Thread: REME / Avionics & Electronics Life

I don't know what the exact qualifications are now on completions of viarious parts of training - they seem to change.

However, the new technicians that have just arrived at my unit are completing a NVQ level 3 in Electronic Engineering.

On completion of class one, you should (at present) have completed 4 out of 6 modules towards a HNC. The missing two units are completed when both parts of the SCLM have been done. SCLM is currently changing, so how the HNC is affected, I can't say. On completing all 6 modules, a further period of study is required IN YOUR OWN TIME to complete the HNC. This is done via the University of Glamorgan at present and costs somewhere in the region of 600 pounds (Enhanced Learning Credits can be used).

There is no need to complete the HNC if you are planning to do become Artificer. At present, Artificers complete a HND in electronics (don't quote me on this, I'm not that far myself yet!). A top-up to BSc (hons) is available via the afore-mentioned uni, again, at your own cost.

If you go in as an Avionics engineer then what you need to acquire is the civvy B2 licence and a B1 as well if you can get it.

At the moment more guys are retiring than are comming into the jobs in civvy street. At a meeting I attended on Monday a senior company manager said that on one of the company bases 50% of the maintenance staff are retiring in the next 5 years. One of the company pilots asked about the pilot shortage and was told that pilot supply was not a problem, however the company could not get qualified experienced engineers.

Where I am currently working more than half of the staff are over 50.
Its turning into an old folks home with helicopters!!!!!!

Stevo - If when you finish, you want to work in an engineering role then your qualifications will be useful, if not, they wont! I've got a BSc in Electronic Engineering but there is no way Im going to use it cos I hate technical stuff. The BSc that you currently get at the successful completion of all of the modules done on Tiffy course is paid for by the Army, not by yourself.

Techboab - Rockstar has mearly put his perspective on things and just because he's got a positive outlook it doesn't mean that he's lying to anyone. We're not all bitter and twisted despite how ever long we've done. Also, the PT at Arborfield is no longer a joke as you replied beforehand. The PDS system has been fcucked off at the high port thanks to the last QMSI and there are now a hell of a lot fewer PFT failures (how do I know? Cos I've just about run on every promotional PFT, the one the lads do just before hitting the field force, since July 06, as part of my job) If you have done your upgraders since then then you'll know who I am as I would have taught you on CEA(UG)
Also Cfn do have a chance to choose the equipment that the first work on. Records will produce a list of available posts and then ASM T&M will sit down with the course and explain their options. They will then submit a PPP to T&M which then lets records know who is going where. The advantage to Cfn is that they could have face time with T&M if they so choose to explain the why's and the whatnots which is an advantage over just about everyone else in the field force below Warrant level. There has also been cases in the past whereby a soldier has requested a certain unit or equipment that they wanted to work on & they were held until the next available course so that they could do it. It is rare that this happens but a precedent has been set.
High marks do not mean that you go Avionics. High marks and a desire to go avionics will. High marks and a desire to go Land systems will see that soldier going land systems. It is a myth that the best students go to Air systems. I think that that also answers the where can we go posting question.

As for equipment variety, that is one of the main draws of land Systems. You can work on Challenger 2, Warrior, Stormer, CVR(T), AS90, Bulldog, FSC, GPTIRF, DIANA, BGTI, ESPIRE and the ubiquitous BOWMAN. (Apologies for missing out some of the others ie STAR regt stuff) I realise that this wont mean much to the avergage civvy but I hope it puts it across that there are many and various equipments to support which also means many and various locations of posting. Something land Systems has over Air systems. There is also the chance to repair forward more, again an advantage of Land Systems if that flicks your switch.

Rapierman - remember that Rockstar's answers are current. By your own admission you have been out 10 years and whilst I don't want to come across as derogatory or baiting you, some things have changed. Also Im gonna stick my neck out and guess that you worked on equipment like B2 and maybe FSC. Its easy to box change on them, its a hell of a lot different on vehicles such as CR2 and as such the technicians who work on them need to know what they are doing and need to understand most of the fundamentals of the training that has been given to them.

I make no apologies for sounding so pro Land Systems or for the ability of todays soldiers. After 2 and a bit years at SEAE I can say that the lads and lasses coming out of the factory are of the highest standard at all levels. I am one of the biggest critics of the course content delivered to Upgraders and Tiffy students due in fact to most of it being non applicable to their job but a basics course is still the foundation that moulds a young technician.

High horse, demount!

Yes Sparky ah know who you are so ah ken ye know what ye talk of.
However, I have to counter that just because Rockstar has a 'positive outlook' it doesn't mean that the answers he gives are true - by the book they are of course!
Every word of what I said has been true in my case, and many other cases that I am aware of - the PT may now have changed at Arborfield since my class one course when we were allowed to do what we liked, and that can only be a good thing.

Obviously you don't have to go Avionics (I didn't) but a lot of people wish to, so obviously getting high scores will aid this!

I know in the CEA compound there is now more 'hands on' aspects but the previous countless months of electronics lessons in the classroom are unlikely to have changed, in my shortish time away.
Giving realistic answers shouldn't scare off those who realise that there is good and bad in every line of work!
)
tech 'Positive Attitude' boab, en route to Afghan and a 22 year career ;)

Ref Sparky's last - I agree with the overwhelming majority of the post but do have issue with one point:

Although you may have no desire to work in any form of technical role after moving to Civvy Street a degree, HND or other technical qualification is still useful as future employers see such qualifications as proof of capacity to learn. It is also proof that the work in which you have been involved for the last x amount of years has been mentally demanding enough for your employer to send you away on challenging academic courses.

Future employers will look upon these qualifications in a favourable light whether you are in a technical job or not.

TechBoab,

One reason why arrse is so popular amongst would-be joiners is that it is not constrained in the same way as recruiting information is and individuals are able to pass on the benefit of their own experience. Just be wary of the fact that joe-civvy does not understand that it is the first duty of every soldier to complain and therefore may read posts in a somewhat different light to that intended.

I left TA a few years ago and now i'm comin back, confident i will get back in with out too many problems. Havion lost contact with my previous mates I Wondered what daily life is like for any REME guys on tour in places such as Aghan and other sandy places, Appricate any comments good or bad...

Well, from an AV Tech perspective, life in sandy places is busy. Very busy. Expect to work hard and for long hours, although I imagine this is the same across all trades. I have to be honest and say that my recent Herrick was the hardest tour I have ever done both physically and mentally. Perhaps not as dangerous as some of the other REME trades due to us being located at the main bases, but there are opportunities to get out and about as invariably your airframe will go tits now and again in FOBs.

VMs and Recce Mechs get out and about quite often, into and around some of the various hotspots. You only have to look at where the big gongs have gone to in the REME over the last 8 years to see which trades see the most action and in the worst places.

You'll hear plenty of people moaning about the quality of the newer tradesmen and women joining. I found that the standard is certainly no worse than when I went through training. I had plenty of idiots on my basic and upgrader courses....some of those idiots are now tiffies.... but my class twos who I had on Herrick were some of the best I have ever had, with one notable exception. I suspect even Caesars army had a few oxygen thieves in it.

Is there any 'Look at Life courses' or 'Familiarization visits' offered by the REME specifically for Avionics/Electronics technician applicants to see the reality of what the job involves?

Yes there is. We reegularly have "look at life" visits at Arborfield where they tour all of the aspects of life at SEAE. It is hosted by the REME recruiting team so Im guessing that if you wanted to get on one your first step would be to ask at your local recruiting office.

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Clever. A mixture of entertaining, sarcastic and yet some informative answers to what started as a serious question... :D

The career course of a REME Tech.

1. Join the army do 18 months trg and come out as a Lcpl
2. Get posted to a unit and gob off
3. Get smacked
4. do guard 2IC whilst the other trades who have a few years longer stag on in the cold.
5. Get a mediocre CR after a year and still get promoted to Cpl
6. do guard commander not having a clue what to do.
7. do 4 more years and get promoted to sgt
8. Moan about how pooh tech promotion is for the next 16 years, forgetting that some trades are lucky to get sgt after 16 years.
9. 22 years career over.

Originally Posted by pensionprisoner

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Clever. A mixture of entertaining, sarcastic and yet some informative answers to what started as a serious question... :D

The career course of a REME Tech.

1. Join the army do 18 months trg and come out as a Lcpl
2. Get posted to a unit and gob off
3. Get smacked
4. do guard 2IC whilst the other trades who have a few years longer stag on in the cold.
5. Get a mediocre CR after a year and still get promoted to Cpl
6. do guard commander not having a clue what to do.
7. do 4 more years and get promoted to sgt
8. Moan about how pooh tech promotion is for the next 16 years, forgetting that some trades are lucky to get sgt after 16 years.
9. 22 years career over.

Are you a crusty full screw by any chance??? Bitter and Twisted :D

Originally Posted by pensionprisoner

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Clever. A mixture of entertaining, sarcastic and yet some informative answers to what started as a serious question... :D

The career course of a REME Tech.

1. Join the army do 18 months trg and come out as a Lcpl
2. Get posted to a unit and gob off
3. Get smacked
4. do guard 2IC whilst the other trades who have a few years longer stag on in the cold.
5. Get a mediocre CR after a year and still get promoted to Cpl
6. do guard commander not having a clue what to do.
7. do 4 more years and get promoted to sgt
8. Moan about how pooh tech promotion is for the next 16 years, forgetting that some trades are lucky to get sgt after 16 years.
9. 22 years career over.

Oh dear, somebody is not only extremely bitter, he's also extremely wrong :o

Originally Posted by Sheepay

Originally Posted by pensionprisoner

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Clever. A mixture of entertaining, sarcastic and yet some informative answers to what started as a serious question... :D

The career course of a REME Tech.

1. Join the army do 18 months trg and come out as a Lcpl
2. Get posted to a unit and gob off
3. Get smacked
4. do guard 2IC whilst the other trades who have a few years longer stag on in the cold.
5. Get a mediocre CR after a year and still get promoted to Cpl
6. do guard commander not having a clue what to do.
7. do 4 more years and get promoted to sgt
8. Moan about how pooh tech promotion is for the next 16 years, forgetting that some trades are lucky to get sgt after 16 years.
9. 22 years career over.

Oh dear, somebody is not only extremely bitter, he's also extremely wrong :o

maybe not done 20 years see it every day in the BN

Originally Posted by pensionprisoner

Originally Posted by Sheepay

Originally Posted by pensionprisoner

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Clever. A mixture of entertaining, sarcastic and yet some informative answers to what started as a serious question... :D

The career course of a REME Tech.

1. Join the army do 18 months trg and come out as a Lcpl
2. Get posted to a unit and gob off
3. Get smacked
4. do guard 2IC whilst the other trades who have a few years longer stag on in the cold.
5. Get a mediocre CR after a year and still get promoted to Cpl
6. do guard commander not having a clue what to do.
7. do 4 more years and get promoted to sgt
8. Moan about how pooh tech promotion is for the next 16 years, forgetting that some trades are lucky to get sgt after 16 years.
9. 22 years career over.

Oh dear, somebody is not only extremely bitter, he's also extremely wrong :o

maybe not done 20 years see it every day in the BN

p.s not a cpl go up

pensionprisoner - Why did you feel the need to drag a pretty good thread down? Plenty of guys have put a bit of time into this so that new members of the Corps and people who are interested in becoming new members of the Corps get a fair and honest insight.

Why don't you just have a look through the REME board and carry on your boring perspective on any one of the numerous "techs are spankers threads". Honestly, there are loads all filled with interesting and funny black hand comments, none of them are bitter or jealous at all. They are all great.

Is that what life in a Bn is really like? Can't wait, hope you are in Tidders, see you in August if you are. I'll be the bloke with the badge, cant miss me. Gobby tech, mediocre frist cr, out of my depth as a fullscrew.......