Signal Operator vs Infantry: Trade Choice Advice

[em_0]

Hello,
I am a 20-year-old woman who wants to join the CAF as a regular force member, and I would greatly appreciate some advice. I am completely new to military terminology, so please correct me where I have misunderstood how these trades and terms function. Also, I want to clarify that I have thought hard about this decision and I am taking it seriously, and I just want to ensure I am fully prepared before I apply.

When I first realized I wanted to join, I was initially intent on becoming a Signal Operator. Since I was around 14, I had an interest in shortwave radio (in a basic, hobby sense), so a trade that allows me to work with radios and antennas is highly appealing to me. However, after more research into Infantry and SigOps, I am now split between them. Currently, I am pursuing my Grade 12 equivalence and working on my physical fitness and diet. I won't be submitting my application until I have my diploma and am up to a certain physical standard (a standard where I can go into it with confidence that I'll be able to do what's asked of me physically); I've already begun bettering myself physically and academically with the military as a long term goal (and little short term goals along the way), working out and such.

To be clear about my preferences: I am drawn to the field aspect of the Army, like field exercises, rucking, drills, and the overall physical (and mental) discipline. I know much of what is seen in media is romanticized, but I am looking for an environment that challenges me physically and involves "roughing it," for lack of a better term. When looking at the SigOp trade, my goal was to ideally be attached to an Infantry unit (like 3 PPCLI in Edmonton). I want to experience the field lifestyle and tactical communications, but I want to be realistic about what the trade actually entails. If I'm being honest, my main interest lies with radios and antennas as a technology, which is why I'm putting so much emphasis on field work rather than IT and network administration. Maybe I have an older mindset regarding what a SigOp is, and I'm not realizing how intertwined modern military radios are with IT/how much a SigOps job is IT instead of radio operation (tactile buttons and dials).

I just want to make sure my expectations are realistic before I make any final decision, so here are my questions:

1. If I join as a SigOp, what is the realistic balance between field exercises and static desk/computer network administration in the career?
2. Is it naive/unrealistic to assume I can do more field work as I mentioned above, even as a SigOp, or am I just thinking of an Infanteer with a radio?
3. How does a SigOp in a field unit compare to an Infanteer regarding the frequency of field exercises, deployment opportunities, and daily garrison routines?
4. How likely is it that if I joined as a SigOp, I would even be attached to a field unit, as that's simply my idealistic dream and not guaranteed.
5. Do Sig Ops in infantry battalions actually man-pack radios, ruck, and operate in the exact same field conditions as the infantry, or am I misunderstanding their role?
6. After doing some reading, I noticed some people seem to have a low opinion of Signals, specifically regarding how it is run or its leadership. I would love to know more about that, or if I just ran into a few people with those particular opinions.

Please leave any other advice or critiques you think I should hear. Thank you for your time, I really do appreciate it! (P.S., I used the search bar to find similar posts about the questions I had, but figured this was ok to post here as I wanted further clarification; just let me know if I should remove it or post it in a different area, thanks.)

 

[PuckChaser]

I'll answer your questions up front and then add in a few points based on the full post to help give you a full picture. Up front I am a SigOp and not Infantry but have been in CA units for my entire career so I have a good big picture overview of both.

1. Although postings are being prioritized to CMBG Sig Regiments (2 in Edmonton, 1 in Petawawa and 1 in Valcartier), you may end up posted to a more static (but with some field elements) like CFJSR or to a completely static position (helpdesk work in Ottawa for example)right off your RQ Sig course. I can only speak for my Brigade, but typically new SigOps spend 2ish years at the Sig Regt covering everything CFSCE doesn't have the time to teach you and get an idea of where you might fit as a first posting to an "out unit" IE. Infantry Bn, Armoured Regt, Service Bn, etc.

2. SigOp has generally more field work than every other CA signals trade except Line Tech. That work varies from being a Coy Signaler in an infantry unit (what you've outlined) up to working in the Brigade command posts or rebroadcast detachments.

3. An Infanteer is going to go to the field a lot more. Their job requires them to train in a field environment to work on skills, where SigOp training can be done in a classroom up to a certain point. As a SigOp, if you want to deploy you will deploy. Anecdotally we will be deployed far more than an Infanteer (specifically to Latvia right now) as we are so short staffed as a trade that there's no battle for positions. Right now a CMBG Sig Regt SigOp can expect to do 6 months in Latvia every 3 years, with some brigades having less than 10 total SigOps (throughout all those units) not have a position to deploy even though they wanted to and it was strictly because their units needed them as a rear party to keep the unit running. It's a very high, but manageable operational tempo. Before someone wants to call me out on that math, I'm not going to post up CMBG PY numbers in an open forum so please just trust me that my job has required me to do these calculations and know this.

4. Every CA unit is a field unit, so if you're in a CMBG you're going to the field a couple times a year. You have to be prepared that you will not be posted to a field unit right away, but if you ask for it, it's highly likely you'll get it. If not, you'll be able to request a posting to a field unit after a few years.

5. We don't have enough SigOps to work below Company level anymore, so there's only a handful of "manpack radios around" positions in the each Brigade. The remainder of the folks at the Infantry Bns (and other combat arms units) work the unit command posts which are very much in the field with their troops just back a little bit further from the battle area.

6. Every Corps has its bad leadership. I've encountered a few poorly run places but the exact same thing can happen with Infantry units. It's very difficult to be a Signaler right now because the combat arms folks are finally realizing how important data is to the modern fight and want all the shiny things they see with the US and Ukraine. Unfortunately we're about 30 years behind in technology because of budget cuts and priorities going into those shiny army things like tanks and armoured vehicles. Money and projects are coming and it's honestly been the first time in my career where I felt like there was a light at the end of the tunnel that I will see before I retire. Our projects for comms gear are massively complex so they take time to get off the ground but we've been given a lot of latitude to innovate and purchase gear at the unit level which is letting our smart, young Signalers actually design and deploy communications systems. I would be leery of the Signals haters in the Reddit threads and online. There are quite a few folks that sound like they're disaffected with the system because either they were legitimately screwed by some terrible leadership or were a bottom third performer that didn't like being told what to do so now they rant online as a way to get back at "the man".

Ultimately, you'll have to figure out what your priority is: Radios, or field work? You have to pick a trade you'll be happy working in for a majority of the time. Radios can come with field work but you may eventually get posted away to make you a better signaler. Infantry will have more field work but only a chance to work on radios as a Platoon Signaler.

Happy to answer anything else you have.

 

[em_0]

I'll answer your questions up front and then add in a few points based on the full post to help give you a full picture. Up front I am a SigOp and not Infantry but have been in CA units for my entire career so I have a good big picture overview of both.

1. Although postings are being prioritized to CMBG Sig Regiments (2 in Edmonton, 1 in Petawawa and 1 in Valcartier), you may end up posted to a more static (but with some field elements) like CFJSR or to a completely static position (helpdesk work in Ottawa for example)right off your RQ Sig course. I can only speak for my Brigade, but typically new SigOps spend 2ish years at the Sig Regt covering everything CFSCE doesn't have the time to teach you and get an idea of where you might fit as a first posting to an "out unit" IE. Infantry Bn, Armoured Regt, Service Bn, etc.

2. SigOp has generally more field work than every other CA signals trade except Line Tech. That work varies from being a Coy Signaler in an infantry unit (what you've outlined) up to working in the Brigade command posts or rebroadcast detachments.

3. An Infanteer is going to go to the field a lot more. Their job requires them to train in a field environment to work on skills, where SigOp training can be done in a classroom up to a certain point. As a SigOp, if you want to deploy you will deploy. Anecdotally we will be deployed far more than an Infanteer (specifically to Latvia right now) as we are so short staffed as a trade that there's no battle for positions. Right now a CMBG Sig Regt SigOp can expect to do 6 months in Latvia every 3 years, with some brigades having less than 10 total SigOps (throughout all those units) not have a position to deploy even though they wanted to and it was strictly because their units needed them as a rear party to keep the unit running. It's a very high, but manageable operational tempo. Before someone wants to call me out on that math, I'm not going to post up CMBG PY numbers in an open forum so please just trust me that my job has required me to do these calculations and know this.

4. Every CA unit is a field unit, so if you're in a CMBG you're going to the field a couple times a year. You have to be prepared that you will not be posted to a field unit right away, but if you ask for it, it's highly likely you'll get it. If not, you'll be able to request a posting to a field unit after a few years.

5. We don't have enough SigOps to work below Company level anymore, so there's only a handful of "manpack radios around" positions in the each Brigade. The remainder of the folks at the Infantry Bns (and other combat arms units) work the unit command posts which are very much in the field with their troops just back a little bit further from the battle area.

6. Every Corps has its bad leadership. I've encountered a few poorly run places but the exact same thing can happen with Infantry units. It's very difficult to be a Signaler right now because the combat arms folks are finally realizing how important data is to the modern fight and want all the shiny things they see with the US and Ukraine. Unfortunately we're about 30 years behind in technology because of budget cuts and priorities going into those shiny army things like tanks and armoured vehicles. Money and projects are coming and it's honestly been the first time in my career where I felt like there was a light at the end of the tunnel that I will see before I retire. Our projects for comms gear are massively complex so they take time to get off the ground but we've been given a lot of latitude to innovate and purchase gear at the unit level which is letting our smart, young Signalers actually design and deploy communications systems. I would be leery of the Signals haters in the Reddit threads and online. There are quite a few folks that sound like they're disaffected with the system because either they were legitimately screwed by some terrible leadership or were a bottom third performer that didn't like being told what to do so now they rant online as a way to get back at "the man".

Ultimately, you'll have to figure out what your priority is: Radios, or field work? You have to pick a trade you'll be happy working in for a majority of the time. Radios can come with field work but you may eventually get posted away to make you a better signaler. Infantry will have more field work but only a chance to work on radios as a Platoon Signaler.

Happy to answer anything else you have.

Wow, that was very comprehensive, thank you! Your answers are really helpful. Yeah, it definitely seems like I’ll have to mull it over some more and see where my priorities lie, and thankfully I have lots of time to do that while I workout and get my schooling done and such. I especially appreciate what you said about question #6, as I saw so much conversation about it when researching the Signal Operator trade (lots of not very helpful negative feedback, and lots of genuine discussion/debate; negative and positive) but I couldn’t be 100% sure what was just people venting, and was real criticism from people that have experience in the CAF, so it’s nice to hear a detailed response.

If you have any other general advice or anecdotes (about anything really) for someone like me who is looking to join the army I’d love to hear it if you have the time/want to, if not thank you again this has been very helpful.

 

[Jarnhamar]

The infantry can be a lot of fun with some really cool courses and experiences, but it's also a boys club where you generally get those good courses and jobs when you're popular.

When you're not, you can get jobs like driving a diesel truck around and filling gas cans.

A lot of your time at the beginning of your infantry career will be spent being a training aid for other, higher ranked people.

If you're an independent type of person Signallers seem to be trusted to work on their own much quicker than infantry. With advancements in technology, Signal Operators might have more opportunities for some really interesting things.

If you're already interested in radios and communications Signal Operator seems like a great spot. It will also give you a specialized background incase you ever decide to do a different job.

 

[OldSolduer]

Wow, that was very comprehensive, thank you! Your answers are really helpful. Yeah, it definitely seems like I’ll have to mull it over some more and see where my priorities lie, and thankfully I have lots of time to do that while I workout and get my schooling done and such. I especially appreciate what you said about question #6, as I saw so much conversation about it when researching the Signal Operator trade (lots of not very helpful negative feedback, and lots of genuine discussion/debate; negative and positive) but I couldn’t be 100% sure what was just people venting, and was real criticism from people that have experience in the CAF, so it’s nice to hear a detailed response.

If you have any other general advice or anecdotes (about anything really) for someone like me who is looking to join the army I’d love to hear it if you have the time/want to, if not thank you again this has been very helpful.

He knows his shit.

If you’re going Sig Op or Infantry if you “know your shit” that’s a compliment.

Good luck in the future

 

[em_0]

The infantry can be a lot of fun with some really cool courses and experiences, but it's also a boys club where you generally get those good courses and jobs when you're popular.

When you're not, you can get jobs like driving a diesel truck around and filling gas cans.

A lot of your time at the beginning of your infantry career will be spent being a training aid for other, higher ranked people.

If you're an independent type of person Signallers seem to be trusted to work on their own much quicker than infantry. With advancements in technology, Signal Operators might have more opportunities for some really interesting things.

If you're already interested in radios and communications Signal Operator seems like a great spot. It will also give you a specialized background incase you ever decide to do a different job.

Thanks for the response! Yes, I will think about which culture I’d work best in, I only recently began considering Infantry so I’ll have to think about that too.

 

[PuckChaser]

If you have any other general advice or anecdotes (about anything really) for someone like me who is looking to join the army I’d love to hear it if you have the time/want to, if not thank you again this has been very helpful.

You're on the right track with working on a fitness routine, diet and completing your Grade 12. Not having a high school diploma will hold you back in the CAF and it just adds something else to worry about while you're training or deploying. The Army is very routine based, so if you have the personal discipline to get up and train, study and eat well, you'll do just fine.

 

[em_0]

He knows his shit.

If you’re going Sig Op or Infantry if you “know your shit” that’s a compliment.

Good luck in the future

Thanks for the good luck!