NOB, Norfolk, VA –
Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center’s (MARMC) Micro-Miniature (2M) Module Test and Repair (MTR) recertification team recertified five electronics technicians in the 2M/MTR Recertification Lab on Main Street in Building CEP-200, the week of Feb. 5-9.
MARMC boasts the largest 2M recertification lab in the Navy and it holds in house recertification sessions biweekly. These sessions are available to anyone requiring recertification anywhere within the Department of the Navy.
“Our primary customer is the fleet,” said 2M Atlantic Fleet Coordinator Andres Cabrero. “Combatants all have 2M and MTR capabilities and we have some shore facilities that we assist as well. We will also perform recertification for the Coast Guard Marines and Air Force.”
In addition to recertification of individuals, MARMC also provides 2M certification inspections to ships, field activities and various shore commands ensuring they have full 2M repair and MTR testing and maintenance capabilities.
“We do inspections to make sure that they have all the equipment needed for 2M repair and we will also ensure the equipment is operationally tested,” said 2M Recertification Inspector Robyn King. “We inspect all the tools, hand pieces, and materials and to make sure they have everything they need to perform all the prescribed repairs indicated in the 2M manual.”
“We produce a letter for every command that we inspect and certify,” said MARMC 2M/MTR Inspections and METCAL Team Leader Tony Roye. “These letters are proof that the ship and their technicians are capable of conducting repairs and that they are knowledge able to conduct troubleshooting and fault isolation.”
Having the certification to repair components and equipment via 2M is imperative and is required by OPNAV. Lack of training can be dangerous for both the individual and the equipment, ultimately hindering the entire mission of the command. It also assists in keeping the technicians up to date with constantly evolving technology.
Roye’s team is also able to gauge a command’s program effectiveness. This is done through collection of supply data compared to module tests and repair data, which will render an efficiency percentage.
“We want to show Commanding Officers the areas they can improve. Our goal is to have the fleet at no less than 75% efficiency. Currently, they are averaging under that mark, but Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the Type Commanders, and Fleet Forces are looking at these programs, so it is important that we are aggressive in our efforts to assist these commands,” said Roye.
2M facilities to recertify 2M technicians are also located in Mayport, Fla. and Rota, Spain, Yokosuka, Japan, Everett, Washington and Pearl Harbor, HI; however, MARMC and Southwest Regional Maintenance Center are the only two commands that host a Fleet Coordinator. These individuals are responsible for coordinating and certifying inspectors and they can grant and remove Navy Enlisted Certifications (NEC). There are two NECs within the circuit card repair community, Miniature Repair (MN) and/or Micro-Miniature Repair (MC). There is an additional certification of module troubleshooting and repair, which if obtained along with the other two, creates what, is referred to as a Super Tech (NEC 1591).
“We also keep a repository of items from decommissioned ships or any excess materials that we come across. If a ship is preparing to get underway and comes to us in need of items to make them whole, then we will give them items out of our storage so they can be mission ready that day,” said Roye.
The inspectors of the 2M community make up a very dynamic and high tempo team. These individuals are on the front line when it comes to keeping our technicians certified and up to par with the current Navy standards of 2M. With years of course instruction and inspection experience between them, their enthusiasm and extensive professional knowledge helps produce the finest certified 2M and MTR technicians in the Navy.