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June 1968 Electronics World
 Table of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
Electronics World, published May 1959
- December 1971. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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 "Essayons," that's the motto of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers. It means "Let us try," in French. In 1968, when this "G.I.
Engineers" editorial appeared in Electronics World magazine, it noted that
about 38,000 engineers, or roughly roughly 6% of the nation's total, served in the
U.S. Armed Forces, far more technically skilled than in World War II or Korea. Despite
surpluses in bachelor's-degree holders, advanced-degree shortages persisted, with
over 15 thousand master's and PhD positions unfilled - by fewer than 8,500 qualified
personnel, forcing underqualified assignments. Utilization varied: Air Force effectively
deployed 14,000 engineers in R&D and civil roles; Navy specialist programs covered
ship, ordnance, aeronautical, and Civil Engineer Corps (Seabees); Marines had limited
engineering specialists among 1,668 graduates. The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),
with 7,000 officers (many engineering-degreed), directed military/civilian construction,
river/harbor, and water-control projects. Founded in 1802 from Revolutionary War
roots (1775), USACE's missions encompass combat engineering, military construction,
civil works like navigation/flood control, and disaster response, employing 37,000
personnel today.
G.I. Engineers
 About 6% of the nation's engineers form
a technological corps without which the Armed Forces could not function.
Compared to World War II and Korea, the Armed Forces and the men in them are
more technically skilled today. There are about 38,000 engineers serving in the
military (excluding the Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and Public Health
Services). And while some have accused these engineers-in-uniform of doing second-rate
engineering at best, new weapon technology and aerospace and undersea developments
for war and peace are requiring more scientists with advanced technical degrees.
The status of the serviceman-engineer is equivocal because the manner in which
he is utilized varies from service branch to service branch. The common denominator,
however, is the identification of engineering requirements at the advanced degree
level only.
According to a report by the Engineering Manpower Commission of the Engineers
Joint Council, a Bachelor's degree is a preferred qualification for all commissioned
officers, and all three branches of the service expect to use engineering students
from the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs. Thus, with many engineers
serving in general line posts, there is an apparent surplus of engineers when compared
to published requirements. The Army says it has 1700 (advanced degree) engineering
positions with more than 9000 engineers in service. The Navy lists requirements
for 10,900 engineers and scientists, but has nearly 9000 engineers and 11,000 science
graduates available to fill them. The Air Force reports that most of its 14,000
engineers are assigned to jobs that make use of their knowledge, but lists only
5000 advanced degree requirements in these areas. Only 171 of the 1668 engineering
graduates in the Marine Corps have engineering as a primary occupational specialty.
With all this available brainpower, the services are still short-handed. There
are more than 15,500 Master and Doctorate positions open, but fewer than 8500 men
with these qualifications are on active duty. This means that half of the jobs must
be filled by people with less than a Master's degree.
This poses something of a problem for the engineer with a Bachelor's degree.
He has the alternative of filling a specialists job that normally requires an advanced
degree or serving in a general line position with little or no engineering responsibilities.
Of the 14,000 engineering graduates serving as Air Force officers, most are used
in research and development management, development engineering, system program
management, and civil engineering. There are also a good number of them assigned
to the electronics and maintenance engineering centers. This year the Air Force
will attempt to recruit at least 1241 new development and civil engineers. About
half will come from ROTC programs in civilian colleges and the remainder from Air
Force officer training schools.
By 1971, the Air Force says it will need about 9200 engineers with Master's degrees
and about 800 PhD's.
The Army Corps of Engineers has about 7000 officers, many of whom hold engineering
degrees. Many of these officers direct construction projects, both military and
civilian as well as river, harbor, and water-control projects.
Advanced degrees in engineering or related disciplines are required by the Army
Officer Special Career Programs for service as an atomic energy, research and development,
operations research and systems analysis, and automatic data-processing specialists.
In 1967, 1116 men were employed in these posts.
Although engineering degrees are not specifically required, they are considered
a "must" for officers in the Signal Corps, Ordnance, Chemical, Transportation, and
Artillery branches.
Engineers who are drafted into the Army as enlisted men have limited opportunities
for serving in engineering-related capacities unless they go to officer candidate
school.
The Navy has a number of "specialist" programs in which degree officers can expect
to serve throughout their naval careers. Ship engineering officers or "restricted
line" specialists work for the Naval Ship Systems Command or the Naval Electronics
Systems Command. This group encompasses the broadest range of engineering disciplines.
Ordnance and Aeronautical Engineering specialists are responsible for Navy weapons
systems and aircraft. The Civil Engineer Corps, which includes the Seabees, is responsible
for the design and construction of Navy shore bases at home and abroad.
Marine Corps engineers are also eligible for assignment to specialized career
fields; these include engineering, communications, and others. About 532 of the
1668 engineers in the Marine Corps work in naval aviation and in air control anti-aircraft
operations.
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