have you ever had to handle any machionery or weapons?

Question: have you ever had to handle any machionery or weapons?
- Keywords:
  machionery,
  physical,
  weaponry
Asked by branflakes123 to Al, Emma, Ivanka, James, Omar on 14 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by shaunyboy15.
- James Vokes answered on 13 Mar 2012:
  
  No.
- Emma Bould answered on 13 Mar 2012:
  
  Yes sometimes.
  
  My job is mostly about making sure lots of different work is being done by the Engineering Technicians who work for me. Very rarely am I allowed anywhere near tools (there is a running joke that things must be going horribly wrong if you see me walking around with a screwdriver!). Most of the “machinery” I would have a reason to operate is operated through a computer interface, so it isn’t usually pressing too many buttons!
  
  I have been known to clean the weapons with the technicians after a training exercise (it’s a good way of getting to know the people that work for me). I was trained to safely operate an SA80 Assault Rifle as part of my basic officer training and I have to remain current and take a test every now and again so that I can have the responsibilities of being Duty Officer onboard the ship.
- Ivanka Brown answered on 13 Mar 2012:
  
  Civil engineers don’t really deal with weapons. We deal with building civilisation. Other types of engineering for example aeronautical, mechanical, chemical are sometimes called military engineer (a bit like the opposite to civil engineering). However, there are now civil engineers in the armed forces that are needed during the rebuilding efforts following wars.
  
  (There is a joke that goes most engineers build weapons and civil engineers build targets.)
  
  The machinery within civil engineering/construction are generally diggers, dumpers and cranes as well as other specialist equipment. These are skilled technicians who operate the machinery not the engineers.
- Omar Mustufvi answered on 14 Mar 2012:
  
  I did a placement in our Solihull plant where I worked as a machine operator on the assembly line fitting components onto the engines for Land Rovers, it was possibly the hardest job I have ever had to do!
- Al Bartlett answered on 14 Mar 2012:
  
  Hello Branflakes123,
  
  Yes, Before i moved to Dubai, I served in the RAF so i had to handle guns but its not part of my day job any more. I suppose that you could call the aircraft a big piece of machinery which i handle every day so in answer to your question……Yes!

Question: have you ever had to handle any machionery or weapons?

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