Ordnance Specialists

Background

Ordnance is a military term for ammunition and weapons. Ordnance includes all types of ammunition, missiles, toxic chemicals, and nuclear weapons. Ammunition and weapons must be handled carefully and stored properly. Ordnance specialists transport, store, inspect, prepare, and dispose of weapons and ammunition.

What They Do

Ordnance specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assemble and load explosives
• Defuse unexploded bombs
• Inspect mounted guns, bomb release systems, and missile launchers
• Load nuclear and conventional explosives and ammunition on aircraft, ships, and submarines
• Locate, identify, and dispose of chemical munitions

Physical Demands

Ordnance specialists may have to lift and carry artillery shells and other heavy ordnance.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to remain calm under stress
• Interest in working with guns and explosives

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• General science
• Shop mechanics

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Ordnance specialists work both indoors and outdoors. They work in repair shops while assembling explosives and repairing weapons. They work outdoors while repairing equipment in the field and loading weapons on tanks, ships, or aircraft.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of 15 to 25 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in ordnance maintenance. Training length varies depending on specialty.

Course content typically includes:

• Handling, testing, and maintenance of missiles and rockets
• Maintenance of nuclear weapons

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

There are no direct civilian counterparts for many of the military ordnance specialties. However, there are many careers that are related. For example, civilians work for government agencies and private industry doing research and development. Others work for police or fire departments as bomb-disposal experts. Some also work for munitions manufacturers and firearms makers. Ordnance specialists may also be called bomb disposal experts.

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 16,000 ordnance specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new ordnance specialists due changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, ordnance specialists work under close supervision. With experience, they work more independently and perform more complex duties. In time, they may become trainers or supervisors. Eventually, they may become managers of weapons maintenance units.