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Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Mechanical (GSM)

GSM Community Overview




GSM Career Path

GS Community Overview



 General Description 

These specially trained sailors operate, repair and perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on mechanical components of gas turbine engines, main propulsion machinery including gears, shafts and controllable pitch propellers; and assigned auxiliary equipment and propulsion control systems.

What They Do

The duties performed by GSMs include: maintaining and repairing gas turbine engines and auxiliary equipment; working with blueprints, schematics and charts; performing administrative procedures related to gas turbine propulsion system operation and maintenance; performing work area inspections; testing lubricating oil and distillate fuels for contamination, neutralization and precipitation; operating standard test equipment; stopping engines and checking proper performance; replacing and adjusting operating tolerance of contacts, microswitches, relay switches, pressure switches and temperature switches; operating electric plant control and main propulsion equipment; operating pumps, turning gear, air compressors, oil purification system, low pressure air dehydrators and engineering control systems; performing preventive maintenance on ship's fuel system and air system; maintaining sea water service system, waste drain system, oil purification system and manually operated valves; using hoisting and lifting devices and maintaining special tools. Maintaining and operating ship's service gas turbine generators and support systems; maintaining and controlling ship's service steam water chemistry; maintaining the controllable pitch propeller system.

Working Environment

Gas turbine systems technicians usually work in engine rooms or shops that may be hot and noisy aboard many types of modern ships. At shore they may work at major repair facilities. Work is mainly physical and analytical (trouble shooting) for mechanical components. 

Requirements ASVAB

VE + AR + MK + AS = 195 OR VE + AR + MK + AO = 200

Must have normal color perception (no exceptions)   

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Last Modified: 12/22/2016 6:44 AM