The eyes and ears of Army’s electronics

Sergeant (SGT) Tearoa Wright, from 3^rd Workshops Company, 3^rd Combat Service Support Battalion based at Burnham Military Camp has been in the Army for 12 years.

Being an Electronics Technician appealed to him as it not only sounded interesting, but he also thought joining the Army would offer something different and challenging.

“I enjoy the feeling of fixing something that’s broken and watching it go out the door and be used,” he said.

In his current role, SGT Wright is the section head of the Electronics Technicians section which involves ensuring that production outcomes are met, and apprentices are trained to a standard where they can work in first line workshops. 

“As an Electronics Technician you can work on a variety of equipment such as sights (optical, night vision equipment, thermal), radios, Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV), and if you’ve done the course BIOMED and specialist artillery equipment.” 

The role involves a lot of fault-finding and diagnosis to ensure that Army electronic equipment is maintained to high operational standards, as well as inspecting, testing, maintaining and repairing communication systems.

SGT Wright says that variety is what he enjoys most about his role.

“Because we support a lot of different equipment, it keeps the job interesting. It isn’t just the equipment that keeps the job interesting, it’s the variety in what we do in the Army. 

“I enjoy the fact that I can be sitting at a desk, fixing something on the bench, in the field supporting, on a course, and doing different thing on a semi-regular basis.”

Electronics Technicians are the experts on electronic equipment and are the go-to person if soldiers have questions about the equipment they are using.

As part of his apprenticeship SGT Wright gained a Diploma in Electro Technology, but now Electronic Technicians will work towards a New Zealand Certificate in Electronics Engineers Level 4 with the potential for more study as they progress through the ranks.

As an Electronics Technician he has been a part of a number of overseas exercises including the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and United States military, Exercise Talisman Sabre.

“I was the LAV Recovery Driver during that exercise as well as the Electronics Technician support.

“As the Electronics Technician support I was one of just two whose job it was to ensure the turrets on the LAV remained operational, as well as the communications and other equipment. This meant that we would diagnose faults that occurred and repair or replace faulty equipment,” said SGT Wright.

He said he as an Electronics Technician the thing he has most enjoyed working on is the NZ LAV.

“It is made of different systems all working together and sometimes when it faults, a small fault on an innocuous system can lead you down a very interesting rabbit hole.”

For more information on joining as an Electronics Technician in the NZ Army visit www.defencecareers.mil.nz(external link)