You will have to become familiar with tools such as the various types of hammer, screwdriver, saw, level, square, chisel, protractor, C-Clamp, Compass, Shovel, Rake, Hoe and Axe. You might be asked, for example, to identify a type of tool based on different names. So, for example, you could be asked the question: Rubber and Claw are examples of which type of tool? In this particular case, the answer would be hammer. Let’s take a look at another example: Scoop and Beveled are examples of which type of tool? In this case, the answer would be chisel. Another common type of question asks you to identify the function of a particular tool. You could be asked, for example, a question along the following lines: which tool is used to measure angles accurately? The answer to this question is, of course, the protractor. Let’s take a look at one more example: which tool is responsible for ensuring objects are horizontally aligned? The answer to this question is the level.

As you study each tool, be sure to bear two points in mind – the function of the tool, and the different types and names of that tool. Armed with this knowledge, you should have no difficulty tackling any tool questions should they appear on your exam.

The building materials we’re going to look at in this section include: steel, concrete, wood, and brick/blocks. These materials, though used in the construction of commercial or residential properties, confer significant advantages for many military personnel. The supportive role these materials provide mean that such personnel can engage in effective construction procedures in a short period of time. This may be for defensive purposes or, alternatively, via a response to a natural catastrophe – in other words, it will depend on the military discipline you have decided to enlist in. As we go through each building material, try to keep some central points in mind – things such as function, cost, applications, and grade. It’s these differentiating factors that determine when and how these materials are used.

This is a decorative material used for the surfaces of walls. The purpose of the wall is to protect the inhabitants from the effects of weather, as well as to protect the home while providing an aesthetically pleasing exterior. As the wall is constructed, mortar will be used to tie the bricks together into one uniform piece void of gaping holes or the possibility of intrusion. You will also find bricks elsewhere, such as on paving roads or sidewalks. The cheap nature of bricks makes it an ideal material for construction and its sturdy frame makes it ideal for supportive and defensive purposes. Larger versions of bricks, known as cinder blocks, are a cheaper alternative to bricks, with each brick cemented together by mortar as with bricks.

As with bricks, wood is also used for structural or defensive purposes, as well as being used for aesthetic reasons. Many houses use forms of wood in the development of roofs, while it’s employed for decorative reasons in floor coverings, windows, and doors. Along with brick, wood plays a key role in the construction of a viable secure environment. One of the advantages of wood is the sheer variety of wood types: oak, pine, spruce, cedar, and many more. Each type of woods confers its own unique advantage, with some varieties significantly cheaper than others. The disadvantage with wood is, of course, that it’s less structurally strong than other materials such as cement or steel.

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Due to its somewhat economical price, steel is an ideal example of a building material with high tensile strength. This means it has a high degree of durability while coming in at a relatively inexpensive price. It is ubiquitously used in construction, used for among other things: instruments, structural components of buildings, railroad tracks, appliances, automobiles, guns, and watches. This highly diverse material comes in various grades and strengths, depending upon the exact requirement you need the steel for. In addition, steel comes in a variety of different shapes: from rods and tubing, to circular forms and I-shapes. One of the chief disadvantages of steel is that one must paint the steel regularly to avoid the damaging effects of corrosion and rust. This is particularly true for larger structures, such as bridges.

Concrete is a mixed composition of cement, water, and aggregate. Famous structures around the world – from the Hoover Dam to the Roman Pantheon – were made almost entirely from concrete. The aggregates used in the formation of cement include sand, gravel, and stone – depending on the desired consistency of the product. Its versatility coupled by the fact it’s relatively inexpensive, makes concrete one of the more attractive building materials used in construction today. There are two notable disadvantages that come with concrete: first, you need to rely heavily on the weather as these conditions determine how long it’ll take for the concrete to “set”, or “cure”, to final hardness. A second notable disadvantage of concrete is its disappointing tensile strength. For this reason, concrete is often used in conjunction with steel – particularly steel reinforcement bars (known as rebar’s), to provide this extra strength.