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.
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.
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.