Armourer

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About the role Career progression and training Salary and benefits Entry requirements

As an Armourer, you will learn how to safely dismantle, diagnose and repair all of the weapons used by the New Zealand Army. From an assault rifle to the cannon on our Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV).

• Service Army
• Specialisation Engineering and Technical Trades
• Location Linton, Burnham
• Starting Trade Training $64,177

About the role

Armourers are highly skilled in the maintenance and repair of the wide variety of weapon systems used by the New Zealand Army. You will start off with small arms like pistols and rifles, but in time you'll progress to medium and long-range machine guns, mortars, the weaponry on armoured fighting vehicles and artillery. You will also be involved in regular outdoor training exercises, using a tented workshop for a base.

Not only an Armourer, you’re also a tradesman. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake engineering courses and implement your skills across the different trades.

In any given month, you might be in the workshop, on a field exercise, completing a career development course or out at the range shooting.

Job on base

While working on camp, you’ll primarily be based within one of the Army’s workshops providing maintenance support. You’ll find plenty of variety in your day-to-day work, as no two faults are the same : your responsibility is to repair and maintain unit weapons. From time to time, you’ll work alongside other units. This includes providing support in multiple environments such as forward repair group FRG, where you work from a mobile workshop deployed into the field.

Variety is also provided in your daily routine in camp by the inclusion of sport, PT, parades, and other soldier skills and training activities.

Job on deployment

Armourers are deployed on a variety of overseas exercises and missions primarily in support of other units. Recent deployments include Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor-Lesté.

While on deployment, you may find your services in high demand : diagnosing and rectifying any faults, quickly putting your skills to the test and getting weapons functioning accurately. You’ll continue to provide weapon maintenance and minor engineering support for the mission.

As an Armourer, anything you fix, you get to fire. Ranging from the 0.5 calibre semi-automatic rifle all the way to your pistol.

Tui, Armourer

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Career progression and training

Career Progression

Basic Training

Job Training

Ongoing Training

After you have completed your Armourer apprenticeship you will gain experience working within a workshop. Once you are qualified you will have the opportunity to specialise as a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) armourer, light gun armourer or specialist operations armourer.

After that, as you continue to progress in rank, you will develop further experience including running a workshop and management of personnel.

Upon successful enlistment into the Army you will be posted to Waiouru Army base. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the Army, and learn various subjects including :

RNZALR CORP TRAINING

Your initial trade training will be conducted at Trade Training School (TTS), Trentham, Wellington, where you will be introduced to the Royal NZ Army Logistic Regiment. This is broken into two modules. The first module is a week, conducted immediately after Regular Recruit Force Training (RRF), The second is 4 weeks and will occur within your 2nd -4th years, providing you further insight into the Logistic Regiment and the part that you will play in the Army.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SKILLS (METS)

Nine-month course that will achieve a New Zealand Certificate in mechanical engineering level 3. This course is designed to give you the basic knowledge and skills required for the trade. Subjects include hand tools, arc / gas welding, mill and lathe work and also technical drawing.

BASIC ARMOURERS COURSE

Four-month course covering general weapon information and specific details about individual weapons.

JUNIOR ARMOURERS COURSE

Three-month course covering the general principles of all support weapons and their ammunitions.

INTERMEDIATE ARMOURERS COURSE

Incorporates all the general principles of artillery, armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) weapons and sighting systems. Complete strip and assemble, inspection and complete test and adjustments to ensure this equipment is safe for use within NZ Army.

At the completion of your trade training you will have achieved a New Zealand certificate in Mechanical Engineering Level 4 – Maintenance Engineering.

As your career progresses the Army will provide you with new equipment training to ensure you stay up to date.

JUNIOR MAINTENANCE SUPPORT COURSE

Focuses on the forward repair of equipment with other Maintenance Support (MS) trades supporting you attached unit.

INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE SUPPORT COURSE

Focuses on section management to support efficient production.

SENIOR ARMOURERS COURSE

On this course you will cover what to do in the case of an ammunition incident. You will also cover the administration and management of an Armourers Section.

RANGE CONDUCTING OFFICER COURSE

Provides you the ability to control a range or test fire weapons which have had repairs effected and ensure they are functioning in a reliable and safe manor.

Salary and benefits

Careers in the Army are well-rewarded, diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.

50,597

Under Initial Training

64,177

Starting Trade Training

122,331

Future Potential Earnings

Figures updated on July 1st 2023

Benefits and allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include :

Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae

Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels

Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases

Opportunities to travel

Free and subsidised medical and dental care

Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases

Free and subsidised insurance cover

Help to buy a home and save for retirement

Entry requirements

Basics

Education

Fitness and medical

Citizenship

Period of Service

3 years secondary school.

Note, that qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.

Find out if you’re eligible here.

Once you have completed training you will be required to give a two year return of service to the NZ Army.

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