Vehicle Mechanic

Thanks to world-class training you’ll learn to fix and drive everything from tanks to trucks. You’ll serve all over the world and gain qualifications and experience that will build a great CV.

£26,334 The minimum amount you’ll earn during training. £26,334 Your pay after completing basic trade training.

Age: From 16 years & 6 months to 35 years & 6 months.

Qualifications: GCSEs or equivalent.

I chose to become a Vehicle Mechanic because the idea of fixing the Army’s amazing range of combat vehicles appealed to me. Coming from a background with no previous experience in this field and learning the trade from scratch has been a brilliant experience. I love the responsibility and travel this job brings.

My trade has given me the opportunity to further develop myself by gaining an extremely useful qualification, NVQ Level 3 in Engineering Maintenance. The Army needs loads of different vehicles, from tanks and quad bikes to HGVs and Land Rovers. Keeping them in good working order is a big job which is the responsibility of the Vehicle Mechanics. Wherever we are in the world, you will keep our vehicles on the road, even in extreme conditions. It’s great experience and we’ll give you first‑class training.

The Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) provides engineering support to maintain and repair the vast array of British Army equipment. They will be found wherever the Army is operating, at home or overseas. The technical training our soldiers receive gives them the confidence to tackle any engineering problem. We are professional, resourceful and resilient, and we strive to keep fit equipment in the hands of the user; to keep the punch in the Army’s fist.

• Keeping the Army's vehicles working at home and on operations
• Servicing and maintaining all vehicle types from tanks to HGVs
• Conducting preventative maintenance
• Working in line with Army policy on vehicle maintenance, and health and safety guidelines
• Assisting in roadworthiness testing of all Army vehicles

Qualifications: GCSE Grade A*-C/9-4, or Scottish National 5 (A-C), in English, Science and Maths.

Step 1: Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle. If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a basic military training (short) course at Harrogate. If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular adult basic training.

Step 2: Then you go to the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at MOD Lyneham, Wiltshire. Here, you learn to be a mechanic. Over the next 46 weeks, you are taught how to fix vehicles and carry out maintenance, repairs and inspections. Tanks, trucks, quads… you’ll work with all kinds of vehicles. You will also get car and HGV driving licences.

Qualifications you could get after training:

• Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Maintenance
• Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Engineering
• Qualifications at different levels, in Leadership and Management
• Car and HGV licenses + Opportunity for tracked vehicle and plant licenses

You’ll earn £26,334 a year from the start of your training, which will go up as you progress throughout your career.

How to Apply: Once your online application has been approved, you'll meet with a local recruiter. This is your chance to tell us about the role that you’re interested in. When you go to the Assessment Centre, you’ll take tests - the results will show whether you’d be suitable for this role, or should consider a different role.