The Metalsmith provides maintenance engineering, material maintenance and modification to a large range of in-service equipment. The Metalsmith will operate and maintain a variety of powered hand tools and workshop equipment including Manual Metal Arc (MMA) welding machines, Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), and oxygen-acetylene welding and cutting equipment.

• Performing heat treatments of metals, operate power presses, operate and maintain tools of trade.
• Undertake a process to join, deform and treat metals and composite materials (fibre-reinforced plastics and graphite-reinforced plastics). Develop, bend and cut sheet metal (aluminium, alloy, steel, copper and zinc) from 10 Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) to 30 SWG, using hand tools and machines.
• Operate MMA, MIG and TIG welding machines, oxyacetylene welding and cutting equipment, fuse, join and cut metal, fabricate, repair, modify and reclaim equipment and components.
• Providing technical advice.
• Inspection and classification of equipment.

The pay levels for ARA and ARES personnel in this employment are:

• Metalsmith Grade 1 CFN Pay Group 3.
• Metalsmith Grade 2 CFN Pay Group 3.
• Metalsmith Grade 3 CFN/LCPL Pay Group 4.
• Metalsmith Grade 4 CFN/LCPL Pay Group 4.
• Metalsmith Specialist CFN/LCPL Pay Group 5.
• Metalsmith Advanced Grade 1 CPL Pay Group 4.
• Metalsmith Advanced Grade 2 CPL Pay Group 5.
• Metalsmith Supervisor Grade 1 SGT Pay Group 4.
• Metalsmith Supervisor Grade 2 SGT Pay Group 5.

Qualified Trade Entry:
The qualified trade entry will require an applicant to complete a 60 day Metalsmith Conversion Course at the Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, which is located within the Army Logistic Training Centre, Bonegilla, Victoria. The Metalsmith Conversion Course will train you on military specific equipment and rectify any identified shortfalls between the civilian qualification and the military trade requirements.

Unqualified Trade Entry:
There is no method of unqualified entry for this trade.

Recognition for Qualified Trade Entry:
Applicants that already possess a Metalsmith related trade will be informed of their employment training requirements once ALTC has mapped their trade qualifications and identified the Army specific competencies or any identified shortfalls that are required. Currently there is no OJT requirement for the Qualified Trade entry. Personnel will be posted to a unit after the completion of the Metalsmith Conversion Course.

Postings range from large Combat Service Support Battalions (CSSB) located in Brisbane, Darwin and Townsville to small technical support platoons and squadrons located throughout Australia.

Completion of Australian Year 9 education (or equivalent) with passes in English, Mathematics and Science.

In addition applicants must have completed a Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication or equivalent in one of the following trade qualifications:

• Trade Certificate as Welder 1st Class.
• Boilermaker Marker Off.
• Boilermaker Welder.
• Certificate III Sheet Metal Worker.

The applicant's civilian qualifications are required to be presented to the Employment Category Manager RAEME for review of Recognition or Current Competencies or Recognition of Prior Learning. The applicant will be informed of their employment training requirements once ALTC has mapped their trade qualifications and identified the Army specific competencies or any identified shortfalls that are required.

Specialist Trade Training:
After the competition of the Metalsmith Conversion Course, Metalsmith may be nominated to attend Specialist Trade Training. This training will depend on unit requirements and available course positions. The Specialist Trade courses are as follows:

• Quenched and Tempered Steel Armour Maintenance.
• Special Alloy Maintenance Techniques.

On successful completion of employment training and OJT, trainees are awarded credit towards:

• Certificate IV in Engineering - Mechanical Trade.

Detailed employment category information about Metalsmith can be found within the Manual of Army Employments (DefWeb only)