Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
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The Trades
Vehicle Technician
On the formation of RCEME in 1944, most RCEME technicians were associated with repair of all kinds of motor vehicles.
As new equipment was introduced, trades were created or expanded to cope with ever-increasing repair problems. For instance, Fitters initially repaired all types of vehicles, but as more and more tanks were used, the Vehicle Mechanic (Wheeled) and Vehicle Mechanic (Tracked) trades were created with the Vehicle Artificer as the highest qualification.
The trade skill levels were originally denoted by the letters, A, B, and C. Major changes occurred in October 1946 when those groups were replaced by four new groups named Group One to Group Four, with Group Four representing the highest, or Artificer, level.
In the late 1960's, with the integration and unification of the Armed Forces, the trades associated with the repair of vehicles were amalgamated into the Vehicle Technician trade. This was also the greatest transformation in the evolving trade: most of the academic upgrading, mechanical theory and detailed diagnostics were removed from the training requirements at this point. With the advent of advanced electronic test and diagnostic equipment, the training migrated to an emphasis on diagnostics and component (sub-assembly) replacement. In 1980, an occupational analysis of the trade led to the implementation of the present structure with Trade Qualification levels ranging from 3 through 7.
Today the Vehicle Technician trade is still the largest of the trades in the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch. As there is every indication that the present mechanisation of the armed forces will continue, the Vehicle Technician trade will continue to predominate, while accommodating the ever-changing technology of army vehicles.
Weapons Technician
One thing that has stood out over the years is the devotion, dedication and hard work of the thousands of Canadians who have served in the Weapons Technician trade under its various names. Whether they are called armourers, gun plumbers, artificers, gun mechs, or whatever, they have always been an integral part of the Canadian Army. From World War II to today's UN peacekeeping operations; from Normandy to Yugoslavia, the trade has ensured that Canada's guns and weapons have been well supported.
Today's EME Weapons Technicians can trace their roots to the Victorian Age. British Army reorganization, in the mid-19th century, founded two Corps of technical experts which were charged with the maintenance and repair of weapons. The first, formed in 1858, was the Corps of Armourer Sergeants, which was responsible for the inspection and repair, in storage or at the factory, of small arms. The second was the Corps of Armament Artificers, formed in 1882, which performed the same function for artillery equipments. Eventually both these organizations were combined into the Army Ordnance Corps.
Like his predecessors, today's Weapons Technician is responsible for repairing the Army's weapons. The separate RCEME trades of small arms and armaments were amalgamated in the early 1960s, which means the modern technician is now responsible for everything from the pistol to the 155mm howitzer. On any day, a Weapon Technician can be repairing the hydraulics of an Armoured Fighting Vehicle turret, surreptitiously entering a locked-out safe, or repairing a stove, lantern, or a bicycle. Others are involved in quality assurance at contractor's plants, project management, testing and evaluation of new weapons, supporting research and development, or being a Life Cycle Material Manager for in-service weapons. The trade has evolved well beyond the mere repair of weapons!
For over fifty years the Weapons Technician, and his forbears, ensured the the Army's weapons were always ready for use. Although the weapons may look very different in the coming years, this standard will be maintained in the future.
Electronic Optronic
The original RCEME trade structure consisted of over 25 trades, a large number of which were directly responsible for electrical, instrument of precision mechanical repairs. In fact, when the structure of the Instrument Trade was simplified about 1958, the Instrument Artificer Group 4 was created from four older Instrument Artificer trades: Field, Harbour Defence, Anti-Aircraft, and harbour Defence and Anti-Aircraft (HD&AA). Similarly the Instrument Technician replaced three Instrument Mechanics trades: Electrical, Optical, and HD&AA. At that time, Watchmaker, Typewriter mechanic, Electrical Mechanic, Electrical Artificer, Fire Control Systems Technician (Anti-Aircraft), and Fire Control System Artificer (Anti-Aircraft) were still in existence.
With the integration and unification of the Armed forces in the 1960s, all of these trades were either eliminated or combined into the new Electro-Mechanical Technician. Given the dissimilarity of the work performed by the old instrument and electrical trades, the forced marriage frequently resulted in frustration for the Craftsman.
From 1968 to 1978 there was a tremendous increase in the scope of repair and the level of technology assigned to this trade, particularly with the unification of many electronic systems. It became extremely difficult to conduct adequate training in the time available, and still maintain the level of expertise required for modern Electro-Optical Systems equipment. Accordingly, in 1978, the trade was re-structured into: Electro-Mechanical Technician, Fire Control Technician (Electronic), Fire Control Technician (Optronic) and Fire Control Systems Technician.
Since 1978, modern electronic and electro-optical systems like the Air Defence Anti-tank System (a very sophisticated dual-purpose missile system), night observation devices, the Gun Alignment and Control System, the MILIPAC artillery computer, and electronic trainers and simulators have given the Fire Control group of technicians quite a challenge.
If technology advances as much in the next 50 years as it has since RCEME was formed, the Craftsmen working on Fire Control Systems will have a very demanding future.
Materials Technician
The Materials Technician trade is the fourth and latest member (in name only) to join the EME Branch. The skills performed by the trade have existed for a long time, one could say, long before the formation of RCEME itself. From ancient times, ancestors of the Materials Technician such as blacksmiths, saddlers, fitters, wheelers, tent menders, and others have been needed to support armies. Like EME, the materials support trades have been subjected to many name changes as they evolved.
The Materials Technician trade traces its heritage back to our earlier RCEME and Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps wheelwrights, bodymen/painters, tinsmiths, blacksmiths, welders, machinests, leather and textile workers and Royal Canadian Engineers carpenters. During the early days of RCEME, these trades existed to perform a specific function or skill, some of which were duplicated in other trades such as armourer and vehicle mechanic.
With the integration of the Armed Forces in 1968, the Army materials support trades were disbanded, and their duties taken over by the Air Force workshop trades (Metals Technician, Machinist, and Refinisher Technician). These Air Force trades, as well as the LORE trades at that time, did not fully meet the material support needs of the Land environment. This was confirmed by an occupational analysis on the Air workshop trades in June 1982, and on the LORE trades in July 1983. On 1 January 1985, numerous materials support functions (machining, welding, auto body repair and paint, textiles, sheet metal and rought carpentry, to mention a few) were amalgamated to form the Materials Technician trade as we know it today.
The evolution and implementation of the trade is comparable to the formation of RCEME itself, which in 1944 was seeking a separate identity, and its appropriate place in the Army system. Similarly, Materials Technicians have now found an appropriate place, with a sense of belonging, in a Branch that will look after their welfare as a welcome member of the EME family.
The Materials Technician trade has proven its ability by successfully meeting the many demands it has faced since its implementation. All members of the trade are more than ready for the challenges of the future, and, in an exemplary fashion, will add to the already significant EME credibility.