NDI PERSONNEL Before  candidates  arc  selected  for  NDI  technician or operator training, and annually thereafter, they are required  to  have  an  eye  examination.  Military  and civilian NDI personnel are identified as NDI specialists, technicians,  or  as  operators. NDI  Specialists NDI  specialists  are  authorized  by  the  ACC  to provide  training  and  certification/recertification  of  NDI technicians/operators. They also provide technical NDI services. NDI Technicians NDI   technicians   are   personnel   who   have successfully completed the NDI course (C-603-3191) at Aircraft  Nondestructive  Inspection  School  at  NATTC Memphis, Tennessee. NDI technicians are assigned NEC  7225/MOS  6044,  and  they  are  qualified  and certified  to  perform  liquid  penetrant,  magnetic  particle, eddy  current,  ultrasonic,  and  radiographic  methods  of NDI. These personnel are normally assigned to IMAs. NDI technicians with 3 or more years of experience and who are currently certified and engaged in NDI on a regular basis may be authorized by ACCs to train and certify  NDI  operators  for  specific  NDI  applications.  The ACC may also waive the 3-year experience requirement provided requests for this authorization are addressed to the ACC/TYCOM via the appropriate wing. This request must include the technician’s current qualification,  experience  history,  and  the  specific technical  directive/technical  publication-directed  NDI applications for which operator certification is to be provided. If approved, a copy of the ACC authorization will be attached to the technician’s NDI certification record and maintained with his/her individual NDI record. Such authorizations remain in effect only as long as  the  currency  of  certification  and  NDI  experience  is maintained.  Currently  active  NDI  technicians  require reccertification every 3 years. Early recertification is authorized and encouraged to prevent expiration of certification during tours of deployed  duty.  Current  certification  of  NDI  technicians who are regularly engaged in all methods of NDI may be extended by ACCs for up to 1 year if circumstances warrant. NEC 7225 personnel who have been inactive in NDI for 1 year or more require recertification before resuming active NDI technician status. Recertification is   provided   by   designated   NADEPs   or   by   ACC designated and qualified NAESU Navy federal civilian or  military  technical  specialists. NDI Operators NDI  operators  are  military  personnel  E-4  and above, or civilian equivalent, who have successfully completed  training  and  are  certified  to  perform  specific NDI tasks using one or more of the following methods: liquid penetrant, eddy current, or magnetic particle. NDI operators may be assigned and used in IMAs to perform specific  publication-directed  NDI  tasks  only  when  the NDI workload exceeds the capacity of assigned NDI technicians. Each case of NDI operator use at I-level maintenance must be authorized by the cognizant ACC. Requests for such authorizations are made to the ACC via the appropriate wing. Basic   NDI   operator   training   is   provided   by NADEPs and NDI specialists. When training is not available, ACCs may authorize the training of NDI operators by NDI technicians in specific liquid penetrant kit   applications.   NDI  operator  certification/ recertification is provided by NDI specialists and NDI technicians. Rccertification of NDI operators is required annually. NDI operators at I-level activities must be closely monitored by qualified NDI technicians and by cognizant  QARs/CDQARs.  NDI  operators  are  not authorized   to   operate   radiographic   or   ultrasonic equipment. They may, however, be used to assist NDI technicians  operating  that  equipment. NDI technicians and operators must use the NDI method or methods for which they are certified at least two times each month, as evidenced by entries on their work  record  (OPNAV  4790/140).  This  can  be  done either through normal workload or practice applications. In  those  cases  where  the  prescribed  proficiency  is  not maintained  for  1  or  more  months,  technicians  or operators can regain proficiency by making practice applications  under  the  supervision  of  a  certified  NDI technician,  who  will  provide  recertification  upon determination  of  proficiency.  Failure  to  maintain proficiency for 6 months for NDI operators and 12 months  for  NDI  technicians  will  require  updated training for recertification. NDI technicians who fail to maintain proficiency for 3 years or more will require complete retraining. In all cases exceeding 6 months for operators  and  12  months  for  technicians,  authorization for updated training or complete retraining is requested from the cognizant ACC. Activities that are authorized to certify/recertify NDI technicians and operators must administer an 15-2