Many Army construction projects make use of sheet metal as a building material. An Army Metal Worker fabricates and installs sheet metal products such as roofs, air ducts, gutters and vents. They're also involved in manufacturing custom parts to repair the structural parts of boats buildings and vehicles.

The Metal Worker is primarily responsible for performing repairs and maintenance on metal body components, radiators, fuel tanks, hulls and accessories of Army watercraft and amphibious vehicles. Some of your duties as a Metal Worker may include:

• Weld ferrous and nonferrous metals using oxyacetylene, electric arc and inert gas welding equipment
• Repair, repaint and install metal body components, radiators and fuel tanks
• Modify related items
• Repair watercraft hulls and accessories

Job training for a Metal Worker requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you will learn basic Soldiering skills, and 14 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Sheet metal layout and duct work
• Procedure for cutting, brazing and heat treating
• Operation and care of welding, soldering and brazing equipment

Helpful attributes include:

• An interest in auto mechanics and industrial arts
• A preference for physical work
• An interest in working with repair tools
• Knowledge of joint design, welding criterion, and controlling expansion and contraction

Advanced level Metal Workers provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Metal Worker, you may also be involved in:

• Perform direct support and general support maintenance on metal worker tasks

The skills you learn as a Metal Worker will help prepare you for a future with civilian metal repair shops, auto repair shops, construction companies, pipeline companies, aircraft manufacturing plants, shipyards and marine servicing companies.

• Plumber (21K)
• Small Arms/Artillery Repairer (91F)
• Machinist (91E)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.