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Material Management Technician

Non-Commissioned Member | Full Time, Part Time

In Demand

As a member of the military, Material Management Technicians ensure that all of the supplies and services necessary for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations are available when and where they are required.

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    • Overview

    As a member of the military, Material Management Technicians ensure that all of the supplies and services necessary for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations are available when and where they are required. They handle a variety of items such as food, fuel, heavy machinery, spare parts, stationery and clothing.

    The primary responsibilities of Material Management Technicians are to:

    • Manage the purchasing, warehousing, shipping, receiving, stock control and disposal of obsolete stock and equipment
    • Receive, handle and prepare items for shipment
    • Operate military vehicles weighing up to 10 tons and materials-handling equipment such as forklifts
    • Process invoices and prepare shipping documents
    • Order material from internal and external sources and purchase supplies
    • Deliver supplies and provide services to operational units
    • Perform recordkeeping, stocktaking and inventory control
    • Maintain accounting and financial records
    • Process and coordinate repair and disposal functions

    Work environment

    Material Management Technicians may work in Canada or are deployed abroad, in support of Royal Canadian Navy, Army or Royal Canadian Air Force operations.  Material Management Technicians on board a ship experience the unique challenges that come with living and working at sea. They are also called upon to stand duty watches, perform ship's husbandry duties and other related tasks. Material Management Technicians working with the Army participate in operations and training with combat teams, including such duties as driving and maintaining vehicles. Those assigned to support the Royal Canadian Air Force may be deployed to remote locations on short notice.

    If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

    Career Overview

    Transcript

    Canadian Armed Forces Recruiting Videos

     

    MATERIAL MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN


     

    Reviewed – 23 Mar 23 


     

    CORPORAL BRENT KETTNER: I'm Corporal Brent Kettner from Victoria, B.C., a Material Management Technician currently posted to Garrison Wainwright.

     

    NARRATOR: Material Management Technicians ensure that all of the supplies and services necessary for Canadian Armed Forces operations are available when and where they are required.

     

    They are responsible for acquiring state-of-the-art equipment, its care, custody, control and delivery anywhere, anytime and in any climate. They issue everything from life-saving personal protection systems to mission-specific kit.  

     

    CORPORAL BRENT KETTNER: We procure materials from both our national warehouses and from the local economy. This can be like going into town and just going to a local store and picking up the material there and delivering this right back to our customer here on base.

     

    NARRATOR: Material Management Technicians manage large warehouses and inventories using proven supply chain management and best business practices. As they progress through their career, they receive more in-depth training to meet career progression responsibilities such as advanced logistics training, including the industry-leading Defence Force Public Security inventory management system. 

     

    CORPORAL BRENT KETTNER: What drives me in this is seeing all those connections between how the whole system works. There's a whole bunch of moving gears between maintenance and traffic, the supply side, ammo. You see how it all works and connects together.

     

    NARRATOR: Material Management Technicians can be deployed anywhere the Canadian Armed Forces operate. They serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force and even Special Operations Forces – and there are opportunities for postings outside of Canada as well. There are also opportunities for Material Management Technicians in the Primary Reserve, serving part-time in their local community while going to school or working at a civilian job. 



     


     

     

    CORPORAL BRENT KETTNER: Even though I’m a Material Management Technician, we’re still soldiers first, which includes weapons handling, getting deployed overseas, going on field exercises – stuff that you wouldn’t normally get to do and see in a normal civilian job. I’ve recently been to Latvia, which was probably one of the most cool experiences I’ve had so far in the Canadian Armed Forces.





     

    NARRATOR:  Once they’ve completed their training, Material Management Technicians are ready for their first posting, which could be to any Canadian Armed Forces base, wing, ship or operational unit across the country. 

     

    CORPORAL BRENT KETTNER: There's plenty of opportunities to get moved around and to experience different jobs. There's lots of different hats that you can wear within our trade, such as you can work in our clothing stores, spare parts section, our customer service, local purchasing, contracts, hazmat.

     

    NARRATOR: If assigned to an army unit, they will train as soldiers, and operate specialized rough-terrain and communication equipment in addition to carrying out their regular duties. 

     

    As their careers progress, they may be qualified for specialties such as working with fuels, which includes testing the quality of the fuel to ensure it meets operating standards.

     

    Material Management Technicians serving on Royal Canadian Navy ships often coordinate efforts to have supplies delivered to the ship at various locations around the world when they are at sea. They may also be tasked with secondary responsibilities such as firefighting and casualty clearing, and may have the opportunity to become a member of the naval boarding party or the ship’s diving team.

     


     

     

    CORPORAL BRENT KETTNER: With my job, I've been able to do a ton of things that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. I’ve been to the Arctic – there’s just a whole set of experiences that are open for you to have. The sky’s the limit with both your career and where you can go in the world.

     

    Related Civilian Occupations

    • Contract Administrator
    • Purchasing Officer
    • Warehouse Supervisor
    • Material Manager

    Training

    The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification course, or Basic Training, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades. A goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding.

    Learn more about Basic Training here.

    Material Management Technicians attend the Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre in Borden, Ontario. Training takes approximately 70 days at the apprentice level and covers the following topics within the CAF supply system:

    • Action customer inquiries
    • Requesting, receiving, issuing and warehousing material
    • Processing of material for repair and disposal
    • Use of material handling aids
    • Processing issues and receipts
    • Preservation and packaging of material
    • Supply-related administrative and support functions
    • Process clothing, footwear, for issues, returns or exchanges

    Material Management Technicians may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:

    • Instructional Techniques
    • Control of Hazardous Material
    • Hazardous Material Packaging

    As they progress in their career, Material Management Technicians who demonstrate the required ability and potential will be offered advanced training. Available courses include:

    • Military Contracts
    • Internal Audit Procedures
    • Personnel Management
    • Material Management
    • Budget Management
    • Business Planning Process

    Entry plans

    No previous work experience or career related skills are required. CAF recruiters can help you decide if your personal interests and attributes match the criteria for this occupation.

    The minimum required education to apply for this occupation is the completion of the provincial requirements for Grade 10 or Secondary 4 in Quebec.

    Foreign education may be accepted.

    Part time options

    This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time at an Air Force Wing in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

    Material Management Technicians may serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army or Royal Canadian Air Force, ensuring that necessary supplies are available for military training and operations. Material Management Technicians employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis usually serve at a CAF location within Canada.

    Find a Recruiting Centre

    Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. They usually begin training with their home unit to ensure that they meet the required basic professional military standards. Following basic military training, the home unit will arrange for additional training for specialized skills. Training for Material Management Technicians takes about 70 days and is conducted at the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics in Borden, Ontario.

    Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.