Carpenter, Trades ​/ Skilled Labor

Age

You can join between the ages of 16 – 36. At the time of your application you will need to be between 15 years & 7 months old and 35 years & 6 months old.

You can start your training as a Junior Soldier at the Army Foundation College from the age of 16 years and 6 months.

• GCSE Grade A–D/9–3, or Scottish National 4, in Maths, English Language and one other subject.
• Age 15 & 7 months to 35 & 6 months at application.

• Plan carpentry and joinery tasks from sketches and working drawings.
• Learn the use and maintenance of workshop machinery.
• Prepare timber for use, manufacture joints, use adhesives, produce windows, door frames, door linings and internal joinery fitments.
• Carry out general construction work, first‑fix timber frames, second‑fix internal joinery fitments.
• Install partitions, floors, roofing, timber‑framed buildings, formwork and shoring.
• Construct scaffolding, interpret scaffold terms, erect access scaffold and install access ladders.

From initial military training you will learn soldier basics. Junior Soldiers (under 17 ½ months) attend a military training course at Harrogate;
Regular Soldiers (over 17 ½ months) attend adult basic training.

Afterward you head to the Royal School of Military Engineering for 12 weeks of engineering skills, followed by 21 weeks of timber construction training.

Salary starts at £27,282 a year from the start of training and increases as you progress.

Pathway:
Level 3 Military Engineering Construction Technician Apprenticeship (Carpenter and Joiner).

You can expect to travel all over the world, supporting operations in the UK and overseas. The role offers structured training, a solid salary progression, and the opportunity to specialise in carpentry and joinery within the Royal Engineers.