Is it a 91B's job to install radio equipment in a vehicle?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 May 2018 15:40:00 -0400

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 23 at 2018 4:54 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 23 May 2018 16:54:31 -0400

If they were trained to do it yes, other than that last I knew commo sec did the work.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2018 7:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 May 2018 19:50:06 -0400

No that’s commo job

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2018 7:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 May 2018 19:50:11 -0400

Both NCO’s are correct in their own aspect. Usually the commo crew would instal their equipment but mechanics will also if need be but it should always be the operators or commo crew.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made May 24 at 2018 6:52 AM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Thu, 24 May 2018 06:52:32 -0400

Both you and the commo people should work together; safety first.

Response by SGT Jake Miller made May 24 at 2018 4:12 PM

SGT Jake Miller — Thu, 24 May 2018 16:12:53 -0400

Its both. The mechanic is,needed to install all mounting points. The S6 is needed to,do all the wiring of the system.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2018 5:29 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 May 2018 17:29:19 -0400

1) Radio Equipment is easy to install
2) it comes with a TM
3) the Commo guy is only responsible for the servicing, distribution, and accountability of equipment.

Response by SSG Ray Eddy made May 25 at 2018 1:37 AM

SSG Ray Eddy — Fri, 25 May 2018 01:37:01 -0400

Depends, some common guys prefer to do the complete install and a mechanic will assist if needed.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2018 9:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 May 2018 09:55:44 -0400

No that is not the mechanics job, but if they ask for help with mounting it that would be nice of you.
My mechanics will never touch wiring for commo though (especially without S6 present) because I know how the blame game goes.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2018 9:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 May 2018 09:22:05 -0400

It can be. You talking just the mounts to hold it? Its not that hard i have done it many of times.. but probably would be your como persons job...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2018 8:05 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 May 2018 20:05:31 -0400

Technically no, it should be the operators job or the commo guys. if you want to be nice and help so be it, but if they’re trying to force you or being assholes about it just ask where their 5988 is lol.

Response by SGT Dale Williams made May 29 at 2018 12:03 PM

SGT Dale Williams — Tue, 29 May 2018 12:03:56 -0400

Technically no. But in a 24 year career I did so on more occasions than I can remember.
Please keep in mind that depending on the MTOE of your Unit, you may not have basic comms support and that leaves it up to the Unit to best decide where that ADO would lie. Otherwise a RFI/RFA would have to be pusbed forward to request support.
And at times this effects mission readiness.

Response by SSG Mark Nistler made May 31 at 2018 9:53 AM

SSG Mark Nistler — Thu, 31 May 2018 09:53:13 -0400

No. That is what the commo section is for.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2018 10:07 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 May 2018 22:07:04 -0400

So for all the wiring of the radio mounts and equipment it's the 25U that is supposed to do it right? The tm for it is an 11 series tm

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2018 9:08 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 09:08:01 -0400

I would say know how to do it but it is not really our job to do it. The reason I say know is because it makes you more valuable if you can do their job as well.

Response by SGT David Carmichael made Jun 3 at 2018 10:58 PM

SGT David Carmichael — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 22:58:53 -0400

It is both maintenance and commo's job

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2018 4:06 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 04:06:11 -0400

Nope it’s S6 job! They will most likely need the operator of the vehicle to hold their hand. Just kidding love S6 it is their job

Response by SSG John Martus made Jun 4 at 2018 2:57 PM

SSG John Martus — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 14:57:57 -0400

Nope ....s6 job as far as wiring goes and installing

Response by SGT William Macafee II made Jun 5 at 2018 11:36 PM

SGT William Macafee II — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 23:36:34 -0400

We did install mounts , harnesses, and power harnesses at the Field Maintenance Shop Level as a Fedeal Tech when the new trucks came in and supply had work orders done with all the parts and equipment needed minus the radios them self

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2018 5:30 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 17:30:16 -0400

Just tell them it’s operator level and be on your way

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2018 5:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 17:24:03 -0400

As 13 year old (Unit/BN/BDE S6 Rep) Commo Guy, I have installed W-2 25FT, power cable, speakers, speaker cable, antennae mounts, and base mounts in the HUMWV, LMTV, M1, M88 and M113 series vehicles. There were times a very picky mechanics will take over that job from me.

But installing the VAAs and RTs are as you mechanics say -10 level job.

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Jun 27 at 2018 6:35 PM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 18:35:57 -0400

If you have to ask, check out that NCO creed and get it D-O-N-E... I rarely needed to ask for forgiveness, I just said, “Don’t ask, it’s done!”, as mission always took precedents - minus safety, always came first! Initiative not impressed upon these days or waiting to see who’s job it is to do it? TM available - find it!

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Jun 27 at 2018 8:52 PM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:52:51 -0400

To make the Army great again (MAGA), we Soldiers, need to work together, regardless of who needs to do what: The United Army of America.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2018 12:28 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:28:42 -0400

If you’re talking about sliding a radio in the VAA, that’s operator level. If you’re talking about installing specific installation kits in vehicles without an existing communication system, we always had mechanics install the power cabling in the vehicle, then we would install the mounts, antenna brackets, cabling, etc.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2018 2:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 14:35:08 -0400

I only do what connects directly to the vehicle, but I make no buts about it a common guru has to be assisting me, then I return the favor. I secure and route their wiring as they install the radio it's self.

Response by SPC Nicholas James made Jul 12 at 2018 11:16 PM

SPC Nicholas James — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 23:16:38 -0400

Nope it's the job of a 25u to install the radio equipment. I did full blown installations from sincgars to fbcb2.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2018 12:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 12:46:35 -0400

That is a S6 shop function. They should assist you with the install. Because radios are not your specialty so just incase you don't mess up anything, have a specialist with that MOS to be available. And watch and learn just incase you do that install again.

Response by PFC Logan Cox made Aug 6 at 2018 3:54 PM

PFC Logan Cox — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:54:58 -0400

Hell no infact you might get in trouble for messing around with commo stuff.

Response by SSG David West Jr made Aug 8 at 2018 1:08 PM

SSG David West Jr — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 13:08:49 -0400

I could not see all of the comments so I want to give you some basic information. First since you say radio equipment as a Signal Soldier I think about the VAA and everything that attaches and is put inside of it. With that, your vehicle your equipment your responsibility. If you’re asking about the hardwired and bolted down pieces that’s our “job”. But your unit SOP could have you doing that job. Hope I have helped.

Response by SPC David S. made Jul 15 at 2019 12:39 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 12:39:43 -0400

When ramping up for Desert Storm was jammed up with a bunch of work. As such a bunch of us (19D's) volunteered to go to the motor pool and mount and install SINCGARS in HUMVEES. However commo was on hand to oversee our work. I remember the radios that we mounted to the rear tire wells did not hold up as the weight would ended up cracking the aluminum after one good bounce. We all got unexpected ARCOM's for our effort.

Response by SSG Troy Frederick made Jun 16 at 2021 6:39 PM

SSG Troy Frederick — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 18:39:33 -0400

Normally a 25U does that and keep it going not sure what type of unit you. are in