Armament Technician

As an Air Force Armament Technician, you’ll be responsible for maintaining armament systems and managing stockpiles of pyrotechnics and explosives. As well as loading and arming aircraft weapons systems for operational tasks, you’ll be expected to perform aircraft ground handling and aeronautical maintenance duties.

The servicing, storing and testing of the full range of military firearms will be an essential part of your trade, as will the issuing of ammunition and maintenance of weapons ranges. With additional training and experience, you could also become an explosives inspector or one of our explosive ordnance disposal personnel.

This job gives you lots of exposure to learning all there is to know about military weapons. This role requires you to have an eye for detail and will certainly see you travelling overseas with the aircraft when they conduct operations and exercises. You will learn to fire all of the RNZAF’s weapons in a controlled environment on our ranges.

Aeronautical Engineering Course

 

As a first step you will need to complete the full-time 17 week Aeronautical Engineering Course with NMIT.  This is undertaken privately and is a prerequisite to joining the RNZAF.  Areas covered on the Aeronautical Course include:

• Aircraft construction materials
• Aeronautical drawing interpretation
• Sketching and mathematics
• Aeronautical workplace safety
• Quality management principles
• Aeronautical spare parts
• Hand and machine tool use
• Maintenance documentation and publication use
• Component removal and installation
• Aircraft systems and principles of flight

Your NMIT Course fees will be reimbursed to you when you commence your RNZAF Aircraft Mechanic Training Course.

 

Recruit Course

 

Upon successful completion of the Aeronautical Engineering course you will then join the Air Force. You’ll be posted to RNZAF Base Woodbourne (near Blenheim). Here you’ll do 12 weeks of basic military training to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Air Force, and learn various subjects including:

• Organisation and Administration
• RNZAF Customs and Protocol
• Drill and Parades
• Military Field Skills and Weapon Training
• First Aid, and Search and Rescue Techniques
• Physical Fitness

 

Armament Mechanic Training

 

Recruit Course is followed by a 27-week full-time Armament Mechanic course also at Woodbourne. This course will provide you with the fundamental skills to become an Armament Mechanic. After completing the course, you’ll return to an operational unit on either RNZAF Base Auckland or Ohakea to consolidate your skills in the workplace before commencing your Armament Technician Course.

Armament Technicians Course

 

The Armament Technician Course is a 13-week fulltime course that will further develop your skills as an RNZAF Armourer. After graduating, you will return to a base as a qualified trade person.

 

FurtherTraining Opportunities

 

As your experience grows, there are a number of post graduate courses to focus your talents in various specialised fields. These range from Explosive Ordnance Disposal to an Air Force Inspector of Explosives Course.

You must be 17 years or older and have a minimum of 12 NCEA Level 2 credits in English, Mathematics and a Science subject. Colour perception restrictions apply.