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Air ForceTechnical / CyberRank #75 of 101 by 4-year cost
3E4X1

Water and Fuel Systems Maintenance

13-week pipeline · BMT + Technical Training · Sheppard AFB, TX
Training Pipeline
$24K
13 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$65K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$5K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$303K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$24K8%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$261K86%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$18K6%
Training: 8% · MILPERS: 86% · Equipment: 6%= $303K
By the Numbers

Every F-35 that takes off has been fueled by a system maintained by a 3E4X1. The quality of that fuel — verified by their sampling procedures — directly determines whether a $100M aircraft returns from its mission.

Training Pipeline
Duration
13 weeks
Type
BMT + Technical Training
Location
Sheppard AFB, TX
Pipeline Cost
$24K

3E4X1 specialists maintain the JP-8 fuel distribution systems that feed fighter jets. A contaminated fuel sample that reaches an aircraft engine can cause an in-flight emergency on a $100M aircraft.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Assigned Equipment
  • ·Fuel Quality Testing Equipment
  • ·Fuel Hydrant System Tools
  • ·Water Treatment Equipment
  • ·Safety/PPE
Annual Equipment Burden
$5K/yr
Fuel and water system maintenance tools amortized
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Specialty Pay(Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (fuel operations))+$2K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$65K/yr
Specialty pays account for $2K annually (3% of total compensation).
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~900
Avg Career Length6 years
Annual Training Bill$21.6M
Total Force 4yr Cost$272.4M
Read 3E4X1 Reviews →← All MOS ProfilesAverage Per-Soldier Cost →
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1A8X1
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4-year total

Cost estimates derived from DoD Comptroller per-soldier analysis, RAND Corporation military personnel studies, CBO military compensation reports, service-specific training cost testimony, and published equipment unit costs. Error margin ±15%. Individual costs vary by duty station, assignment, and deployment tempo. This is Phase 3 of the Honest MOS DoD Budget Intelligence Roadmap.