George Wallace said:
I think a lot of confusion is occurring in what is being said. All Recruits should be trained as 'Basic' Infantry so that in whatever Career route they take in the CF, they will be able to defend themselves and contribute effectively to the protection of their co-workers, their job site and equipment. To re-role Trained Sailors, Airmen, or any other Trade, including Armd and Arty, is foolhardy. To re-role a percentage of capable Recruits would be the most logical step to take.
As one who belonged to an Armed Force who's credo is "Everybody is a Grunt First", and being trained as a ground Radio Tech, they did not want me outside the wire. It was a constant game of attaching myself (there were a few of us) to patrols as radio operators and hoped no higher-highers noticed until we got outside the wire. We were constantly repremanded verbally about the cost of training us, the OpSec aspect, etc., etc..
Those personnel that are gungho and want to take a crack at being a grunt, should be allowed to (within reason) be able to trainup and do a tour, especially if they are new to the CF and the exposure will help them in their trade by giving them a wider exposure. This should be a volunteer only option.
Everybody, I mean everybody, should be able to handle basic weapons and elementry tactics, because bases do get attacked and sometimes overrun. Not likely in this particular case, but there are other situations where the thinking should apply (eg: convoys, etc).
This basic skillset (rifle) should be a requalifier on at least an annual basis. In addition to ensuring people are capable of defending themselves and others, it reminds them of the fact that they are in the ARMED FORCES, not CUPE, PSAC, etc.