Structural

You are training to be a Structural Specialist — the person who maintains and repairs the physical structures of Air Force installations. Roofs, walls, floors, doors, pavements, and the entire building envelope that protects personnel and equipment from the environment is your domain.

Complete 3E3X1 initial skills training at Sheppard AFB, TX. Learn structural maintenance fundamentals — carpentry, masonry, roofing, concrete repair, metal working, and the materials and methods used to maintain military facilities. Study airfield pavement maintenance — the specific requirements for maintaining runway and taxiway surfaces that aircraft depend on. Learn the repair procedures for the types of construction used in military facilities: wood framing, masonry, pre-engineered metal buildings, and concrete structures. Understand how to read construction drawings and specifications. Study the safety requirements for structural work — fall protection, confined space entry, and the proper use of construction tools and equipment.

• 01Structural maintenance and repair (carpentry, masonry, roofing, concrete), airfield pavement repair, construction drawing interpretation, fall protection, confined space entry procedures, construction tool and equipment operation, facility materials knowledge

• —AFI 32-1032 (Planning and Programming), applicable AFCEC structural publications, applicable OSHA construction safety standards (29 CFR 1926), UFC series for construction standards

• —Pass 3E3X1 initial training; structural repair procedures demonstrated; airfield pavement repair basics understood; fall protection requirements followed; construction safety procedures demonstrated; initial certifications completed

• —Repairing a roof without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the leak — applying a patch over the damaged area without understanding the water intrusion path often results in the repair failing and damage expanding to adjacent areas.

An apprentice who learns to recognize the difference between cosmetic damage and structural damage — understanding that a crack in a wall may indicate settlement or structural movement that requires engineering evaluation rather than just a paint repair.

You are a qualified Structural Specialist performing construction and repair work that maintains the physical integrity of Air Force facilities.

Perform structural maintenance and repair across Air Force facilities. Execute roofing repairs, wall and floor repairs, door and window replacement, concrete patching, and the full range of structural maintenance work. Perform airfield pavement repairs — filling cracks, patching spalls, and restoring pavement surfaces to maintain runway operability. Read and work from construction drawings. Use hand and power tools, rigging equipment, and the mechanical equipment used for construction. Follow fall protection and confined space procedures. Develop qualifications in specialized structural systems at your installation.

• 01Structural repair execution, roofing systems repair, airfield pavement repair, construction drawing use, power and hand tool proficiency, rigging and material handling, fall protection and confined space compliance, specialized system qualifications

• —AFI 32-1032, applicable AFCEC structural publications, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, UFC construction standards, unit structural shop operating instructions

• —Structural repairs completed to specification and applicable codes; airfield pavement repairs meeting airfield safety standards; fall protection and confined space procedures followed; work from construction drawings; documentation complete

• —Making airfield pavement repairs with the wrong material or to an inadequate depth — airfield pavement repairs must meet specific material specifications and compaction requirements because aircraft wheel loads are far greater than road vehicle loads, and an inadequate repair will fail under aircraft traffic.

A SrA who documents airfield pavement repairs with photographs showing before, during, and after conditions — creating a maintenance record that helps evaluate repair durability over time and informs future repair material and method selection.

You are a senior Structural Specialist developing advanced qualifications and training the specialists who maintain Air Force facility structural integrity.

Perform advanced structural maintenance and develop toward shop NCOIC qualifications. Train junior specialists on construction techniques, safety procedures, and quality standards. Evaluate trainee work. Lead complex structural projects — major roof replacements, significant concrete repairs, structural modifications. Develop expertise in specialized areas — airfield pavement maintenance, Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB) systems, or masonry restoration. Interface with civil engineering project managers on construction projects requiring structural expertise. Ensure quality standards are met on all structural work.

• 01Complex structural project leadership, junior specialist training, major roof and concrete projects, PEMB system expertise, airfield pavement specialization, construction project coordination, quality standards enforcement

• —AFI 32-1032, applicable AFCEC structural and pavement publications, UFC construction standards, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, applicable ICAO and FAA airfield pavement standards

• —Complex structural projects completed to specification; junior specialists trained to quality and safety standards; specialized systems maintained; construction coordination effective; airfield repairs meeting ICAO/FAA standards; team lead qualifications developed

• —Allowing structural repairs to be made with materials that are not specified for the application — using an interior-grade material for an exterior application, or a residential-grade product for a commercial or industrial facility, results in premature failure.

An SSgt who requires junior specialists to identify the applicable specification for every repair material before procurement — ensuring that the right material is specified and ordered rather than using whatever is available in the shop.

You are the Structural shop NCOIC, responsible for the facility structural maintenance program and the construction capability of your installation.

Serve as the structural shop NCOIC. Own the facility structural maintenance program, airfield pavement condition assessment, and construction quality program. Brief the Civil Engineering Squadron commander on facility structural conditions, airfield pavement health, and any structural issues requiring command attention. Coordinate with AFCEC on structural infrastructure investment. Interface with base tenants on facility structural issues. Lead major construction and renovation projects. Manage the shop's safety program for high-hazard construction activities.

• 01Shop NCOIC duties, facility structural maintenance program, airfield pavement condition assessment, construction quality program, AFCEC infrastructure coordination, major project leadership, construction safety program

• —AFI 32-1032, applicable AFCEC structural and pavement publications, UFC construction standards, OSHA construction standards, ICAO and FAA airfield pavement publications

• —Facility structural maintenance program meeting requirements; airfield pavement conditions assessed and documented; construction quality standards maintained; AFCEC coordination effective; major projects completed to specification; construction safety program compliant

• —Prioritizing construction backlogs by request date rather than by the safety consequence of delayed repairs — a minor roof leak that has been waiting six months may be more operationally important than a cosmetic repair that was just submitted.

A TSgt who maintains a prioritized facility condition list that clearly distinguishes between safety-critical structural deficiencies, operationally significant deficiencies, and cosmetic issues — enabling the commander to make informed decisions about work order prioritization when resources are constrained.

You are the senior Structural NCO, advising commanders on facility structural health and the construction workforce that maintains installation infrastructure.

Serve as the Civil Engineering Squadron structural superintendent. Advise the squadron commander on facility structural conditions, airfield pavement health, and the construction workforce required to sustain installation structural infrastructure. Interface with AFCEC on structural investment and repair programs. Manage complex personnel actions. Contribute to Air Force structural maintenance policy. As 1stSgt, own the welfare and discipline of the structural maintenance formation.

• 01Squadron structural oversight, AFCEC structural investment engagement, facility condition advisory, airfield pavement advocacy, construction workforce management, structural policy contribution, complex personnel management, senior enlisted advisory

• —AFI 32-1032, AFCEC structural publications, applicable DoD installation infrastructure standards, FAA and ICAO airfield standards

• —Installation structural infrastructure meeting operational requirements; AFCEC engagement productive; facility conditions accurately assessed; airfield pavement meeting operational standards; personnel actions appropriate

• —Not escalating safety-critical structural deficiencies to installation leadership when the repair queue is long — the commander who doesn't know about a structurally unsafe building cannot make the decision to close it or prioritize its repair.

An MSgt who maintains a formal structural safety deficiency register — tracking each identified structural safety concern with its assessed risk level, recommended action, and status, and briefing command leadership on the register at regular intervals.

You are the most senior Structural enlisted leader, shaping the career field and Air Force installation structural maintenance policy.

Serve as the AFCEC or Air Staff structural career field functional manager or senior enlisted advisor. Shape training standards and the pipeline producing structural specialists. Advise four-star commanders and Air Staff leadership on installation structural infrastructure health, airfield pavement fleet condition, and the workforce requirements for sustaining Air Force facility structural integrity. Interface with Air Staff A4 and AFCEC on structural infrastructure policy. Contribute to Air Force installation infrastructure doctrine. Advocate for the investment needed to maintain Air Force facility structural integrity.

• 01Career field functional management, AFCEC and Air Staff A4 engagement, enterprise structural infrastructure advisory, airfield pavement enterprise advocacy, installation infrastructure doctrine, four-star advisory, pipeline oversight

• —AFI 32-1032, AFCEC structural publications, Air Staff A4 infrastructure publications, applicable DoD installation infrastructure standards, FAA and ICAO airfield standards

• —Career field producing qualified structural specialists; enterprise facility structural infrastructure meeting operational requirements; airfield pavement fleet condition documented at enterprise level; structural infrastructure investment advocacy effective; doctrine current; four-star advisory accurate

• —Allowing facility structural condition data to remain fragmented at the installation level without aggregating it to an enterprise-level picture — the Air Force whose structural infrastructure condition is only understood installation by installation cannot make enterprise-level investment decisions.

A CMSgt who has developed an enterprise facility structural condition index — presenting Air Staff with a portfolio-level view of facility structural health, deferred maintenance backlog, and the investment required to maintain structural integrity across the Air Force, in the same framework used for other infrastructure investment decisions.