British Army
ATOs are generally selected as Captains, exclusively from within the Royal Logistic Corps; however when an Ammunition Technician (AT) Warrant Officer (WO) or Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) is selected for commission, their AT qualification transfers to that of an ATO. One such example is Major P Norton GC.
Training as an ATO lasts 17 months and requires attendance at the Royal Military College of Science and the Defence EOD Munitions Search School Kineton formerly known as the Army School of Ammunition. At its conclusion the new ATO may take command of an EOD Troop within 11 EOD Regiment, 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 disposal activities and IEDD within the UK and Northern Ireland, leading an EOD team. WO and SNCO ATs may also lead EOD teams, and when doing so are often referred to as the ATO.
ATs and ATOs can undergo further EOD training at the Felix Centre within the Defence EOD Munitions Search School Kineton. ATOs are the UK's Ammunition experts, with many years of experience in Palestine, Aden, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere where the British Army have forces deployed and require EOD expertise and advice.
Armed Forces of other nations also have ATOs, some of which are trained by the British Army. These countries include Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.
Read more about this topic: Ammunition Technical Officer
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