Information systems technician

Information Systems Technician ('refferred to as Information Technicians; abrreviation: 'IT) refers to an industrial occupation whose responsiblity is maintaining communications and computer systems. ITs also help in design and develop information and graphic content.

Private sector

Information Systems Technician operate and maintain information systems. In many companies, these technicians assemble data sets and other details needed to build databases. ITs assist in designing and coordinating the development of integrated information system databases. ITs also help maintain Internet and Intranet websites. They decide how information is presented and create digital multimedia and presentation using software and related equipment.

ITs install and maintain multi-platform networking computer environments, a variety of data networks, and a diverse set of telecommunications infrastructures. ITs are responsible for the operation, configuration, and troubleshooting of many pieces of electronics, hardware and software. ITs conduct ongoing assessments of short and long-term hardware and software needs for companies.

Information Systems Technicians cooperate with other staff to inventory, maintain and manage computer and commmunication systems. ITs provide communication links and connectivity to the department in an organization. This includes:

• local area networks
• wide area networks
• minicomputer systems
• macrocomputer systems
• associated peripheral devices

Additional, ITs provide technical support to end-users, providing technical support for all departments. ITs also provide computer training for personnel and other end-users.

Military

The Information Systems Technician is an enlisted rating or job specialty (often called MOS by some armed services). ITs are responsible for operating and diagnosing to the electronic equipment used to send and receive messages, computers, telecommunications equipment, and networking gear. The IT rating is also responsible for ensuring defensive information dominance, where as another rating Cryptologic Technician Networks (CTN) is responsible for the offensive side of information dominance.

The IT ratings is one of the most diverse ratings in the US Navy. The IT rating evolved from a combination of two previous Navy ratings - Radioman (RM) and Data Processing Technician (DP). A third rating, Cryptologic Technician Communications (CTO) is set to merge with ITs in October, 2005.

The IT rating is one of the few ratings that can qualify in all aspects of Naval Warfare, such as:

• Aircrew - responsible for the operation, maintainance, and troubleshooting of the radios, computers, antennas, networking, and cryptographic equipment on TACAMO and AWACS missions.
• Seabee
• Surface Warfare - responsible for maintaining communication links, troubleshooting radio and computer equipment, cryptographic equipment, and is responsible for the administration of the shipboard LAN, WAN links, and servers/networking equipment.
• Small Boat Warfare
• Fleet Marine Force (FMF) - responsible for landing after the Marines have secured an area to setup Fleet Communications, netorking, and cryptographic equipment to support Joint Communications within a battlefield enviroment. This includes configuring JWICS,Defense Message System, and AUTODIN communications in order for combatants to maintain command communications and control superiority.
• SEAL
• SWCC
• Subsurface

note: The subsurface IT program is still in the planning stages, currently FTs and ETs handle Subsurface IT work.