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Materials Technician Questions

Edgecrusher

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I am in the process of training to join the army, and the only problem I have encountered is chosing an occupation. As it is, I am divided between Weapons Tech (Land) and Materials Tech. I am leaning towards Materials Technician, but I have a few questions, and the recruiters, videos and handouts only tell me so much:

Where and how are Materials Techs employed? Is the work mostly done in a static workshop, or is a large part of it done in the field?

What units, both field and static, employ Materias Technicians? Where are those units located?

Do Materials Techs get to go on exercises? How often and in what capacity? Will basic traing be my only opportunity to do ‘army‘ things?

I understand that two large parts of the job are welding and machining. I have the training, experience and qualifications to do both. If I specialize in welding, will I get a chance to do machining? I know there is cross-training, but do Mats Techs actually get a chance to do both jobs?

Is there specialist pay available to Mats Techs? I was told by the recruiter that there is currently (Fall 2003) no specialist pay for Mats Techs, but there is specialist pay for Hull Techs who do a very similar job.

Do Materials Techs go on deployments? In what capacity?

These are some big questions, but I really need to know what I am getting into.
 
:cdn: Mat Techs have different jobs at different postings... You may well end up just running a industrial sized sewing machine for 4 or 5 yrs repairing modular tentage... :cdn:
 
Edgecrusher,

MAT techs are an important part of the maintenance team. I can only speak from a service battalion view but our MAT techs in Pet pretty much seemed to use all their skills. They were employed in machining, welding and sewing. They were very popular making great web belts for all their buds!
 
Sometimes MAT Techs are also called upon to fabricate a ball and chain for a stag party. :cool: :D
 
MAT techs may deploy to the field with a wide variety of equipment, from a truck- mounted machine shop, mobile welder, textiles truck... anything you could think of, almost. They do deploy overseas to a multitude of tasks such as gate guard   :p, all trade duties, sea container inspection, etc. Or, as someone mentioned, they could have a static garrison shop where they just do regular repairs and fabrications. No spec pay, and the only thing in common with hull techs is the welding. Cheers!   >:D join the EME branch... join the EME branch...
 
Now that I think about it, there's no such thing as "regular" repairs and fabrications. Creativity is a definite asset, but so is a lot of patience for those guys.
 
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