An
Ammunition Technical Officer (
ATO) is an
officerAn officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
involved in all aspects of the army's use of
ammunitionAmmunition, often informally referred to as ammo, is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
. This includes;
bomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
, explosives accident investigation, procurement, in service management, storage, and inspection and repair.
ATOs are generally selected as Captains, exclusively from within the
Royal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps is the British Army corps that provides the logistic support for the Army. It is the largest corps in the British Army.-History:...
; however when an
Ammunition TechnicianAn Ammunition Technician is a British Army soldier trained to inspect, repair, test and modify all ammunition and explosives used by the British Army...
(AT) Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) is selected for commission, his AT qualification transfers to that of an ATO.
An
Ammunition Technical Officer (
ATO) is an
officerAn officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
involved in all aspects of the army's use of
ammunitionAmmunition, often informally referred to as ammo, is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
. This includes;
bomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
, explosives accident investigation, procurement, in service management, storage, and inspection and repair.
British Army
ATOs are generally selected as Captains, exclusively from within the
Royal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps is the British Army corps that provides the logistic support for the Army. It is the largest corps in the British Army.-History:...
; however when an
Ammunition TechnicianAn Ammunition Technician is a British Army soldier trained to inspect, repair, test and modify all ammunition and explosives used by the British Army...
(AT) Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) is selected for commission, his AT qualification transfers to that of an ATO. One such example is Captain
Peter NortonMajor Peter Allen Norton GC is an ammunition technical officer with the British Army's Royal Logistic Corps who was awarded the George Cross for his service in Iraq.-George Cross:...
GCThe George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
.
Training as an ATO lasts 16 months and requires attendance at the Royal Military College of Science and the
Army School of AmmunitionThe Army School of Ammunition is the main training school for Ammunition Technicians and Ammunition Technical Officers in the British Army. The school teaches students conventional land munitions, EOD and IEDD....
. At its conclusion the new ATO may take command of an
EODBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
Troop within
11 EOD Regiment11 EOD Regiment is a regiment of the British Army's Royal Logistic Corps responsible for explosive ordnance disposal. The unit is manned by Ammunition Technical Officers and Ammunition Technicians. This Regiment responds to all suspicious package/bomb calls in the UK mainland outside of London;...
, or be employed within an Ammunition Squadron or ammunition depot.
In 11 EOD Regiment, in addition to the Troop Commander's role, the ATO performs Counter-Terrorist
bomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
activities and IEDD within the UK and Northern Ireland, leading an EOD team. SNCO ATs may also lead EOD teams, and when doing so are often referred to (incorrectly) as the ATO.
ATs and ATOs can undergo further EOD training at the Felix Centre within the
Army School of AmmunitionThe Army School of Ammunition is the main training school for Ammunition Technicians and Ammunition Technical Officers in the British Army. The school teaches students conventional land munitions, EOD and IEDD....
. ATOs are the UK's Bomb Disposal experts, with many years of experience in
Northern IrelandThe Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, the
BalkansThe Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
,
IraqIraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , also known as Mesopotamia, is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.Iraq shares borders with Jordan to the west, Syria...
,
AfghanistanThe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East...
, and anywhere where the British Army have forces deployed and require EOD expertise and advice.
Other nations' armed forces also have ATOs, some of which are trained by the British Army. These countries include
CanadaLand Force Command , often also called the Canadian Army, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces.The current size of Land Force Command is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers.LFC maintains regular forces units at bases...
and
SingaporeThe Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and comprises the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen.-Capabilities:...
.
Australian Army
The
Australian ArmyThe Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
also employs ATOs, who are members of the
Royal Australian Army Ordnance CorpsThe Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps is the Corps within the Australian Army concerned with supply and administration, as well as the demolition and disposal of explosives and salvage of battle-damaged equipment...
(RAAOC). RAAOC ATOs are trained in Australia, and this training has also been made available to members of other regional (Asia/South Pacific) Defence Forces.
Pakistan Army
The
Pakistan ArmyThe Pakistan Army is a branch of the Pakistan military that protects the state borders and territories.The Pakistan Army, combined with the Navy and Air Force, makes Pakistan's armed forces the sixth largest military in the world. The Army is modelled on the United Kingdom armed forces and came...
has ATOs who are trained at the Pakistan Army Ordnance School. They are selected from the officers of the Pakistan Army Ordnance Corps in almost the same manner as that of the British Army ATOs. They are specialists in the Ammunition field, and have many years of experience within Pakistan and other countries, such as
LiberiaLiberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2008 Census, the nation is home to 3,476,608 people and covers ....
,
CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country located in Central Africa, with a small length of Atlantic coastline. It is the third largest country in Africa...
,
Ivory Coast' , formerly named, and often referred to as the Ivory Coast, officially the ', is a country in West Africa. The government officially discourages the use of the name Ivory Coast in English, preferring the French name to be used in all languages.With an area of 322,462 km
2 Côte...
, and anywhere the Pakistan Army deploys as part of the UN.