVRSTA).
 

Civil Accreditation

This category's courses meet the requirements for both civilian and military authorities and will make you eligible for:

• Certificate II in Government PSP20104 is granted on being assessed as competent as an ARA Gunner.
• Certificate III in Government PSP30104 is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA Bombardier.
• Certificate III in Business (Frontline Management) BSB30501is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA Bombardier.
• Statement of Attainment towards Certificate IV in Government PSP40199 is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA Sergeant and categorisation of Supervisor Locating.
• Certificate IV in Resource Supervision is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA Sergeant and categorisation of Supervisor Locating.
• Diploma of Government PSP50199 is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as a ARA Warrant Officer and categorisation of Manager Locating.
• Diploma of Resource Management is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as a ARA Warrant Officer and categorisation of Manager Locating.

Further Information

Detailed employment category information about Operator Meteorology & Survey can be found within the

Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery - ARMY