to the fitter armourers

[seismicwave Recruit Find all posts View Profile Close seismicwave]

before i ask i would like to say that this is my first post and that the site looks like a great place with lots of up to date info. im sure ill enjoy my stay.

my question to all the fitter armorers is,

what does your average day involve? if you went into work what would you expect for the day? I ask because i applied this year for the fitter/armorer apprenticeship in the defence forces and i just want to get a general jist of what i can expect day to day

id greatly appreciate any answers

i also have 2 more questions if its not taking to much of your time,

first, how in dept is the training? ie, will i only learn about maintenance related topics or will i learn, in great detail, about all aspects of the weapons i will study? will i even go as far as to learn about the ammunition?

and finally, will i work with ARW issued weapons, or do they have their own specialist training on their weapons?

thanks in advance for any replies

[DeV Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close DeV]

before i ask i would like to say that this is my first post and that the site looks like a great place with lots of up to date info. im sure ill enjoy my stay.

my question to all the fitter armorers is,

what does your average day involve? if you went into work what would you expect for the day? I ask because i applied this year for the fitter/armorer apprenticeship in the defence forces and i just want to get a general jist of what i can expect day to day

id greatly appreciate any answers

i also have 2 more questions if its not taking to much of your time,

first, how in dept is the training? ie, will i only learn about maintenance related topics or will i learn, in great detail, about all aspects of the weapons i will study? will i even go as far as to learn about the ammunition?

and finally, will i work with ARW issued weapons, or do they have their own specialist training on their weapons?

thanks in advance for any replies

I can give you a bit of info but others will have a better idea.

You will deal with weapons (not sure about ammo).

ARW weapons will depend on where you are based.

You are likely to spend the bulk of your time in workshops fixing/servicing weapons but all DF weapons have an annual weapons inspection by an armourer, armourers are also required to attend at other units' range practices (this could involve working weekends).

I'm not sure about this but I think armourers are also involved on EOD (bomb disposal) teams.

[ZULU Teuton Foot Soldier Find all posts View Profile Close ZULU]

Hi,

Welcome to the board.

As to your questions, having asked a couple of people in the positions, the jobs they do are quite varied but Dev hits most of the points.

Went on an ex this year with the rangers and there was an Armourer helping out with pyrotechnic charges etc for battle simulations, if thats what your into.

Think of it like a fitter/fabricator working on weapons instead of cars.

[DeV Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close DeV]

Went on an ex this year with the rangers and there was an Armourer helping out with pyrotechnic charges etc for battle simulations, if thats what your into.

Sure it wasn't an engineer Zulu, explosives is there baby?!

[Dog One Private 2* Find all posts View Profile Close Dog One]

Correct dev Engr`s do battle sims . Armour Fitter carries out inspection 10% and 100% of weapons and reconditions weapons. The may become artificers or other areas. Most likely the will be some training to become a member of an EOD team. So daily routine working on weapons/ armourer on ranges and or EOD duty

[GoneToTheCanner C/S Find all posts View Profile Close GoneToTheCanner]

Fitter/Armourers have also been tasked with signing off fitting and zeroing of podded weapons for aircraft in Baldonnel.
regards
GttC

[seismicwave Recruit Find all posts View Profile Close seismicwave]

sounds great guys, will i be given the chance to go overseas aswell? and if i am will i be doing the same over there, or will i have to patroll ect

[ZULU Teuton Foot Soldier Find all posts View Profile Close ZULU]

Sure it wasn't an engineer Zulu, explosives is there baby?!

Nope. He made damn sure he wasn't an Engineer!

[DeV Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close DeV]

sounds great guys, will i be given the chance to go overseas aswell? and if i am will i be doing the same over there, or will i have to patroll ect

Yes, sound be as part of an infantry unit (servicing their weapons etc) or as part of an EOD team (if you have been trained).

[techie SGT Find all posts View Profile Close techie]

i have just read your question sorry about the delay to answer anyway upon been accepted to do a fitter/armourers course you will train as a apprentice in the ordnance school (or formally the army apprentice school) for four years in the fitter/turner trade the final year on the armourers course where you will train in the maintance,repair and competient use off all df small arms up to 81mm additionally you will be trained in other service equipment ie mowag turrets,field kitchens,personal equipment etc you will then be posted to a ordnance company where you will work almost always on the ranges ensuring the weapons are correctly used and maintained otherwise you are expected to be part of inspection teams which inspect and maintain and repair all prev mentioned equipment in the bde.duties such as eod will be done when you have gained experience within the unit usually starting as a driver(3 to 5 years) then a operator following further experience (3 to 5 years) and are a nco you maybe allowed to complete a artificers course( a further 7 months) where you will then be responsible for all artillary weapons within the df of course other military courses such as nco etc will be done as well as revalidation courses on weapons and indeed new weapon and equipment which enter service as a armourer any piece of equipment which is inspected or serviced by you is signed off by you regardless of rank so you are legally resposible for any defects missed so it follows that you have to be very good at what you do all the time every time.ammunition is inspected by ammunition examiners only and sights and electricial systems on the weapons are carried out by instrument artificers only.regards

[seismicwave Recruit Find all posts View Profile Close seismicwave]

thanks techie and everyone else.

im still waiting to see how i did in the interviews, i have a good feeling though and im confident that i did my best

this christmas might be my firsts on my way to becoming an armorer

[Ex-soldier C/S Find all posts View Profile Close Ex-soldier]

i have just read your question sorry about the delay to answer anyway upon been accepted to do a fitter/armourers course you will train as a apprentice in the ordnance school (or formally the army apprentice school) for four years in the fitter/turner trade the final year on the armourers course where you will train in the maintance,repair and competient use off all df small arms up to 81mm additionally you will be trained in other service equipment ie mowag turrets,field kitchens,personal equipment etc you will then be posted to a ordnance company where you will work almost always on the ranges ensuring the weapons are correctly used and maintained otherwise you are expected to be part of inspection teams which inspect and maintain and repair all prev mentioned equipment in the bde.duties such as eod will be done when you have gained experience within the unit usually starting as a driver(3 to 5 years) then a operator following further experience (3 to 5 years) and are a nco you maybe allowed to complete a artificers course( a further 7 months) where you will then be responsible for all artillary weapons within the df of course other military courses such as nco etc will be done as well as revalidation courses on weapons and indeed new weapon and equipment which enter service as a armourer any piece of equipment which is inspected or serviced by you is signed off by you regardless of rank so you are legally resposible for any defects missed so it follows that you have to be very good at what you do all the time every time.ammunition is inspected by ammunition examiners only and sights and electricial systems on the weapons are carried out by instrument artificers only.regards

I thought your first sentence was the longest I have seen at 138 words or thereabouts. But then I read your second sentence with 140 words. My God man......it's hard to read sentences that long!!

[hptmurphy Commander in Chief Find all posts View Profile Close hptmurphy]

armorer

Hope the spelling didn't affect your interview.!

[hptmurphy Commander in Chief Find all posts View Profile Close hptmurphy]

Given it appears the appliction was to the Irish Defence Forces I assumed the UK English to be version applicable.

[Truck Driver Captain Find all posts View Profile Close Truck Driver]

Hope the spelling didn't affect your interview.!

Both are correct, depending on the part of the world you are in.

Given it appears the appliction was to the Irish Defence Forces I assumed the UK English to be version applicable.

Kermit, I think that's advantage to Murph....