FORT SILL, Okla., Oct. 25, 2018 -- Leading a team of 18 civilian and active-duty Army instructors at the 94M Radar Repairer schoolhouse at the Ordnance Training Detachment reinforces, senior instructor Sgt. 1st Class Cliff Flucas' belief that he found a good military occupational specialty to build a career.
"I scored high on my ASVAB tests so I had a lot of options," he said.
Reaching back to a time when the United States wasn't at war, Flucas said he first considered infantry. His father and uncle served in the Army, and his uncle recommended finding a career field that would improve Flucas' marketability.
"So, I chose electronics and never looked back. I've been in the same MOS for 19 years; I like the challenge of the job," he said.
Likening those challenges to puzzles, he said every fault indication on a radar system is like a mini puzzle that the maintainer has to figure out. Being one who enjoys working with his hands, Flucas said a radar "puzzle" may require him to take things apart and put them back together offering mental and physical challenges.
He spoke of the autonomy open to a 94M Soldier.
""We get to go off on small teams where we become the subject matter expert, like we are in charge of our element. I like that aspect of the job where there's very limited people who can do what you do, which makes you very valuable in your unit," he said.
As for travel options, Flucas said a 94M Soldier could go anywhere they have radars, which he added was "essentially everywhere."
He found that out when he deployed to Kosovo at age 19. Displaying his proficiency at his job enabled him to go out on patrols in a multi-cultural environment that included working with Spanish soldiers once and visiting a Russian outpost another time.
He said Soldiers who progress in their careers can cross-train into many different jobs.
"In a brigade combat team, you're going to be a part of a team inside a platoon that has small arms repairs, generator mechanics, and other Soldiers in all kinds of different MOSes you get to interact with on a daily basis, so there's always opportunities to learn new things," he said.
Flucas said he cross-trained at one point in his career and became the motor sergeant for wheeled vehicle mechanics.
"I can work on generators, things like that you pick up over the years being surrounded by experts in other MOSes," he said. "Of course, you have to be good at your primary MOS, but there's so many different aspects you can branch out into."
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