Training beyond primary training?

[Pieman]

I am curious if one is allowed to take training courses in areas outside their trade after completing their primary training?

What I mean is, if one signs up for Infantry and then does Basic, and then the two years of further Infantry training, is he allowed to go sign up for something else he is intrested in? Say, taking a tank driving course or take some other course not related to his trade directly?

If so, are there any limitations onto what course you can/can‘t take?

 

[Michael OLeary]

While some courses are offered to personnel of all trades (common courses), most courses are specific to their parent trade. For example, infantry soldiers will not find themselves on courses specific to the armoured. Courses usually have specific prerequisites requiring the basic trade training for that trade, or subsequent levels of training. The Army also has a training approach termed "train to need" which, in general, means training only those personnel who need a particular skill. We‘ve all seen examples of exceptions to this, but as a rule, your training will remain within trade, plus ‘common‘ courses.

Mike

 

[shaunlin41]

****, we can hardly afford to train people in thier own trades let alone other ones. lol

 

[pte anthony]

S**t I hear that hahahahaha

 

[Pieman]

Too bad to hear that. Not very smart of our gov.

In my mind, a soldier that is trained in a wide variety of roles with multiple skills is a very good soldier indeed.

 

[D-n-A]

Originally posted by Pieman:
[qb] Too bad to hear that. Not very smart of our gov.

In my mind, a soldier that is trained in a wide variety of roles with multiple skills is a very good soldier indeed. [/qb]

Think of it this way, whats the point of a Infanteer knowing how to drive a Leopard...


If you join up as a Infanteer, you do your basic, SQ, BIQ
you can the support weapons course, comms course, 404s, jump course, etc

 

[Tpr.Orange]

Its not BASIC....ITS BMQ

 

[Paul F]

Originally posted by Pieman:
[qb] Too bad to hear that. Not very smart of our gov.

In my mind, a soldier that is trained in a wide variety of roles with multiple skills is a very good soldier indeed. [/qb]

A soldier trained in a wide variety of roles with multiple skills is a useless soldier indeed. Why train an infantryman for a job he will never in the course of his career, unless he remusters, need? It‘s just a waste of man hours and money. An infantryman can get all the courses needed to perform his duties as an infantryman, an artillery soldier can get all the qualifications to perform his jobs, etc. There is no need for a soldier to be qualified in a skill related to an entirely different MOC.

However, if you are in the Infantry and want to learn how to drive a tank, remuster to the Armour.

 

[GrahamD]

I‘m thinking that what Pieman may be eluding to, is how special forces are known to specialize in areas that fall outside the traditional role of the Infantry.
Combinations of skills combined with intensive advanced infantryman skills like "combat medic/linguist", "combat engineer/intelligence operator/weapons specialist" etc.
I think in that context what he is asking makes sense, a highly specialised soldier is a valuable asset.

But I also think it reflects a misconception of the reality of choosing infantry as a trade in the Canadian Armed Forces.
To answer the question, although its already been answered by Michael OLeary, it is highly unlikely that you would be able to access courses that are not commonly associated with infantry training.

Plus it‘s important to realise that you are just getting started on your infantry training by year three. There are plenty of courses to keep you busy learning new skills for many years after that. You may have to fight to get the ones you want, and you might have to wait, but they‘re out there.

 

[D-n-A]

Originally posted by Tpr.Orange:
[qb] Its not BASIC....ITS BMQ [/qb]

same thing

BASIC Military Qualification

 

[portcullisguy]

There is some logic to cross-training, but only if the skills are applicable or will be used.

I don‘t think they train the SAS to drive tanks or fire artillery either, rather they offer a wide variety of skills related to how they get into a combat area, and what they do once they‘re there.

If one wanted a highly cross-trained regular infantry, then focusing on skills such as airborne, mountaineering, driving and diving would be useful, although one soldier wouldn‘t necessarily need to specialize in all areas.

Then they could look at intensive training in comms, demolitions, marksmanship, recce, engineering, etc.

To a large extent, this is/was already done, at least where funds allow. For example, combat medics, assault pioneers, etc. Of course, the examples I just named are specializations that have been removed from the infantry, so maybe not the best examples.

There is definitely little reason to cross-train in areas that aren‘t even remotely similar, unless it‘s for a remuster. Probably little use for linemen who also happen to be jump and sniper trained, for example.

 

[combat_medic]

An infantryman, in the course of his career in the Reg Force can be a machine gunner, a signaller, an APC driver, a recce patrolman, a mortarman, a pioneer, a paratrooper, a pathfinder, a sniper, or just your average everyday grunt rifleman. Many of those are specialties within the trade of Infantry.

However, giving an infantryman a course to be an artillery gunner, or a cook, or a postal clerk, or an MP is not useful to him. Those are skills that are specific to their respective trades, and would typically not be useful to an infantryman.

HOWEVER, a lot of courses are (as was previously mentioned) on a need to know basis. So, if you end up in a Northern posting and need to learn to drive a BV206 as part of your job, you may be able to snag a Driver Tracked course. If you‘re overseas doing Vehicle Checkpoints, you may have an MP or other police officer teaching you police-type skills, and so on.

Even the special forces have their own particular areas of expertise. If you want to be a jack of all trades, then you‘ll end up being a master of none.