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Warrant Officer 1 Ben Wright

A camouflaged uniformed warrant office sitting amongst armaments.

Senior Ammunition Technician

“I am one of a handful of people who can run explosive ranges here at the Defence Academy, which are vital for research and development in the capability gaps area of munitions. This supports wider defence and enables students on MSc studies to complete their courses.”

Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) Ben Wright is a senior ammunition technician within the Defence WOME (Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives) Engineering School (DWES), part of the Defence College for Military Capability Integration.

Since joining DWES in September 2024, his role has seen him instructing a mix of students including ammunition technicians, ammunition technical officers, Defence Academy and Cranfield University students in all aspects of weapons, ordnance, munitions and explosives.

WO1 Wright also provides subject matter expertise on explosive safety for the Defence Academy and the wider ammunition technician trade, and is undertaking the Explosive Ordnance Engineering MSc, taught at the Defence Academy by academic partner, Cranfield University.

“Time spent on research and development in the WOME area has always been something I am really interested in; this job gives me the opportunity to do this and incorporate this into the development of others.”

WO1 Wright’s teaching style varies from theory lessons and lectures to practical demonstrations. As an instructor, he helps prepare ammunition technicians (AT) and ammunition technical officers (ATO) for the next stage of their training by teaching them the fundamentals of all ordnance, munitions and explosives. He has also been involved in updating training to incorporate different digital media content that will benefit the student learning journey.

He also runs explosive ranges on the Shrivenham Station Explosives Research and Demonstration Area in support of the Explosive Ordnance Engineering (EOE) MSc.

“The AT/ATO trade is a small and highly trained cohort, it is essential that they leave the Defence Academy with a solid foundation in ammunition and explosives, as ultimately, they will be conducting risk-to-life operations when they finish their training.”

Alongside his AT training role at the Defence Academy, WO1 Wright is the Head of Trade for Ammunition Technicians in the Royal Logistics Corps for the British Army. In collaboration with Cranfield University, he is developing the Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME) Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, aimed at corporals to staff sergeants which will include industry recognised academic qualifications, and will be fully funded by the government apprenticeship levy. Currently, ATs get an OME Level 4 apprenticeship after they complete the AT course and further down the line, they can complete the EOE MSc. The Level 6 fills the gap to ensure everyone can gain a qualification.

“The intention is to develop soldiers as technicians, as well as provide them with qualifications they can use throughout their careers and beyond in the WOME industry.”
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