United States Army Prime Power School The U . S . Army Prime Power School is run by the United States Army Corps of Engineers , which has moved to Fort Leonard Wood , Missouri in Jan 2011 . The mission of the school is to produce MOS 12P – Prime Power Production Specialists ( formerly MOS 52E ) for the U . S . Army . Training . The U . S . Army Prime Power Production Specialist Course is located at Fort Leonard Wood , Missouri . This year long training program trains Active and Army Reserve soldiers and Navy Seabee s . Upon graduation Army personnel are awarded MOS 12P20 and Navy personnel awarded NEC 5633 . Students earn over 30 semester hours of college credit while attaining the knowledge and skills associated with installing , operating , and maintaining large medium voltage electrical power plants . The course is challenging and requires a large amount of home study . The 12P20 Course consists of an Academic Phase and Operator Training Phase . This course lasts approximately 29 weeks and provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to install , operate , and maintain , medium voltage electrical power plants . Following completion of the 12P20 course , students are selected to attend one of three Additional Skill Identifier ( ASI ) Courses . The Electrical Specialty Course provides direct and general support maintenance training on a wide variety of electrical power components . The Instrumentation Specialty Course provides direct and general support maintenance training on AC and DC control circuits and components as well as engine and generator protective circuits and components . Both the electrical and instrumentation specialties provide in depth instruction in electronics and AC power theory . The Mechanical Specialty Course provides direct and general support maintenance training on two - and four - stroke diesel engines to include complete rebuild practical exercises . Additionally , in depth instruction is provided on a wide variety of mechanical systems components . Academic Phase . The first phase is 16 weeks of training . Students are provided knowledge in academic subjects that are necessary to master future specialty courses . Mathematics , physics , and the fundamentals of mechanical and electrical engineering are core subject courses . Analytical and problem solving skills are developed through practical exercise , laboratory work , and assigned problems in each subject course . Students are expected to dedicate many hours to complete homework and lab reports . In academics phase , students will earn 32 college credits from Lincoln University , Jefferson City , Missouri . Operator Phase . The second phase of training , focusing on " hands - on " instruction , power plant technologies , operation and maintenance of power plants . This is a thirteen week course training Army , Navy , Army Reserve and select civilian personnel in electrical safety , electrical and mechanical print reading , basic electrical distribution system design , basic understanding of the major components used in electrical distribution systems , electrical and mechanical protective systems used in electrical power production , diesel engine and electrical theory and power plant operations , to include installation , operation , repair , and maintenance of medium voltage electrical power plants . Students learn how to operate and maintain the Army ’ s Multi - Unit 4 . 5 Megawatt electrical power plants , 3 Megawatt electrical power plants consisting of either the MEP - 012A or MEP - 208A 750 kilowatt generating units , and the Deployable Power Generation Distribution System ( DPGDS ) power system consisting of either the MEP - 810A or B model . During the operator phase , students will earn an additional 6 college credits . Specialty Phase . The third and final phase of training is 18 weeks long and focuses on one of three specialties , electrical , instrumentation or mechanical . The electrical course has nine annexes . The annexes cover Electrical Fundamentals , Basic Electronics , Electrical Practices and Standards , Motors and Generators , Machine Controllers , Cable Splicing , Transformers , Circuit Breakers and Distribution Systems . In Electrical Fundamentals , students learn the various circuit rules and calculations , how to operate test equipment for troubleshooting circuits , electronic soldering , power quality and building circuits on a breadboard . Training in Basic Electronics covers many different electronic devices , how they work , how to test and troubleshoot them and their function in the circuit . Students attending the Electrical Practices and Standards classes are taught the National Electrical Code and conduit bending . Students learn to calculate bend radius , conductor size , conductor type for a specific location , circuit protection , box fill and maximum number of conductors in a raceway . Classes in Motors and Generators cover single - phase and three - phase motors and generators , their maintenance , troubleshooting and repair . Machine Controllers will teach students all the different types of motor controls and why they are used , learn how to wire those controllers , diagnose faults and repair the faulty component . In the Cable Splicing class students learn how to splice and terminate low and medium voltage power cables up to 15 , 000 volts ; how to locate underground power cable by using a tracing tool and then find the location of the fault in the cable . The Transformer annex covers transformer theory , calculations and construction . Students learn how to wire single - phase and three - phase connections , test dry and oil filled transformers and test the insulating oil in the transformers . Circuit Breaker training teaches students the maintenance , testing and repair of circuit breakers from small molded case circuit breakers all the way up to 15 , 000 - volt air magnetic ; oil filled and vacuum circuit breakers . Distribution Systems students learn the different types of generating systems and distribution systems . Students also learn about grounding systems , testing of grounding systems and personnel protective grounding . In this annex students learn aerial line material , line equipment tools and how to perform an infrared survey . Soldier students who complete this course are awarded ASI S3 . The purpose of the Instrumentation Course is to provide the student , Power Plant Instrumentation Specialist , with skills and knowledge in the methods and techniques necessary to safely perform troubleshooting , testing , maintenance , and repair of instrumentation systems and components used on electrical power generation and distribution equipment . The Instrumentation Specialty course emphasizes higher - level thinking and mathematical analysis of abstract concepts involving operational theory of electronic components and systems . The course begins with a formalization of the mathematical and basic AC and DC circuit theories and concepts that were taught in the Academics Phase . From this , the course builds the students knowledge of electronics , digital systems , and automated process controls , to include programmable logic controllers ( PLC ’ s ) . Among other projects , students design , build and troubleshoot a multistage amplifier and build a multimeter . The course concludes with a study of relay control systems in power production and distribution . Skills learned include the testing , calibration , troubleshooting and repair of systems and components used in the measurement , regulation , protection and control of signals , quantities and processes . Upon completion of this course , the student is awarded an Additional Skill Identifier ( ASI ) of E - 5 . Mechanical Specialty students receive crew to depot level training on power plant maintenance . The training is a combination of lecture and hands - on practical exercise . Subject areas for the Mechanical Training Phase include Diesel Engines and Systems , Allied Skills ( hand , precision and power tools ) , Electric Arc and Oxyacetylene Welding , Fluid Handling Systems ( piping systems , air compressors and pumps ) and Diesel Engine Maintenance , Troubleshooting , and Rebuild . The predominant engines in the course are the 12 - cylinder , Cummins KTA38 ( 38 liters / 2300 cubic inches ) , the 16 - cylinder , 9072 cubic inches , General Motors Electro - Motive Diesel ( EMD ) , and the inline 6 - cylinder Caterpillar 3456 Diesel Engine . Students who complete this course are awarded Additional Skill Indicator ( ASI ) S2 .