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OVERVIEW

You will operate and maintain a tank or reconnaissance vehicle, its weapon systems and its communication equipment. You will be trained to fight as members of the Combat Arms team.

WHAT THEY DO

Each Armoured Soldier belongs to one of the Armoured regiments of the Canadian Army, and serves as a member of the crew of an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV). His or her primary duties are to operate and maintain the AFV, its weapon systems (ballistic computers, laser range-finders and thermal sights as well as guns) and its communication equipment (sophisticated radars and radios). Armoured Soldiers are trained to fight as members of the Combat Arms team, which also includes the Infantry, the Artillery and the Combat Engineers. Armoured Soldiers begin their career with one of two types of AFV: the tank or the reconnaissance (recce) vehicle.

As a member of a tank crew trained as a driver, operator or gunner, an Armoured Soldier has the following primary duties:

Drive and maintain the tank;

Fire the tank's main gun;

Load the tank's main gun and machineguns; and

Maintain the tank's communications equipment.

As a member of a recce vehicle crew trained as a driver or an observer, an Armoured Soldier has the following primary duties:

Drive and maintain the recce vehicle;

Load, fire and maintain the recce vehicle's machine-guns;

Maintain and operate the recce vehicle's radio equipment; and

Gather and relay information about the enemy and the terrain.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

As well as courage and both physical and mental stamina, Armoured Soldiers must possess good learning abilities, particularly an ability to pay close attention to detail, and a willingness to acquire specialized technical skills and knowledge.

TRAINING

Basic Military Qualification

The first stage of training for everyone is the 13-week Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course at the Canadian Forces Leadership and School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core and knowledge common to all trades. It is also physically demanding. A primary goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits attain the CF physical fitness standard. BMQ covers the following topics:

policies and regulations of the Canadian Forces;

CF drill, dress and deportment (the “three Ds”);

basic safety;

first aid;

personal survival in nuclear, biological and chemical conditions;

handling and firing personal weapons;

cross-country navigation; and

personal survival in field conditions.


Soldier Qualification

On successful completion of BMQ, Armoured Soldiers go to a Military Training Centre for the Soldier Qualification (SQ) course, which lasts 20 training days and covers the following topics:

Army physical fitness;

dismounted offensive and defensive operations;

reconnaissance patrolling;

advanced weapons-handling (working with grenades, machine-guns and anti-tank weapons); and

individual field-craft.


Basic Military Occupational Training

On completion of SQ, Armoured Soldiers attend Basic Military Occupational (MOC) Training at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown, New Brunswick. Basic MOC Training takes five to six weeks and teaches the following basic skills:

Driving and maintaining tanks and recce vehicles;

Firing and maintaining weapon systems currently used in Canadian AFVs;

Identifying Canadian and foreign military vehicles, aircraft and equipment;

Using tactical command-and-control communications equipment;

Organization, roles, doctrine and tactics of armour and reconnaissance; and

History and traditions of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Qualified Armoured Soldiers enjoy excellent opportunities for advanced training and promotion. Employment opportunities for Armoured Soldiers exist across Canada and on deployed operations around the world.

INITIAL EMPLOYMENT

On completion of basic MOC training, Armoured Soldiers are normally posted to one of the following regiments:

Lord Strathcona's Horse at Edmonton, Alberta;

The Royal Canadian Dragoons at Petawawa, Ontario; or

12e Régiment blindé du Canada at Valcartier, Quebec.

SPECIALTY TRAINING

As their careers progress, Armoured Soldiers who demonstrate the required ability and ambition will be offered (through formal courses or on-job training) the following advanced MOC training:

Armoured Gunnery Specialist

Combat Arms Telecommunications Specialist

Combat Arms Driving and Maintenance Specialist

Crew Commander

Recce Troop Leader


The following specialty training courses may also be available:

Unarmed Combat Instructor

Assault Troop

Armoured Crew - Reconnaissance

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Armoured Soldiers in training and deployed on operations work long hours (both by day and by night), and can expect to be out of doors in all weathers, often in physically demanding conditions that include frequent exposure to loud noise, and to contaminants such as dust and combustion fumes. Inside their armoured fighting vehicles, Armoured Soldiers perform their duties in small crew compartments. Appropriate training, environmental clothing and equipment are provided, and Armoured Soldiers' health, safety and morale are closely monitored.

RELATED CIVILIAN OCCUPATIONS

The occupation of Armoured Soldier is purely military and has no civilian equivalent. The armoured soldier's professional skills and experience are most relevant to the following civilian occupations:

Heavy equipment operator;

Computer operator;

Firefighter; and

Guard.