Canadian Armed Forces Recruiting Videos
VEHICLE TECHNICIAN
Reviewed – 23 Mar 23
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: I'm Corporal Emily Barnard from Bedford, Nova Scotia, a Vehicle Technician posted to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.
NARRATOR: Vehicle Technicians maintain and repair the complete range of military vehicles from the G-wagon up to complex armoured fighting vehicles like the Leopard main battle tank.
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: The role of Vehicle Technician is to maintain and repair a fleet of vehicles for the unit, the base, wherever you're posted. We actually play an incredibly important part in supporting the combat arms. Without vehicles, most of the trades can't do their jobs. So when their vehicles break down or when things go wrong, they rely very heavily on us to make sure that they can still do their job.
NARRATOR: These soldier technicians also inspect, repair, overhaul and modify other powered equipment like electrical generators and fuel-fired heating devices.
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: The variety of equipment that I've worked on has ranged from, you know, chainsaws, armoured vehicles, anything that you'd see civilian side. We have snow and ice removal, we have a lot of heavy equipment, dozers, we have outboards here for assault boats. So there really is a huge variety.
NARRATOR: In garrison, Vehicle Techs work in well-equipped garages, but they need to be as mobile as the units they are supporting, working out of temporary repair facilities when they are out on exercise or on missions overseas.
Vehicle Techs aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty anywhere the Forces operate.
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: To be a good technician in the Canadian Armed Forces, it takes problem-solving, I think would be the number one. You never know what the issue is, what's going to come in, what's broken down. And it's up to us to fix it effectively and efficiently so that whichever unit we're supporting can keep doing their job.
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: Personally, for me, I love going on field exercises. I think it is the best chance that we get to do our job. I love recovery – you never know what's going to happen, what's going to break down, what time it’s going to break down. But when it does, we're always there to support.
NARRATOR: Once they complete their training, Vehicle Techs are posted to one of the many Canadian Armed Forces bases across the country. Working as part of a team of technicians and with the guidance of their more experienced colleagues, they maintain and repair their unit’s fleet of vehicles.
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: Each unit is very different so they kind of show you the ropes. But really – not quite that you're thrown into the hot seat, but you're qualified, you're now here to do your job and support your unit. But you do have such a good support system of techs that have been trained and qualified longer that you can always go to ask questions. And there's a lot of support.
NARRATOR: Vehicle Technicians are a critical part of the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and they work closely with Electronic-Optronic Technicians, Materials Technicians and Weapons Technicians to keep the Army’s equipment in top shape.
Arte et Marte – “By Skill and by Fighting” – is the motto of the RCEME Corps. Vehicle Technicians are soldiers first and foremost, and they receive the same basic combat training as all other Army soldiers. They also have the opportunity to pursue further specialized training such as parachuting, combat first aid, winter warfare, and driving armoured vehicles.
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: Driving a light armoured vehicle is such a unique opportunity. I don't know, there really is no way to explain why it's so much fun, but it just is. You see them all the time in like TV and movies and then you think, “Oh, I get to do that now.”
CORPORAL EMILY BARNARD: Being a woman in a non-traditional role, there has been a few challenges, but I have been very lucky. The guys that I worked with have always been supportive, have always had my back. They're always looking out for me. And it's really actually been a great experience. I'm definitely proud of what I've accomplished so far. When I joined as a Vehicle Tech, I looked at it as a challenge. It was an opportunity to learn a completely new set of skills that I actually ended up loving.