Overview

As a member of the military, Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians provide water supply, waste water treatment and environmental engineering support to operational units at home and abroad.

The Water, Fuels and Environment Technician job is one of seven Construction Engineering positions that provide all construction, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations. The primary responsibilities of the Water, Fuels and Environment Technician are to:

Install, operate and maintain water treatment and supply systems Install, operate and maintain waste water collection and treatment systems Set up and monitor various environmental programs Produce associated mechanical designs and specifications Produce associated mechanical drawings Conduct reconnaissance related to the above Assist other Construction Engineering tradespersons

Work environment

Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians often work day or night and must deal with the challenges that come with varying environmental conditions. Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians maintain their skills while employed at home units or on humanitarian and United Nations operational assignments.

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.

Entry plans

Direct Entry Options

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 including Grade 10 Applied Math or Math 416 / CST 4 in Quebec.

Foreign education may be accepted.

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.

Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians attend the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Gagetown, New Brunswick. Training takes approximately 21 weeks and includes:

Environmental skills such as defensive tactics and firearms Care and use of common and special purpose tools and test equipment Application of occupational codes and regulations Interpretation of drawings and schematics Water distribution and treatment systems Waste water disposal and treatment systems Fuel storage and distribution systems Chemistry, fluids and mechanical principles Math and Physics Brazing and welding techniques

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

Water plant technician Waste water plant technician Environmental assessor Certified engineering technician (mechanical)

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 with a military unit 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.

Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians may serve with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. They are employed to provide water supply, waste water treatment and environmental engineering support to military units for training and operations. When employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis, they 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 Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians takes about 21 weeks and is conducted at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Gagetown, New Brunswick.

Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends (Air Reserve Water, Fuels and Environment Technicians usually serve up to 12 days per month in a regular work day), 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 percent of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

Related Careers

Plumbing and Heating Technician

Refrigeration and Mechanical Technician

Biomedical Electronics Technologist