On an ordnance munitions and explosives specialist apprenticeship course, you’ll help provide specialist expertise, advice and direction towards delivering complex scientific and technical.
A fully trained ordnance, munitions, and explosives specialist may work in several organisations, including defence, chemical, commercial, military, security, nuclear, and analytical services and multi-national companies and government bodies like the Ministry of Defence.
You’ll be working in an environment that is a unique mix of physics, chemistry, and engineering, with high-temperature pressures and mechanical strain rates not often encountered in other fields of study and engineering.
A typical day may include stakeholder visits, technical design management, teamwork and leadership responsibilities, obtaining work from others, and overseeing and conducting field and desk-based analysis.
As a specialist, you will operate alone, as part of, or in charge of teams. As a result, you will build extensive technical networks, communication, persuasion, and leadership skills and become an authority in your field.
What you’ll learn
On an ordnance munitions and explosives specialist apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:
- Compare and contrast OME principles, such as production techniques, formulation, detonation procedures, and explosive effect.
- Analyse and predict OME’s material science characteristics.
- Use appropriate interpretation of legislation and associated documentation in the testing, approval, and use of OME and their articles (e.g. AOP, STANAG, UN test Book).
- Design research that may lead to a safer/more cost-effective/higher-performing OME should be proposed and evaluated.
- Using OME hazards, create a complex risk assessment.
- Evaluate and detect OME-related environmental effects (e.g., thermal cycling, ageing).
- Analyse and decide on environmental grounds (e.g., soil contamination) while keeping operational capabilities and economic efficiency in mind throughout the life cycle of an OME product.
- Critically examine the facts, ideas, concepts, and theories related to a specific area of OME.
- Evaluate the design and performance of OME for the desired application.
- Analyse the performance of the OME utilising trial/test data and modelling methods.
- Examine accessible scientific information to summarise one element of detonations, explosions, and the mechanisms involved in their commencement.
- Examine the accuracy, relevance, advantages, and disadvantages of using computer modelling methods in OMEs.
- Utilise the findings of research and development to achieve operational goals and objectives.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- Depending on the employer, but likely a degree in science or engineering-related subject, the OME professional degree apprenticeship or relevant industry experience.
- Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.
Assessment methods
The End Point Assessment comprises two distinct assessment methods:
- Work-based project, followed by a presentation of the project with questions and answers
- Professional discussion supported by a portfolio of evidence
Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion
- Duration: 36 months
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Level: 7 – Degree Apprenticeship
- Relevant school subjects: Science
- Potential salary upon completion: £30,000 per annum
Apprenticeship standard
More information about the Level 7 Ordnance Munitions and Explosives Specialist Apprenticeship standard can be found here.
Apprenticeship end point assessment
For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.