Gunner

Overview

As a member of the military, Gunners are responsible for surveillance and target acquisition, and indirect fire to engage the enemy.

As a Gunner you are responsible for the operation, maintenance and use of artillery systems, to include howitzers, mortars, radars, acoustic systems, uncrewed aerial systems, and armoured fighting vehicles. Gunners work closely with the other members of the combat arms as in the Armoured, Infantry and Combat Engineers, along with all other support arms on and off the battlefield.

As a member of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, the primary responsibilities of Gunners are to:

• Operate and maintain 105mm and 155mm howitzers
• Operate and maintain future Ground Based Air Defense Systems
• Operate and maintain surveillance and target acquisition systems, to include radars, acoustic systems, and uncrewed aerial systems.
• Operate and maintain a variety of vehicles including but not limited to ¼ ton – 7 ton trucks, Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV), and Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV 6.0)
• Operate technically advanced command-post computers, laser range-finders and fire control computers.
  
  
  

Work environment


A Gunner can be called upon to serve in any kind of terrain be it Arctic tundra, tropical jungle, desert, mountains, or urban towns and cities. They are deployed overseas on operational missions and in Canada in support of civil authorities in cases of national emergency. Initially, they are posted to one of five Artillery regiments:

• 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Shilo, Manitoba
• 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Petawawa, Ontario
• The Royal Canadian Artillery School, Combat Training Centre, Gagetown, New Brunswick
• 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support) Royal Canadian Artillery, Gagetown, New Brunswick
• 5th Canadian Light Artillery Regiment, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Valcartier, Quebec
  
  

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options
  
  

No previous work experience or career related skills are required. CAF recruiters can help you decide if your personal interests and attributes match the criteria for this occupation.

The minimum required education to apply for this occupation is the completion of the provincial requirements for Grade 10 or Secondary 4 in Quebec.

Foreign education may be accepted.

Training

The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course which is 9-weeks, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades. A goal of this course is to ensure that all recruits maintain the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding.

Upon completion of BMQ, Gunners attend The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School in Gagetown, New Brunswick for another 9-week course (DP1) covering Individual soldiers’ skills, more advance weapons handling, radio communications, vehicle driving, and common artillery knowledge.

After completing DP1, gunners get posted to one of the 5 artillery regiments across Canada, where you develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training. Gunners can specialize in one of four streams, Gun Area, Observation Post, Surveillance and Target Acquisition, and Ground Based Air Defence.

Part time options

This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time with a military unit in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. They usually begin training with their home unit to ensure that they meet the required basic professional military standards. If additional training is required in order to specialize skills, arrangements will be made by the home unit.

Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 92.8 percent of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

Related Careers

Infanteer

Armour Soldier

Accelerated Pay Increment

Combat Engineer