Patrick H. said:
Hey, I am thinking of applying for FCS/ED Tech as well as Engineer but just had a question about using my own tools. I have a Mastercraft digital multimeter and a Fluke ammeter as well as miscellaneous hand/power tools used commonly in the Electrical trade. When you are on course, are the tools supplied? That's what I'm thinking. But if I want to use my ammeter, is that possible? Does everyone have space for their personal tools or is there a communal tool system?
Cheers
You sign for all your tools when you're posted to a unit. When you're on a course, due to the school's budget, you probably won't have anywhere near the tools that you need (I had one little tool box with two wrench sets, two socket sets, and some screwdrivers and hammers - which for a mechanic, was less than a quarter of the tools that I needed), so having your own toys is definately more convenient than running to the tool crib every time you need something. But once you get to your unit, you'll get a decent set of tools to use. And as per your second question, although there isn't any formal policy on the use of personal tools, I would discourage it for a number of reasons. First, like delvan said, it may grow legs and walk away. Secondly, if you're doing your job with Army tools, and they break (it happens - especially with some of the Fisher-Price junk that I signed), you go to the tool crib and get it exchanged. If you're working with your own tools, and they break, you're sunk.
Jordan411 said:
Sorry to butt in, but do you know if the sign for it, do your job, clean it up, bring it back policy apply to other Tech trades? (411 Veh Tech in particular)
Yes, this is the practice with us as well. You sign for your tool box when you get to your unit, and when you get posted to another unit, they take out the old tables with marker outlines of all the tools on them, and you spend half a day matching up hammers and screwdrivers to their outlines. They go over the checklist, note what's missing (most people do lose at least one or two things over the course of a couple years - especially wrenches and sockets), replace it (possbily making you fill out a lost items report, depending on the value of what you lost - they're not going to bother with a lost kit report for a 7mm socket, but a multimeter is going to cost you), then you pack everything back up, and move on to your next unit, where they get out their tables, and you spend half a day unpacking a tool box over there, checking over the contents to make sure that you have everything that you're about to sign for, then pack everything back up and go to work.
