Construction and the built environment
Military engineering construction technician - Building & Structural Finisher
Multi-skilled soldiers, combat engineers and tradesmen.
Summary
A Royal Engineer is a technician and unique member of the Armed Forces with the option of selecting a construction related trade. They have five distinct roles that link together to enable them to undertake construction tasks in a military environment.
They are tradespersons working on construction sites in any part of the world. This can involve the erection of new buildings or repairing existing structures. The scope of works is wide, but includes everything from the erecting of masonry structures, the laying of non- specialist concrete, and other broad construction tasks; right the way through to the installation of all necessary fixtures and fittings and associated decoration, as well as repair and maintenance to existing damaged structures.
This will involve the underpinning military skills expected of any soldier and achieved prior to the commencement of the apprenticeship, these will include combat skills, correctly and safely responding to tactical situations, undertaking patrol duties as part of a section and, whilst working as part of a team, be able to accept responsibility, remaining calm at all times. Reinforced by an ability to accept responsibility for own and co-workers safety on a construction site. All this used in a potentially arduous and hostile environment requiring individuals to react to, and account for, a changing tactical situation in order to not only deliver the project, but maintain a safe environment on the construction site or in the workshop.
The Royal Engineer can expect to work globally in testing and potentially hostile environments. The construction environment differs from an industrial norm in that soldiers are required to deliver their construction skills in an ever changing and potentially hostile situation with minimal resources and support. Add to these demanding conditions, the physical environment in which they operate can be extremely challenging, far removed from their civilian counterpart. They must also be aware that the physical and tactical safety considerations will far exceed any civilian construction site, given that hostile forces may be operating around the construction site.
The skills gained in a Royal Engineers apprenticeship are directly transferable to the equivalent civilian trades. The apprenticeship is recognised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and completion of the apprenticeship will entitle the person to apply for a relevant CSCS card to enable them to work on civilian construction sites should they decide to leave the military. In addition, upon completion of their military service all servicemen and women have access to transitional modules and courses to assist them as they move into civilian life. These include – but are not limited to – refresher and progression courses related to their specific trade. Military servicemen and women are highly sought-after by civilian trade organisations due to the breadth of knowledge, skills and behaviours they bring from their time in the military.
Typical job titles include
- Royal engineer
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
The importance of site safety whilst being aware of the role of other site workers and their welfare
K2:
The principles of waste management, disposal and environmental control in relation to environmental responsibilities, organisational procedures, manufacturers’ information, statutory regulations, official guidance and local requirements when working in foreign countries
K3:
The different techniques and methods used to move, handle and store resources in the workplace and be aware of potential hazards involved with these resources
K4:
Health and safety requirements for control equipment when undertaking work on site along with accident reporting when involved with, fires, spillages, injuries
K5:
Safety requirements when working at height and below ground using relevant equipment
K6:
The purpose of the work programme and why deadlines should be kept to in relation to progress charts, timetables and estimated times
K7:
The importance of construction site reporting procedures and how changes in circumstances will impact on the works programme timetable
K8:
The organisational procedures developed to report and rectify inappropriate information and unsuitable resources and how they can be implemented
K10:
Complex first aid procedures in an emergency
K38:
Access/working platforms in the workplace including for use in building maintenance (carpentry), building maintenance (painting & decorating), building maintenance (tiling), building maintenance (plastering), building maintenance (trowel occupations), building maintenance (roofing), building maintenance (glazing)
K39:
The characteristics, quality, uses, limitations and defects associated with the following resources ladders/crawler boards, stepladders/platform steps, trestles, proprietary staging/podiums, proprietary towers, mobile scaffolding towers, protections equipment and notices, tools and ancillary equipment, water-borne and solvent- borne coatings
K40:
Further characteristics, quality, uses, limitations and defects: primers, intermediate coatings (undercoats) and finishes (single pack coatings), single-product systems (e.g. emulsions, varnishes), solvent/thinners, knotting, proprietary sealers, brushes, rollers
K41:
Final characteristics, quality, uses, limitations and defects: protective sheeting and masking, cleaning agents, stripping materials and equipment, fillers and bonding agents, primers, surface treatment materials and waterproofing agents, sand, cement, lime and plaster renders, mesh, trims and fixings, wall and floor tiles, grout, adhesives, accessories, hand and/or powered tools and associated equipment
K42:
Specific safe working practices and procedures to include: erecting and dismantling access equipment, preparing and painting surfaces, plastering, tiling to all types and angles of walls, glazing windows and/or doors, roofing structures, applying cement and lime renders, using tools and resources
K43:
Further specific safe working practices and procedures to include: using waterproof membranes, fixing proprietary mesh and trims, applying movement joints, removing existing tiles and preparing background, forming reveals, sills and soffits (door and window openings), forming internal and external angles, fixing channels/form drainage, outlets
K44:
The requirements for completing and maintaining records of actions taken to be included as part of the site hand over procedures
K45:
The requirements for maintaining tools and equipment used when erecting and dismantling access/working platforms, applying paint systems using rollers and associated tools and equipment, preparing background surfaces for plastering, panelling or painting/decorating tiling wall and floor surfaces, glazing windows and doors and roofing structures
Technical Educational Products
- ST0414: Military engineering construction technician - Building & Structural Finisher (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0414B
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £31,350 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5319 Construction and building trades n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5319/99 Construction and building trades n.e.c.
- 5315/00 Plumbers and heating and ventilation installers and repairers
- 5321/02 Plasterers (wall and decorative)
S1:
Carry out work to military standards, as laid down by the on-site military design team. All works must be of quality, within budget
S2:
Interpret information provided in drawings, specifications, schedules, method of statements, risk assessments, Manufacturers’ information and industry regulations governing construction
S3:
Calculate quantity in relation to tools, resources, time, area and wastage associated with the work being undertaken
S4:
Undertake basic project management process to include the bidding for necessary resources across long logistic chains, whilst avoiding wastage and all to be completed within the required time frame
S5:
Undertake site supervision to ensure completion of task in a military (often hostile) environment , maintaining health and safety and a safe working environment
S6:
Move, manage and store resources in the workplace in a safe manner
S7:
Liaise with fellow workers, allied forces and outside agencies to meet local import/legislative requirements required when working in a foreign country
S8:
Plan the sequence of work, using appropriate resources, in accordance with organisational procedures to ensure work is completed safely and efficiently
S9:
Complete relevant documentation necessary to comply with local building regulations
S10:
Demonstrate complex first aid procedures likely to save life in a given situation
S11:
Oversee the preparation of resources safely for transport by land, sea or air and safely unload resources with the use of signaling
S12:
Undertake core military combat engineering skills including: a. develop protective shelters including trench construction being aware of the relevant safety aspects of working below ground b. construct bridges to cross gaps of various sizes using improvised existing materials as well as prefabricated modular bridge components c. use explosives to undertake basic demolitions d. be able to construct a water supply system from a raw source (such as a river) utilising engineering skills to provide water storage and delivery
S13:
Use personal protective equipment relevant to the task and the tactical situation
S14:
Communicate effectively to the rest of the team and with management
S15:
Be adaptable to environment being worked in
S37:
Demonstrate work skills when mixing, pouring, diluting, loading, laying-on, laying-off, cutting and applying paint systems by brush and/or roller
S38:
Apply water-borne and/or solvent-borne coatings to internal and/or external surfaces for industrial and/or non-industrial situations, to given working instructions, for linear/trim/narrow runs and broad areas by brush and/or roller
S39:
Safely store the materials, tools and equipment used when applying paint systems by brush and/or roller and when preparing background surfaces for plastering, tiling, panelling or painting/decorating and when tiling wall and floor surfaces
S40:
Prepare background surfaces for plastering, tiling, panelling or painting and decorating in the workplace
S41:
Demonstrate measuring, marking out, washing, stripping/scraping, abrading/keying, hacking, cutting out, removing, mixing, filling, levelling/flattening, brushing down, priming when preparing background surfaces for plastering, tiling, panelling or painting/decorating
S42:
Prepare new or existing background surfaces for plastering and/or tiling and/or panelling and/or painting/decorating to given working instructions for previously plastered, tiled, panelled or painted/decorated surfaces, brick, block, concrete, render or plaster, manufactured board, wood, metal
S43:
Fix tiles to vertical, horizontal and inclined surfaces to given working instructions on wall and floor surfaces, reveals, sills and soffits (door and/or windows), floor drainage and outlets, fixture of appropriate accessories
Technical Educational Products
- ST0414: Military engineering construction technician - Building & Structural Finisher (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0414B
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £31,350 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5319 Construction and building trades n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5319/99 Construction and building trades n.e.c.
- 5315/00 Plumbers and heating and ventilation installers and repairers
- 5321/02 Plasterers (wall and decorative)
B1:
An alert and tactical awareness prior to, during and after any construction project in a hostile environment and be able to adapt to a changing environment
B2:
The willingness to take charge of a situation should it be required
B3:
The initiative to adapt, develop and overcome any situation that may arise during a task whilst maintaining a military approach
B4:
A responsible attitude towards own and others safety in the workplace
B5:
A strong Team spirit and Corps values
Technical Educational Products
- ST0414: Military engineering construction technician - Building & Structural Finisher (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0414B
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £31,350 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5319 Construction and building trades n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5319/99 Construction and building trades n.e.c.
- 5315/00 Plumbers and heating and ventilation installers and repairers
- 5321/02 Plasterers (wall and decorative)
