Obtaining P.Eng as Combat Engineer

[Mathius]

I'm currently a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Alberta and have also applied for the reserves this summer.  After university, I plan on joining the regular force as a combat engineer.  My question is, is it possible to obtain my professional engineer status (P.Eng) through the army as a combat engineer?  Usually, to get a P.Eng an engineering graduate does 4 years of probationary work alongside a professional engineer and after that time, may apply to receive their P.Eng.  Any information on whether combat engineering can be used to get a P.Eng is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gunner]

http://www.forces.gc.ca/dsa/app_bio/engraph/FSeniorOfficerBiographyView_e.asp?SectChoice=1&mAction=View&mBiographyID=514

Many of the engineering officer I know have the PEng desigination.  Not very uncommon at all.

 

[dapaterson]

Many Engr officers get their P Engs.  Besides employment in the CERs, many will work on engineering projects.  Remember that DND has among the largest realty holdings in Canada - Civ Engineers are everywhere (it seems).  In equipment procurement, iron rings work on all phases of the projects.  There are other fields of employment as well, it may be advisable to chat with the CFRC to determine whether Engr or EME would be a better fit for a Mech Eng student.

There are also opportunities to return to school with the military; generally, as an Engineer of some sort you would do a Master's program in a related field, and then owe additional obligatory service.  Not that bad a deal, really, since if selected you will be in receipt of full pay and allowances for the duration of your studies.

 

[AmmoTech90]

Point to note.

If you are joining as a Private, you will be a Combat Engineer.

If you are joining as an officer, you will be a Engineering Officer or Airfield Engineering Officer.

I'm hope an Engineer will be able to confirm this, but as a Combat Engineer obtaining your P Eng qualification would be almost impossible.  However if you are joining as a Enginnering or Airfield Engineering Officer then it is more probable.

 

[Mathius]

Thanks for the info.  I do plan on joining as a private to begin with and then later on, try for officer.  So the concensus here is that being a combat engineer won't get me a P.Eng but an engineering officer will.

 

[Kat Stevens]

The only thing being a Sapper will get you is a bad back, and a bitter taste in your mouth. :warstory:

 

[Gunner]

Thanks for the info.  I do plan on joining as a private to begin with and then later on, try for officer.  So the concensus here is that being a combat engineer won't get me a P.Eng but an engineering officer will.

Mathius, the choice is yours, but if you have a mechanical engineering degree you are wasting your time going in as a private.  Read the threads on NCM or Officer before making a hasty or uninformed decision.

 

[Mathius]

Mathius, the choice is yours, but if you have a mechanical engineering degree you are wasting your time going in as a private.  Read the threads on NCM or Officer before making a hasty or uninformed decision.

I understand that having a mechanical engineering degree is useful but I think that I can apply my education in the field instead of doing mainly office work.  I want to get my hands dirty, I want to get in the field and get some real experience.  Being stuck at university for 5 years and doing calculations until they make me want to puke is motivation enough for me to get in the field as a private.  As well, after some time in the dirt, I can go in for engineering officer, right?  I asked the recruiters if I could go that route and they said it wouldn't be a problem, but I realize that they are recruiters and they would agree with me if I said the sun isn't going to come up tomorrow if it helped in signing me up.

I have put significant thought into my path and think it is the best for me.  Unfortunately, recruiters and websites can only provide so much insight into such matters.  So far, you guys have been the best resource for me.

 

[Gunner]

If you are accepted as an officer and if you survive your officer training I guarantee you will not be left with the idea that officers don't get their "hands dirty" and that they don't go in the field and get "real experience".

You can enter the CF as a private and after a period of time you can apply to be an officer. This doesn't mean you will be accepted (now or later).  I will assume your are going to be around 23 years old entering the CF.  If you enter and spend your first 3 or 4 years as a soldier you will soon be pushing 30 by the time you are actually accepted to be an officer.  This is the same time you will probably get married and start a family.  In order to become an officer, you will have to enter the training system again at the beginning again and you will be well behind officers of your same age.  You will also have spent a number of years not doing any engineer work related to the degree you will be receiving.  You will also be the "new kid on the block" and will be the "go to guy" for every shitty little tasking that comes up.  What is your wife and 2-3 kids think of this? 

I don't know you but I think you are wasting an opportunity and the CF is losing someone who has the potential to be an officer.  Have you spoken with an engineering officer?  There are several that post on this site (MCG and Sapper6) and it is highly recommended that you speak to them first before making these decisions.  I you don't want to PM them, ask your recruiter to meet an engineer officer (Regular or Reserve) and talk to them about it.

Once again, the choice is yours but make sure you go in with your "eyes wide open".

Cheers,

 

[Mathius]

Please check your messages MCG and Sapper6.

 

[Jed]

Speaking from my personal experience; My advice is that you do not want to go into the CF as a sapper, but if this is the path you want your life to take, opt for Airfield Engr or Engr (army officer). You will get plenty of real world experience, get your hands dirty etc., in either officer trade. For the past decade or so odds of you using your engineer degree, hence obtaining a P. Eng. are far greater if you go Airfield Engr as the military leans on this trade to do most of the Infrastructure management business. If you go in as an Army Engineer you will do your time in a CER first before going to the ESU or a Base Engineer job where you have a much greater chance of working for a P Eng.

The CF gives very little credit to obtaining a P Eng as they deem it to be an unnecessary non military requirement. 6 months experience in a CER rates far higher than 6 years working on real engineering projects under P Eng supervision.

Once you are in and you have proven yourself in either Engr profession, you will be able to generate opportunities to work for various Engrs with a P Eng qualification to enable you to obtain yours. The process will take longer than if you joined a civilian engineering firm, but you have the priviledge of serving your country. Also, who else pays you to blow stuff up, shoot machine guns and jump out of planes ?

Bottom line is if you want to do civilian engineer jobs go Air Force, if you want to play in the mud, go Army. When you get some years on the CF will find you a useful place to work.

Jed

(P Eng for 27 years, Army Engr (and some Airfield Engr) for 15)

 

[Gayson]

A while ago I was wondering the same thing, so I emailed CCPE and asked them.

Here was their responce:

Dear James,

Military service isn't specifically excluded from the experience requirement
for licensure.  Rather, the regulatory body will evaluate your experience
based on its merit and decide how much of it is applicable. 

There are five components to the experience requirement:  design, practical
experience, communications, management and understanding of the impact of
technology on society.  Most military members don't have problems getting
the latter three components but not all are in jobs that provide design
and/or practical experience. 

A key to your success will be to write your cv (résumé) in a way that is
easily understood by civilians (eliminate military jargon, acronyms, etc.).


Good luck,


Deborah Wolfe, P.Eng.
Director, Education, Outreach and Research
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers
180 Elgin Street, Suite 1100
Ottawa, Ontario  K2P 2K3  Canada
Telephone:  613-232-2474
Facsimile:  613-230-5759
Website:  www.ccpe.ca

Hope this helps.

 

[Sapper6]

Please check your messages MCG and Sapper6.

Mathius,

As much as I would like to be on this bulletin board 24/7, I do have a real job as an Army ENGR Officer.  Hence my perceived tardiness on your part.

I have answered you via PM as requested.

Sapper 6

p.s. Come join us...you might like it....not for the faint of heart though! Chimo!

 

[Sapper6]

If you are accepted as an officer and if you survive your officer training I guarantee you will not be left with the idea that officers don't get their "hands dirty" and that they don't go in the field and get "real experience".

You can enter the CF as a private and after a period of time you can apply to be an officer. This doesn't mean you will be accepted (now or later).  I will assume your are going to be around 23 years old entering the CF.  If you enter and spend your first 3 or 4 years as a soldier you will soon be pushing 30 by the time you are actually accepted to be an officer.  This is the same time you will probably get married and start a family.  In order to become an officer, you will have to enter the training system again at the beginning again and you will be well behind officers of your same age.  You will also have spent a number of years not doing any engineer work related to the degree you will be receiving.  You will also be the "new kid on the block" and will be the "go to guy" for every shitty little tasking that comes up.  What is your wife and 2-3 kids think of this? 

I don't know you but I think you are wasting an opportunity and the CF is losing someone who has the potential to be an officer.  Have you spoken with an engineering officer?  There are several that post on this site (MCG and Sapper6) and it is highly recommended that you speak to them first before making these decisions.  I you don't want to PM them, ask your recruiter to meet an engineer officer (Regular or Reserve) and talk to them about it.

Once again, the choice is yours but make sure you go in with your "eyes wide open".

Cheers,

I couldn't have said it better myself Gunner, as I'm kinda in the attraction business to begin with!  Are you sure you weren't a Sapper in your previous life?

Sapper6

 

[Gunner]

Sapper's and Gunner's share an interest in explosives... besides, we know each other through various common acquaintances.  I think it is  a shame some of the ideas these young kids have about officers ("hands dirty" and "real experience") in all classifications and it hurts the CF if they don't try and realize their full potential (even if it is as an engineer  ).

 

[Kat Stevens]

I saw an Engineer subbie with dirty hands once.  I believe he was trying to polish his boots without the help of his driver... Oh, the humanity...

 

[George Wallace]

Where were you supposed to drive him, Kat?



;D

 

[Kat Stevens]

He was my TC in 4 CER... Squid, we hardly knew ye.... ;D

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

I wanted to post a smart reply here but there is no way I could top the belly laugh I just had.......Sapper6 and Gunner.......sorry but these two just "owned" ya.

 

[Gunner]

I saw an Engineer subbie with dirty hands once.  I believe he was trying to polish his boots without the help of his driver... Oh, the humanity...

Ok, I knew you were making that up when you said he was trying to polish his boots....