Ammunition Technician

Overview

As a member of the military, Ammunition Technicians are responsible for all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) ammunition, explosive stockpiles, and ammunition and explosives safety programs. They 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. They are initially posted to an ammunition facility to gain experience and knowledge, and may later be posted within Canada or deployed on operations around the world. If you choose a career in the Regular Force, you will be assigned to your first base upon completion of all required training, with some flexibility regarding postings and relocations.

If you join the Primary Reserve Force, you will work part‑time in a specific Reserve unit, typically one night per week and some weekends, with no obligation to relocate.

No previous work experience or career related skills are required. CAF recruiters can help determine if personal interests and attributes match the criteria for this occupation.

The minimum required education to apply is the completion of the provincial Grade 10 or Secondary 4 in Quebec. Foreign education may be accepted.

The first stage is the Basic Military Qualification course at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School.

• Basic Military Qualification (basic core skills)
• Commissioning at Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre for approximately five months covering identification, receipt, storage, inventory control, maintenance, issue and disposal of ammunition and explosives.
• Three months of Explosive Ordnance Disposal training, including proper disposal techniques of dud, misfired, and stray ammunition, range clearance operations, investigation of ammunition defects and malfunctions, field and deployed operations.
• Eight weeks of training on ammunition and explosive safety programs, technical services, ammunition serviceability verification, accident investigation, facility development and inspection, explosive disposal operations, range clearance operations, and performance of Service Representative Officer duties.

After the initial five months of training, Ammunition Technicians continue with 24 months of on-the-job training at an ammunition facility to gain practical exposure and hands‑on experience in key tasks before the next phase of training.

They may develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:

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

Advanced training courses for those with demonstrated ability and potential include Conventional Munitions Disposal Advanced.

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