Ammunition Technician

Overview

As a member of the military, Ammunition Technicians are responsible for all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ammunition, explosive stockpiles, as well as ammunition and explosives safety programs. They also perform technical inspections, tests, proofs, maintenance, modification and disposal of all CAF ammunition and explosives.

• Provide advice on all ammunition and explosive safety matters
• Manage the storage of ammunition and explosives
• Prepare and ship ammunition and explosives
• Maintain static facilities, field and deployed installations
• Perform render‑safe and disposal procedures on explosive ordnances
• Certify ammunition, explosive items, munitions and non‑munitions scrap to different degrees of classification
• Conduct improvised explosive devices disposal operations
• Operate equipment in support of operations

Ammunition Technicians may work in a wide variety of locations and environmental conditions. Initially, they are posted to an ammunition facility to gain experience and knowledge. After training, they may be posted within Canada or deployed on operations around the world. Regular Force members are assigned to a base after training and may relocate during their career. Primary Reserve members join a specific Reserve unit and typically work one night per week and some weekends, with possibilities of full‑time employment.

• Direct Entry Options – No previous work experience or career‑related skills are required.
• Education requirement – Completion of provincial Grade 10 (or Quebec Secondary
  4) is required. Foreign education may be accepted.

The first stage is the Basic Military Qualification (Basic Training) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint‑Jean‑sur‑Richelieu, Quebec, which provides core skills and ensures physical fitness.

Next, Ammunition Technicians attend the Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre in Borden, Ontario, for approximately five months covering identification, receipt, storage, inventory control, maintenance, issue and disposal of ammunition and explosives.

• Proper disposal techniques for dud, misfired and stray ammunition
• Range clearance operations
• Investigation of ammunition defects and malfunctions
• Field and deployed operations

Final training lasts eight weeks and covers ammunition and explosive safety programs, technical services, ammunition serviceability verification, accident investigation, facility development and inspection, disposal operations and Service Representative Officer duties.

• 24 months of on‑the‑job training at an ammunition facility to gain practical, hands‑on experience before the next phase of training.

• Improvised Explosive Device Disposal
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods
• Disposal of Biological/Chemical munitions
• Marine Explosive Handling
• Conventional Munitions Disposal Advanced

• Engineering and regulatory inspectors
• Material handlers
• Civilian Ammunition Technician
• Civilian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Range Clearance Operator

• Entry level

• Full‑time

• Engineering and Information Technology