Infanteer

Role overview

Infantry Soldiers are the Canadian Army’s frontline combat specialists. They are part of the Combat Arms team alongside Artillery and Armoured Soldiers, and their role is to close with and defeat the enemy.

They are trained to operate in a wide range of environments, including Arctic tundra, mountains, jungle, and desert, and can be deployed in airmobile, amphibious, and other combined-arms operations.

Core duties

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

Work setting

This role is usually performed outdoors. Training and operational duties often take place in field-like conditions. Infantry Soldiers are typically posted to a battalion in Canada, though opportunities exist across the country and on deployments around the world.

In the Regular Force, you are assigned to your first base after completing required training. Relocations are possible over the course of a career and accommodation preferences cannot always be guaranteed.

In the Primary Reserve, you join through a specific Reserve unit. Outside training, that unit becomes your part-time workplace, and you generally are not required to relocate. Reserve members usually work one night each week and some weekends at minimum, with possible full-time employment as well.

Entry path

This is a direct-entry role. No prior work experience or job-related skills are required. Recruiters can help assess whether your interests and qualities fit the role.

The minimum education requirement is completion of Grade 10 in a province or Secondary 4 in Quebec. Foreign education may also be accepted.

Training

Training begins with Basic Military Qualification, commonly known as Basic Training, at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This stage builds the core skills shared by 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 Infantry course lasts 17 weeks and covers weapons care and use, fieldcraft, camouflage, sentry duties, signalling, tactical movement, position selection, field defences, minefield marking, day and night navigation, patrolling, and section/platoon tactics for offensive, defensive, and transition operations.

Specialized and advanced development

As career progression allows, Infantry Soldiers may take additional formal and on-the-job training in areas 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.

Further advancement can include training in leadership and specialist roles such as 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

This role is also available with the Primary Reserve at selected locations across Canada. Reserve members usually serve part time with a unit in their community and can combine service with school or civilian employment. They are paid during training, are not posted or required to move for military reasons, and may volunteer for a different base or for missions inside or outside Canada.

Reserve members train to the same standard as Regular Force personnel. They generally begin with their home unit, then complete Infantry training over 7 weeks at a CAF training centre. Part-time Reserve service is typically scheduled for evenings and weekends, although some units may offer fixed-term full-time positions. Reserve pay is 92.8% of Regular Force rates, with a reasonable benefits package and possible pension contributions.

Additional information

Infantry Soldiers serve with the Canadian Army and may work as part-time or casual full-time personnel in Forces Infantry units located within Canada.

Related careers mentioned include Gunner, Infantry Officer, and Combat Engineer.

Priority application processing is noted for Infantry Officer and Combat Engineer.