Infantry Officer

[Lt. Perkins]

Just wondering how much on average does an Infantry officer make.  Basically either a 1st Lieutenant or a Captain?  I want to eventually become an Officer once I'm doing university and I wanna know what type of money it makes. 

 

[Infanteer]

So, if you want to become an officer, how come you are a Lieutenant?

 

[Lt. Perkins]

Just a nickname. 

 

[pbi]

Contact your recruiting centre if you really want to know, but I'll tell you right now that you'll be one of the lowest paid people in the platoon. Going into Inf officer for the money is a dumb move. Cheers.

 

[Infanteer]

You should probably try and choose a different nickname, lest someone mistake you for a real officer and takes your posts the wrong way.  As well, seeing how you have never earned the Rank of Lieutenant, someone here may take offence.  Read this:

http://army.ca/forums/threads/19162.0.html

 

[Michael OLeary]

Firstly, Perkins, to answer your specific question, see http://www.forces.gc.ca/dgcb/cbi/en...ection=204.211&sidecat=21&Chapter=204#204.211

Second Lieutenants (General Service Officers, which includes infantry) make between $3598 and $5304, monthly.
Lieutenants make between $3921 and $6203, monthly.
Captains make between $4971 and $6571, monthly.

(We do not have a rank of "1st Lt".)

The tables in the linked page show the range and amounts for annual increases (increments) in each rank.


Secondly, take the pbi's comment to heart. If your primary motivation for joining the infantry is a pay scale, you may want to re-examine your true motivations for this line of work as a career.

Try exploring a few of the threads that explore the roles and responisibilities of infantry officers:

Life as an Army officer --  http://army.ca/forums/threads/1155.0.html

which trade?  --  http://army.ca/forums/threads/12811.0.html

So you want to become an Officer, do ya? Hints to help  --  http://army.ca/forums/threads/17655.0.html

Recruiting FAQ (Officer)  --  http://army.ca/forums/threads/21101/post-103985.html#msg103985

Infantry FAQ  --  http://army.ca/forums/threads/21131.0.html

You will also find plenty of recommendations for further reading to better understand the military and what it might mean to you personally to pursue it as a career.  It is certainly not a decision to be taken lightly with a principal consideration of how much you will make.

Canadian Army Reading List  --  http://regimentalrogue.com/library/CARL_intro.htm

Infantry School Reading list  --  http://regimentalrogue.com/library/library-infsch-byrank.htm

And one final note:

New members-using regiment avatars, ranks, usernames - http://army.ca/forums/threads/19162.0.html

 

[mdh]

If you want some information on regular force wage rates try the forces recruiting website at this link:

http://www.recruiting.forces.gc.ca/media/pdf/other/RegularForcePay.pdf

Cheers, mdh

 

[mdh]

Oops, Captain O'Leary beat me to it...

 

[Canadian.Trucker]

Pay can only give you so much.  If you join the infantry for the money, you'll regret it because you can't spend cash while out in the field getting your butt kicked.

 

[45B]

Just wondering how much on average does an Infantry officer make.   Basically either a 1st Lieutenant or a Captain?   I want to eventually become an Officer once I'm doing university and I wanna know what type of money it makes.  

Currahee,
The only reason I knew my pay was because the recruting officer told me. Right now, I don't exactly know my pay, and my pay reports are left unopened in a dusty lost corner of my house.

Good luck!

 

[45B]

Pay can only give you so much.   If you join the infantry for the money, you'll regret it because you can't spend cash while out in the field getting your butt kicked.

LOL

 

[Lt. Perkins]

Sorry guys I guess I should have been more specific.  I'm not going to join up for the money, I'm going to join up to serve my country and continue the tradition of excellend soldiers in the Canadian Army.  I was just wondering the salary because I was thinking of when I have a family whether or not I will be able to support them.  I'm not trying to offend anyone, or get on anyones nerves by asking about the salary.  It's just a question I've been wanting to know the answer to for a long time.  Anyways thanks a lot keep up the good work guys and hopefully in a few years time after University I will be joining you in the Army.

 

[Canadian.Trucker]

Sorry guys I guess I should have been more specific.   I'm not going to join up for the money, I'm going to join up to serve my country and continue the tradition of excellend soldiers in the Canadian Army.   I was just wondering the salary because I was thinking of when I have a family whether or not I will be able to support them.   I'm not trying to offend anyone, or get on anyones nerves by asking about the salary.   It's just a question I've been wanting to know the answer to for a long time.   Anyways thanks a lot keep up the good work guys and hopefully in a few years time after University I will be joining you in the Army.

I personally didn't take any offense, I knew it was a simple question.  If you go in as a DEU (Direct Entry Officer) you should be alright for pay sooner than later.  This is because you have to pass IAP and BOTP (phase 1) before you are commissioned.  At first you will get Officer Cadets pay, which isn't that much let me tell you.  But after the initial 14 weeks of about $1,300/month you will be making about $3,000 +/month.  So, if you are able to work with that much money, then you should be alright.  Basically take the minimum of what you would think you'd make off the list that is on the forces.ca site that Micheal O'Leary gave you, and see if it fits.  If it doesn't...then you may have a prob.

Good luck to you.

DUCIMUS

 

[SeanNewman]

You can't really blindly go by the pay scales for 2Lt and Lt, because there are too many entry plans.  If you join from the ranks, you'll hold your pay until the officer pay (usually Captain $5,200/mo) catches up.

If you join sans education, expect <$3,000/mo while you're in trg.  If you have a degree, expect $3,500-$4,500/mo while you're 2Lt and Lt (2-3 years in the trg system plus some Battalion time).

After 3-5 years of joining, you can expect Capt, which starts at $5,200 and has more or less $200/mo raises every year until you max out.

One thing to consider, is that if you go on tour, you're getting extra money, plus not paying taxes for 1/2 year.
Example:  Base rate Capt goes on tour, and would have made $60k, but makes $15k in incentives.  So now you're making $75k in a year, but only paying taxes on the six months not on tour, or $30k.

If you're looking to support your family, you'll have the money to do it, but you'll be away from home all the time.  Even if you're not on tour, you're always gone on two-week Exs.  Hope this helps.

 

[ProPatria05]

Canadian Trucker,

Sorry, man, I gotta correct you on the pay for DEOs.

Even though you are an OCdt until finishing IAP/BOTP, all DEO officer recruits are paid as a 2Lt.  Exception being doctors, lawyers, dentists, who are Captains upon enrolment and are paid as such.

FROM CBI Chapter 204.211:
"(9) (Rate of pay - Direct Entry Officer) A direct entry officer in the rank of officer cadet shall be paid, for each month after the month and year specified in the table, at the rate of pay established in pay level C of Table "B" to this instruction for the rank of second lieutenant." 

Here's the link:  http://www.forces.gc.ca/dgcb/cbi/engraph/home_e.asp?sidesection=6&Section=204.211&sidecat=21&Chapter=204#204.211

Also know this from experience. So, the pay is not so bad for DEO officer wannabes.

 

[dapaterson]

Off topic digression:

Murph: a minor point of correction.

You mentionned "doctors, lawyers, dentists... are Captains upon enrolment".  In fact, they are sworn in as second lieutenants with simultaneous promotion to Captain; their commissioning scrolls indicate thewy have been commissioned as 2Lts just like everybody else.

One reason for this: in the event that they are ever court-martialled, thisd way they can be busted down to 2Lt.

Back on topic:

Some people may join the military for the money.  No one stays for the money.

 

[silverbach]

Well, I'm not so sure about that dapaterson...

According to the AJAG in Montreal (Lt-Col D'Auteuil), some lawyers in the CF can start working as such for JAG even before going to St-Jean. When they ar ealoud to do that, they are commissioned as captains/lieutanant (navy) and are paid as such. When it's time for them to go to St-Jean, they go and keep that rank with the same salary.

 

[dapaterson]

Silverbach:

It's a sematic point, but important.  The personnel records of such members should clearly show enrolment as a 2Lt with promotion the same day to Capt (or Lt(N) for the senior service).  Their pay will start as Capt/Lt(N).  But officially, they enter as a 2Lt.

Technically speaking, they enrol as an OCdt, are commissioned as a 2Lt and then promoted, but we're really starting to get down to minor details.  See QR&O 6.12 for starters "A person enrolling as an officer shall be enrolled as an officer cadet...", then move on to CFAO 11-6 Annex B - Chaplains provide a good example "A direct entry officer will be commissioned in the rank of second lieutenant with simultaneous promotion to the rank of captain effective the date of the members enrolment less any period of leave without pay on enrolment."  As a lawyer, simultaneous promotion to Captain will occur if you have been called to the Bar and are a member in good standing with a provincial Law Society.

As I stasted before, one reason for this is due to the disciplinary system - read the NDA article 143 - an officer cannot be demoted below "...a rank lower than commissioned rank."; this has been taken to mean the rank at which the specific member was commissioned.  It's in many ways a good example of one of our somewhat cumbersome systems that has evolved due to legal or regulatory structures.

QR&Os are online at: http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/qr_o/intro_e.asp
CFAOs are online at: http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/cfao/intro_e.asp
NDA is online at: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/N-5/text.html

DAP

 

[silverbach]

According to the AJAG in Montreal (Lt-Col D'Auteuil), some lawyers in the CF can start working as such for JAG even before going to St-Jean.

In that hypothesis, what is the rank on the officer's shoulders ?

 

[dapaterson]

In that hypothesis, the young lawyer would go through three ranks in a single day:

(1) Enrol as an Officer Cadet;

(2) Be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant; and

(3) Be promoted Captain (assuming the requisite qualificaitons under CFAO 11-6 are met).

So, when starting work for the AJAG they may wear the rank of a Capt / Lt(N), or, if the AJAG is smart, he'll have them reporting in civilian clothes, as they may not know how to dress properly in uniform. 


And to those with a concern over the more important details:  From a bell-ringing perspective, I suspect it would only require a single ring (sigh).