British Army - Ordnance,Munitions & Explosives RLC Technician - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship
British Army
Recruiting nationally
Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025
Posted on 12 May 2025
Contents
Summary
The Level 4 Ordnance, Munitions & Explosives RLC Ammunition Technician apprenticeship in the British Army provides training in handling ammunition, explosives, and logistics. Gain specialist skills in maintaining and managing military ordnance. Work alongside every aspect of the military, including Airborne and Commando Forces.
- Wage
-
£25,200 a year
- Training course
- Ordnance munitions explosives technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Shifts and working patterns may vary. Working locations will vary nationally depending on the apprenticeship and working requirements.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 September 2025
- Duration
-
2 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
50
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Could you be an expert on explosives, ammunition and bomb disposal? After world-leading technical training, you could help keep our troops and civilians safe.
As an Ammunition Technician, you’ll learn to inspect, repair, store and destroy everything from rifle ammunition to guided weapons. You will work with Army Units and UK security services, deploying bomb disposal robots.
Progression to a Bomb Disposal Operator (with extra pay) is also possible. You’ll be given responsibility early in your career as you’ll become a Lance Corporal immediately after completing your training and your career could involve work in fields such as Weapons Technical Intelligence, Ammunition Stockpile Management and Improvised Explosives Device Disposal.
Ammunition Technicians are highly sought after by the commercial energetics industry and by organisations running training in explosives and bomb disposal.
The Royal Logistic Corps are the Army’s professional logisticians keeping the Field Army marching, its helicopters flying, its vehicles moving and its tanks and guns firing. We enable its deployment and supply it with everything it needs, wherever it operates, throughout the world.
Where you'll work
Depending on your chosen regiment/corps and age at the time of enlistment, you will undertake Phase 1 training at AFC Harrogate (16-17 year olds), ATR Pirbright, ATR Winchester or ITC Catterick (for adult recruits). ITC Catterick is also where Infantry soldiers complete both Phase 1 and 2. On completion of your training, you will be assigned to where the Army requires you to be, but wherever that is you will receive 'on the job' training towards the completion of your chosen Apprenticeship.
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
BRITISH ARMY
Your training course
Ordnance munitions explosives technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Prepare and supervise an OME workplace, in line with organisational procedures selecting appropriate equipment and resources and return it to a serviceable condition having recorded and taken appropriate action to address any faults.
- Apply correct H&S and explosives regulations to task and confirm hazard and risk against agreed criteria.
- Conduct inspection and testing, using visual and sampling techniques, and record outcomes in line with organisational or legislative requirements.
- Make safe, quarantine, and/or prepare OME for disposal.
- Maintain accurate record keeping and identifying areas for improvement and making recommendations.
- Use a range of techniques to coach, mentor and communicate within their area of OME responsibility.
- Handle and use OME correctly in accordance with the relevant procedures, guidance and legislation.
- Identify and implement appropriate OME procedures in the workplace to meet stakeholder requirements.
- Confirm the type, quality and quantity of OME relevant to the activity in the workplace.
- Implement and maintain housekeeping standards such as cleanliness and waste disposal using best practice protocols.
- Plan and prioritise their own and the team’s workload in response to developing events within the workplace.
- Prepare Ordnance Munitions and Explosives for specified tasks, taking suitable precautions to prevent damage to equipment and facilities.
- Apply the principles of OME to achieve the required explosive effect for a specific ordnance munition or explosive application.
- Undertake inventory activities such as audits, recording outcomes in line with organisational requirements.
- Use a range of techniques to supervise OME activities, within their area of responsibility.
- Prepare and supervise an OME workplace, in line with organisational procedures selecting appropriate equipment and resources and return it to a serviceable condition having recorded and taken appropriate action to address any faults.
- Apply correct H&S and explosives regulations to task and confirm hazard and risk against agreed criteria.
- Conduct inspection and testing, using visual and sampling techniques, and record outcomes in line with organisational or legislative requirements.
- Make safe, quarantine, and/or prepare OME for disposal.
- Maintain accurate record keeping and identifying areas for improvement and making recommendations.
- Use a range of techniques to coach, mentor and communicate within their area of OME responsibility.
- Handle and use OME correctly in accordance with the relevant procedures, guidance and legislation.
- Identify and implement appropriate OME procedures in the workplace to meet stakeholder requirements.
- Confirm the type, quality and quantity of OME relevant to the activity in the workplace.
- Implement and maintain housekeeping standards such as cleanliness and waste disposal using best practice protocols.
- Plan and prioritise their own and the team’s workload in response to developing events within the workplace.
- Prepare Ordnance Munitions and Explosives for specified tasks, taking suitable precautions to prevent damage to equipment and facilities.
- Apply the principles of OME to achieve the required explosive effect for a specific ordnance munition or explosive application.
- Undertake inventory activities such as audits, recording outcomes in line with organisational requirements.
- Use a range of techniques to supervise OME activities, within their area of responsibility.
Your training plan
The L4 Ordnance Munitions Explosives Technician Apprenticeship Standard is used by RLC Ammunition Technicians. Learners will start during Initial Trade Training (ITT) (delivered at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham and at the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment (DEMS Trg Regt), which is based on twin sites some 30 miles apart at Bicester, Oxfordshire and Kineton, Warwickshire) and continue their learning in the Field Army.
Training for the role
Step 1 - You'll start with your initial military training which will teach you how to be a soldier - this will cover everything from fieldcraft to handling a rifle. If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate. If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training.
Step 2 - Next, you will undertake your 15-week Combat Logistician course at the Defence School of Transport in Leconfield. During this, you will earn your Category C+E Driving Licence and study general service driver modules. This training also gives you the opportunity to gain a broader knowledge on the Royal Logistic Corps functions and roles. After this, you will work alongside Ammunition Technicians who will mentor you until your Specialist Trade Training begins.
Step 3 - You will then complete your 29-week Class 2 Ammunition Technician course which is split between the Defence Academy in Shrivenham and the Defence EOD Munitions and Search Training Regiment in Kineton. You’ll learn how to inspect, test, move, store and destroy every type of ammunition and explosive.
Qualifications you could get after training
Driving Licences: Category B and C+E.
Level 4 Apprenticeship in Ordnance Munitions and Explosives.
The opportunity to study for an MSc in Explosives Ordnance Engineering (on a part-time basis).
A proven track record in the field that can gain the title of Engineering Technician (Eng Tech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Requirements
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
About this company
Protecting the nation and its dependent territories will always be the British Army's first role. Highly trained soldiers are ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges, ranging from support to the Police following a terrorist attack, to specialist capabilities such as bomb disposal and intelligence experts, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, we are always ready to serve. You belong here.
https://www.army.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
The Army offers job security, career growth, adventure and world-class training. Benefits include competitive pay, travel, fitness, leadership skills, a pension, free healthcare, cheaper housing and 30 days' paid leave a year, plus public holidays.
After this apprenticeship
- The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the British Army
- Promotion, along with increased salary and responsibility, is dependent on successful completion of the apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection
- As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest values and standards expected of the British Army
You belong here.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BRITISH ARMY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000319977.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025
When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
Company’s application instructions
At this link you can find more information about the roles offered by the British Army. We have positions available for all roles throughout the year and you can ignore the application open/closing dates shown against this apprenticeship advertisement. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.