Petroleum Laboratory Specialist (92L)
- Enlisted
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
The presence of water or other contaminants in the fuels and oils used by the Army can possibly hinder the safety of Army vehicles. It’s up to the Petroleum Laboratory Specialist to ensure the quality, purity and durability of all fuels and oils to be used in Army vehicles.
Petroleum Laboratory Specialists are primarily responsible for supervising or conducting laboratory tests on petroleum, oil and lubricant products. Some of your duties as a Petroleum Laboratory Specialist may include:
- Receiving samples of petroleum products
- Conducting tests on petroleum products
- Evaluating test results with specification requirements and making recommendations regarding product disposition
- Applying fire prevention and safety control procedures in handling volatile petroleum, oils and lubricants products
- Obtaining petroleum test samples from storage tanks, barges and tankers
- Testing fuels and oils for water, sediment and other contaminants using laboratory equipment
- Analyzing chemicals for strength, purity and toxic qualities
- Performing chemical and physical tests on clothing, food, paints and plastics
- Keeping detailed laboratory records and files
Training:
Job training for a Job training for a Petroleum Laboratory Specialist consists of nine weeks of Basic Training, where you’ll learn basic Soldiering skills, and approximately nine weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in testing different products. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. You’ll learn:
- Testing methods
- Use of lab equipment, such as centrifuges and spectrometers
Helpful Skills:
Helpful attributes include:
- An interest in chemistry and mathematics
- An interest in performing technical work
- An interest in working with chemicals and lab equipment
- An ability to follow detailed procedures
Advanced Responsibilities:
Advanced level Petroleum Laboratory Specialists supervise and train other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Petroleum Laboratory Specialist, you may be involved in:
- Identifying sources and types of contamination and deterioration
- Making recommendations for recovery and disposal
- Furnishing required quality surveillance reports to higher headquarters
- Performing organizational and preventive maintenance and calibration on lab equipment
- Performing fire and safety inspections
