Infanteer

Overview

Infantry soldiers are the Canadian Army’s frontline combat personnel. They form the backbone of the Combat Arms team and are trained to locate, engage, and defeat hostile forces.

They can operate in a wide range of environments around the world, including arctic tundra, mountains, jungle, and desert, and may take part in joint operations such as airmobile and amphibious missions.

Core duties

• Handle and maintain a broad range of weapons, such as rifles, hand grenades, light, medium, and heavy machine guns, and anti-tank systems.
• Use advanced field communication, navigation, and night-surveillance tools.
• Check and care for weapons, vehicles, survival kits, and personal protective gear.
• Take part in airborne operations.
• Work alongside supporting assets such as fighter aircraft, tactical units, and artillery.
• Train and operate in unarmed combat.
• Apply camouflage, concealment, patrol, assault, defence, and escape-and-evasion methods.

Work environment

Infantry soldiers usually work outdoors and, both during training and deployments, live in field-like conditions. Posting is typically to a battalion within Canada, though opportunities may also exist across the country and on missions overseas.

Members of the Regular Force are assigned to a first base after completing all required training and should expect that relocation may be required during their career. Primary Reserve members serve through a specific reserve unit and generally work part time there without having to move to another base. Reserve service commonly includes one evening each week and some weekends, with the possibility of full-time work.

Entry path

This role is open through direct entry. No prior work history or trade-specific experience is necessary, and recruiters can help assess whether your interests and qualities fit the role.

The minimum education requirement is Grade 10, or Secondary 4 in Quebec. Education completed outside Canada may also be accepted.

Training

Initial training begins with Basic Military Qualification at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This stage builds the shared military foundation for all trades and is physically demanding because recruits must meet the Canadian Armed Forces fitness standard.

Infantry training is delivered at one of three centres: The Royal Canadian Regiment in Meaford, Ontario; Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Wainwright, Alberta; or the Royal 22e Régiment in Valcartier, Quebec. The course lasts 17 weeks and covers weapons handling, fieldcraft, personal hygiene, meal preparation, camouflage, sentry duties, signalling, firing positions, tactical movement, road movement, minefield marking, navigation, patrolling, and infantry section and platoon tactics across offensive, defensive, and transition operations.

Specialized development

As the career progresses, infantry soldiers may be selected for additional training and qualifications such as Basic Parachutist, Parachute Jumpmaster, Para Instructor, Mountain Warfare, Instructional Techniques, First Aid Instructor, Rappelmaster, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Instructor, Urban Operations, and Close Quarter Combat Instructor.

With further advancement and demonstrated potential, additional courses can include Primary Army Leadership, Infantry Section Commander, Infantry Platoon Second in Command, Infantry Company Sergeant-Major, Communicator, Reconnaissance Patrolling, Anti-Armour Gunner, Sniper, Machinegunner (Heavy and General Purpose), Small Arms Coach, 25mm Gunner and light armoured vehicle Crew Commander, Winter (Arctic) and Jungle Operations, Patrol Pathfinder, and Tactical Intelligence Operator.

Part-time service option

This position is also available on a part-time basis with the Primary Reserve at selected locations in Canada. Reserve members usually serve with a local unit in their community while studying or working in civilian jobs. Training is paid. Members are not posted or required to relocate, though they may volunteer to transfer to another base or deploy on missions inside or outside Canada.

Reserve infantry soldiers serve with the Canadian Army and perform the same core combat role as Regular Force members. In part-time or casual full-time work, they generally serve at a Forces infantry unit in Canada.

Reserve Force members train to the same standard as Regular Force members. They typically start with their home unit to meet basic military standards, then attend an infantry training centre for 7 weeks.

Reserve members are paid at 92.8% of Regular Force pay and receive a benefits package that is considered reasonable. They may also be eligible to contribute to a pension plan.

Related roles

Gunner, Infantry Officer, and Combat Engineer are noted as related careers.

Additional information

This role is associated with the Canadian Army and its Combat Arms team. Priority application processing is mentioned for Infantry Officer and Combat Engineer in the source material.