Recovery Mechanic

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

At a glance

  • Soldier
  • engineering
  • logistics

When vehicles break down or get stuck, you race to the rescue. Our training gives you the skills, while qualifications improve your CV.

  • £25,200The minimum amount you’ll earn during training
  • £25,200Your pay after completing basic trade training
  • AgeFrom 16 years & 6 months to 35 years & 6 months
  • QualificationsGCSEs or equivalent qualifications
Recovery Mechanic

Recovery Mechanics help keep the wheels on the road to get the job done.

Out on the battlefield, Army vehicles can get damaged, bogged down and overturned. As a Recovery Mechanic, it’s your job to rescue them. You will use specially adapted tanks and trucks to help you do your job, which is why you will learn to drive a number of Army vehicles in training. You need to be quick-thinking and brave for this role – after all, you’ll be moving vehicles in the middle of battle. It's up to you to assess the nature of the vehicle recovery needed and to decide the method of recovery. This may involve winches, ropes, metal cutting equipment or even the use of explosives. You will receive world-class training throughout your career in order to develop your trade skills and expertise. All the while, you’ll have sports and other activities to keep you busy, and good mates around you.

The Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) provides engineering support to maintain and repair the vast array of British Army equipment. They will be found wherever the Army is operating, at home or overseas. The technical training our soldiers receive gives them the confidence to tackle any engineering problem. We are professional, resourceful and resilient, and we strive to keep fit equipment in the hands of the user; to keep the punch in the Army’s fist.

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Key Responsibilities

  • Help to recover damaged vehicles and rescue stranded soldiers

  • Work at the heart of the action

  • Be adept at numerous recovery methods

  • Use cranes, lifting gear and mechanical theory to work out how to retrieve immobile vehicles

  • To keep the fighting forces moving forwards

Have any questions? Talk with us

Recovery Mechanic

Regular (full time)

Entry requirements

  • Age:

    From 16 years & 6 months to 35 years & 6 months

  • Qualifications:

    GCSE Grade A*–C/9-4, or Scottish National 5 (A-C), in English, Science, and Maths.

  • Basic physical fitness assessment:

    • Mid Thigh Pull 50kg

    • Medicine Ball Throw 3m

    • MSFT (beep test) level 6.6

    Army Reserve standards

    • Mid Thigh Pull: 50kg

    • Medicine Ball Throw: 2m 70cm

    • MSFT (beep test): Level 5 shuttle 8

    More information about the fitness test

Training for the role

Step 1
Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle.

  • If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the basic military training (short) course at Harrogate.

  • If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular adult basic training.

Step 2
You head to the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at MOD Lyneham. Over the next 20 weeks, you learn how to drive a variety of military vehicles from cars to tanks. The expert training you receive will enable you to understand the principles of recovery and carry out your critical role.

Qualifications you could get after training

  • Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Engineering Technical Support

  • Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Technical Support

  • Qualifications at different levels, in leadership and management

  • Car and HGV licenses + Opportunity for tracked vehicle and plant licenses

  • The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Part 1 Team Card

  • ADR for the safe recovery of Hazardous vehicles

  • Able to become an Associate Member of the Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR)

Pay & benefits

You'll earn £25,200 a year from the start of your training, which will go up as you progress throughout your career.

How to Apply

Once your online application has been approved, you'll meet with a local recruiter. This is your chance to tell us about the role that you're interested in. When you go to the Assessment Centre, you'll take tests - the results will show whether you'd be suitable for this role, or should consider a different role.

More about the joining process

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