Trade Talks
Vehicle Mechanics Over its 78-year history, the Corps of Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers has seen multiple changes to the trades that make it up. Today, the Corps consists of eight trades who serve across the whole of the British Army and every REME Soldier becomes an apprentice in their trade of choice. This month, Vehicle Mechanics give us an insight into how their trade is constantly developing to provide the best opportunities for their tradespeople and the Corps.
A Mastiff 3 Protected Patrol Vehicle in Afghanistan
A Scimitar Tank
AJAX – the future armoured fighting vehicle for the British Army
A Foxhound patrol vehicle in Afghanistan
Foreword
service several decades ago. The REME VM is expected to understand, maintain, repair, manufacture and inspect; all of which see this trade group having to continuously evolve and apply fundamental engineering principles. Quite simply, the REME VM has a responsibility of always keeping the punch in the Army’s fist! With continual engineering advancement, we must ensure that you, as tradesmen, are suitably qualified and experienced; the Corps is continually striving forward in delivering the relevant top spec courses, enabling compliance worldwide to legislation daily. But equally, ensuring that the REME VM is clearly recognised as the most respectable and professional engineer, through both qualifications and recognition that can be mapped over to industry. This has seen the introduction of the Engineering Professional Recognition Award (EPRA) with institutes of Engineering such as IMechE. These organisations only recognise engineers who have
CEG Trade Champion: WO1 (ASM) Stu Milson
T
he REME Vehicle Mechanic (VM), is arguably one of the most exciting and diverse Career Employment Groups (CEG) within the Corps (other Trade Champions may disagree). You will find yourself working on an abundance of different equipment in all areas and theatres of operations, whilst taking full command of platforms and situations, all the while maintaining required output and delivery. The diversity of the role will see you dealing with the developments in equipment as it comes into service; ranging from technological advancements that require our tradesmen to lead the way with engineering excellence, to adapt to the new systems on board (PM, AJAX), to ageing equipment potentially first brought into 20 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
