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Navy Technician

At sea, navy technicians are responsible for the maintenance and repair of on-board systems and equipment. Onshore, they are involved in a number of maintenance and training activities.

Tasks & duties

When posted at sea, navy technicians may do some or all of the following:

maintain and repair the weapons and electronic warfare systems and sensors
maintain and repair weaponry ranging from large missiles to small arms
maintain and repair mechanical equipment and systems
maintain and repair detection equipment and systems such as radar and sonar
maintain and repair communications equipment and systems such as radios, satellites, communication and information systems
maintain the ship’s husbandry, such as the outside of the ship or the equipment and fittings, by doing a variety of cleaning duties, painting and minor repair work
work as part of the ship's crew
act as a lookout at sea
transfer stores and personnel between ships at sea
carry out towing operations
board other ships to conduct checks
help refuel the ship
anchor the ship
participate in wartime-scenario training exercises, such as damage-control exercises

When posted onshore, navy technicians may do some or all of the following:

conduct equipment trials
maintain and repair equipment alongside ships or on docked ships
conduct training
complete administration duties

Specialisations

Navy Marine Technician

Navy marine technicians maintain and repair:

propulsion equipment such as diesel engines, gas turbines and jet engines
electrical systems such as power generators, machinery controls and monitoring systems
mechanical equipment such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and the ship's refrigeration, air-conditioning and sewerage treatment system.

Navy Weapons Technician

Navy weapons technicians maintain and repair:

large weaponry such as surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, the five inch gun and the Phalanx
small arms such as pistols, rifles and machine guns.

Navy Electronics Technician

Navy electronics technicians maintain and repair:

electronic warfare systems and sensors
communication equipment such as radios and satellites
detection equipment such as radar and sonar
navigation equipment.

Skills & knowledge

Navy technicians need to have:

knowledge of weapons
knowledge of how to operate, maintain and repair various mechanical and electronic systems, sensors and equipment
knowledge of how to use and care for the ship's equipment
knowledge of Royal NZ Navy regulations and safety procedures
practical skills
good communication skills
computer skills

Entry requirements

To enter the Royal NZ Navy you must be at least 17 years old and eligible to be a New Zealand citizen. You need to pass a series of psychometric tests and an interview. You must then pass medical and fitness tests and meet an acceptable standard of eyesight and hearing. You also need to be given security clearance, so any criminal convictions you have will be looked at.

To become a navy technician you need to have NCEA Level 1, including 12 credits at Level 1 or above in maths and science or physics, or School Certificate equivalent.

Training on the job

On-the-job training begins with a 10-week Basic Common Training Course (BCT) at the Royal NZ Naval College followed by Basic Branch Training (BBT) where you begin training in your specialist area.

If you choose to become a marine technician, you complete a 27-week BBT course that teaches you the main operating principles behind the equipment and systems you will be responsible for. You are also able to study towards a National Certificate (Level 4) in Electrical Engineering or a National Certificate (Level 4) in Mechanical Engineering (Plant Maintenance), which is recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as a civilian qualification.

If you choose to become a weapons technician or electronics technician, you will be given time for on-the-job experience after your BCT to decide which specialisation you would like to pursue.

In both of these specialisations you are able to study towards a National Certificate (Level 2) in Electrical Engineering or a National Certificate (Level 4) in Electronics Technology (Radar and Communications), which are recognised by NZQA as civilian qualifications.

Senior navy technicians can study towards a National Diploma in Engineering.

All navy personnel are given the opportunity to complete relevant part-time tertiary study (fully paid for by the Navy) throughout their career.