Materials Technician

As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Materials Technicians maintain and repair land vehicles and related equipment. Materials Technicians belong to the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch of the CAF.

• Welding
• Machining
• Sheet metal work
• Painting
• Work with textiles, fibreglass and composite

Materials Technicians work at bases and stations across Canada and on deployed operations around the world. On base they may work in small spaces like a workshop; in the field or on deployment they may work outdoors or in temporary accommodations. Their work usually supports Army units, but they may also work with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

If you join the Regular Force, after completing training you will be assigned to your first base. Postings may require relocation. If you join the Primary Reserve Force, you will serve part-time through a Reserve unit with more flexibility and typically one night per week and some weekends as a minimum.

• Direct Entry Options

No previous work experience or career-related skills are required. CAF recruiters can help you determine if your interests and attributes match this occupation.

The minimum education is completion of provincial requirements for Grade 10 (Secondary 4 in Quebec), including Grade 10 Applied Math or Math 416/CST 4 in Quebec, and Grade 10 Science or equivalent. Foreign education may be accepted.

The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification course, or Basic Training, at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training ensures the core skills and knowledge common to all trades and maintains CAF physical fitness standards.

Materials Technicians attend the Canadian Forces School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering in Borden, Ontario for about a year. They learn skills including:

• Shop mathematics
• Interpretation of mechanical drawings and blueprints
• Power and hand tools
• Metallurgy and heat treatment
• Pattern development and layout
• Welding: oxy-acetylene, gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc, shielded-metal arc
• Plasma arc cutting
• Metal surface refinishing
• Auto body repair and refinishing
• Rust-proofing and retreatment
• Spray-painting
• Drilling, threading and reaming
• Textile repair
• Sewing-machine repair
• Respirator repair
• Repair of fibreglass and composite materials
• Identification of metals, alloys and plastics

Materials Technicians are posted to a CAF Base for about 18 months of on-the-job training. They may be offered opportunities to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including a 27-week intermediate training course. At the end, trade knowledge, skills and experience may be comparable to a civilian journeyman.

There is also the possibility to take training to reach supervisor and manager levels. The supervisor level course takes about 13 weeks, and the manager level course takes about nine weeks. Advanced training may include:

• Advanced machining
• Advanced welding
• Non-destructive testing techniques
• Military bridging inspection
• ISO sea container inspection
• Occupational health and safety

• General Welder
• Millwright
• Tool-and-Die Maker
• Sheet-Metal Worker
• Auto Body Repair Technician