A fully subsidized college education is available for this trade : Find out more

They are members of a team responsible for maintaining, repairing and overhauling Canadian Forces land vehicles and related equipment to keep them in top condition.

Vehicle Technicians belong to the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch of the Canadian Forces. Each Vehicle Technician is a member of a team responsible for maintaining, repairing and overhauling CF land vehicles and related equipment to keep them in top condition.

A Vehicle Technician has the following primary duties:

• Inspect, repair, overhaul and modify all types of automotive equipment and components;
• Repair, adjust and modify automotive systems (i.e., cooling, air-intake, fuel, exhaust, electrical, drive-train, brake, frame, steering and suspension);
• Repair, adjust, overhaul and modify powered equipment such as electrical generators and fuel-fired heating devices;
• Use and maintain common and specialized tools, basic garage hydraulic, mechanical and pneumatic equipment and oxyacetylene welding equipment;
• Carry out the recovery of all types of vehicles used in the land forces, utilizing standard towing trucks and specialized tracked and wheeled recovery vehicles;
• Drive all types of vehicles ranging from small jeeps to tank transporters; and
• Prepare and process maintenance documentation dealing with work orders, individual time cards and parts request forms.
• Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry (includes use of personal weapon, reconnaissance and section level tactics)

Vehicle Technicians should enjoy detailed, methodical work with engines and mechanical equipment. They should be adaptable and capable of following instructions and ensuring that their work meets strict standards. Good hand-eye co-ordination and manual dexterity are important attributes. Physical strength, resourcefulness and record-keeping ability are also desirable.

Opportunities for career progression and advanced training are average for qualified applicants.

On successful completion of MOC training, Vehicle Technicians are posted to a unit on a Canadian Forces Base for about 18 months of on-job training (OJT), which resembles a civilian apprenticeship program. During the OJT period, they practice and build on the material taught during MOC training.

Upon completion of OJT, Vehicle Technicians are eligible to attend further technical training (for approx 16 weeks) at CFSEME. At the end of this training phase, a Vehicle Technician’s trade knowledge, skills and experience are comparable to those of a civilian journeyman. Vehicle Technicians who display the ability and ambition required to excel may be selected for Advanced MOC Training at the Supervisor and Manager levels. The Supervisor level course takes about five weeks, and the Manager level course takes about nine weeks.

The following specialty training may also be available:

• Non-Destructive Testing Techniques
• Instructional Techniques
• Northern Terrain Vehicle Maintenance
• Engineering and Ground Support Equipment Maintenance
• Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge / Armoured Engineering Vehicle Maintenance
• Self-Propelled Howitzer and Recovery Vehicle Maintenance
• Leopard C1 Main Battle Tank and Leopard Armoured Recovery Vehicle Maintenance and Recovery

Vehicle Technicians posted to a base normally work in enclosed workshops that are lighted and heated. During field training and on operations in the field, Vehicle Technicians generally work in temporary or improvised accommodations, or outdoors where they may be exposed to extreme environmental and climatic conditions for extended periods. Working conditions typically include poor ventilation, confined work areas, and exposure to loud noise, heat, dust and fumes. The job has heavy physical demands, and a Vehicle Technician must be able to stoop, lift heavy weights, and kneel, crouch or stand for long periods. Normal levels of mental stress are found when employed on a base, but stress increases considerably when on exercise or deployed on operations. Appropriate training, environmental clothing and equipment are provided, and Vehicle Technicians’ health, safety and morale are closely monitored.