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Armourer

Job Group

  • Soldier

Job Availability

  • Full Time
  • Part Time

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 pistols and rifles, but in time you'll progress to machine guns, mortars, the weaponry on armoured fighting vehicles and artillery. You will also be involved in regular outdoor training exercises with only a tented workshop for a base.

As an Armourer, you will learn how to safely dismantle, diagnose and repair all of the weapons used by the New Zealand Army.

JOB ON CAMP

You will primarily work within one of the Army’s workshops providing maintenance support. You will also have the opportunity to work alongside other units. As an Armourer your day to day responsibilities, while working on camp, are to repair and maintain unit weapons. This includes providing support in multiple environments such as forward repair group FRG, where you work from a mobile workshop deployed into the field.

JOB ON DEPLOYMENT

Armourers are deployed on a variety of overseas exercises and missions primarily in support of other units. Recent deployments include Afghanistan and Timor-Lesté. While on deployment you will provide weapon maintenance and minor engineering support for the mission.

CAREER PROGRESSION

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. 

Pay & Benefit Details

The minimum remuneration you will be paid from day one is $31,894. Your remuneration will increase upon graduation of your recruit course to $40,646 and will continue to increase on promotion and seniority.

General Requirements

  • You must be at least 17 years of age.

  • You must be a NZ citizen (some exceptions apply).

  • You must be of good character – assessed by a study of testimonials and a police record check.

Educational Requirements

  • You must have completed at least three years at secondary school.

  • A proven ability in English and Maths at NCEA Level 1 (12 credits per subject) or equivalent, also 12 credits in one of the following: Science, Physics, Graphics and Design, Chemistry, Engineering or Applied Mathematics.

Fitness Requirements

  • You must be medically fit for service.

Training

Basic Training

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:

  • Organisation and Administration

  • Army Customs and Protocol

  •  Drill and Parades

  •  Military Field Skills and Weapon Training

  •  First Aid

  • Physical Fitness

Job Training

NZRALR BASIC 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 four-week course provides you with an insight into the Logistic Regiment and the part that you will play in the Army.

BASIC MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SKILLS (BMETS)

Six-month course 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.

Ongoing Training

INTERMEDIATE ARMOURERS COURSE

Incorporates all the general principles of artillery weapons and sighting systems. For the last two weeks, you will be taught about the stripping and assembling of all weapons.

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.

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

Location Details

You will initially complete six months training at UCOL in Palmerston North and on completion you will be posted to Trentham Military Camp to complete your initial trade training. After that you will be based at one of the Army's workshops, located at Linton or Burnham Camps providing maintenance support.