Artillery Officer

Overview

As a member of the military, an Artillery Officer is expected to coordinate and execute indirect fire support, ground based air defense, surveillance and target acquisition, and provide tactical advice as part of the combat arms team. Working closely with the other members of the combat arms in the Armoured, Infantry and Combat Engineering regiments as well as all other support arms on and off the battlefield.

There are three specialized areas for an Artillery Officer: Field Artillery Officer, Air Defense Officer, and Target Acquisition Officer. Each are expected to become experts of their own technologically complex equipment and its tactical employment.

Field Artillery Officers Expertise:

• Howitzers and Mortars
• Battlefield Surveillance Radars
• Observation & Fire control systems
• Coordination and integration of indirect fire and close air support
  
  

Air Defense Officer Expertise:

• Air Surveillance Radars
• Tactical Data Link Systems
• Future Ground Based Air Defence Systems
  
  

Target Acquisition Officer Expertise:

• Uncrewed Aerial Systems
• Acoustic Weapons Locating Systems
• Weapons Locating Radars
• Artillery Intelligence and Counter-Battery Fires
  
  
  

Work environment


An Artillery Officer can be called upon to serve in any kind of terrain be it Arctic tundra, tropical jungle, desert, mountains, or urban town and cities. Artillery Officers 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
• Paid Education Options
  
  

If you already have a university degree, the CAF will decide if your academic program matches the criteria for this job and may place you directly into the required on-the-job training program following basic training. Basic training and military officer qualification training are required before being assigned.

Regular Officer Training Plan

Due to the requirement for a CAF officer to obtain a university degree, the CAF will pay successful recruits to complete a bachelor degree program in the Royal Military College System. Recruits will receive full-time salary including medical and dental care, as well as vacation time with full pay in exchange for working in the CAF for a period of time. Typically, candidates enter the Canadian Military College System as an Officer Cadet where they study subjects relevant to both their military and academic career. In rare instances, based on the needs of the CAF, candidates may be approved attend another Canadian University. A determination will be made on a case by case basis. If you are applying for this program, you must apply to the CAF and it is recommended to apply to other Canadian universities of your choice should you not be accepted for ROTP.

Training

After enrolment, you start basic officer training (BMOQ) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for 12 weeks. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership and CAF ethos, basic small arms weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in field training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation, and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic officer training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

After basic training, you will go to the Infantry School at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown, New Brunswick for another 12 weeks to complete Basic Military Officer Qualification Army (BMOQA), where you will build upon the leadership training you received in basic in addition to learning the skills required of all Combat Arms officers, including more advanced weapons handling, field-craft, and section-level tactics

Further courses at the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School, also at Gagetown, introduce you to the duties required of a leader in the Artillery. You will develop your leadership skills while learning the basic duties of an Artillery Troop Commander, across all specialties.

This training consists of two portions, the first teaching the various duties of an officer in a Field Artillery battery. This includes the reconnaissance and deployment of howitzers, computation of firing data, and various technical duties.

In the final phase of training, Artillery Troop Commander candidates refine their skills in a mounted context with armoured fighting vehicles. They also learn the fundamentals of deploying various target acquisition systems, such as radars, acoustic systems, and uncrewed aerial systems. Finally, they learn how to perform the role of a Fire Support Officer, coordinating and integrating indirect fires as part of the combat arms team.

Selected Artillery Officers may be trained as Ground Based Air Defense officers, learning about reconnaissance, deployment, and integration of air defense systems. Officers may also specialize as Forward Observation Officers, becoming technical and tactical experts in the integration of indirect fire with the infantry and armoured corps. Officers may also specialize in Target Acquisition, learning to manage the various sensors and intelligence gathering systems in the artillery. Officers may also specialize as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, coordinating and integrating close air support and attack aviation.

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 at an Army Base or armoury 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.

Artillery Officers serve with the Canadian Army. Along with members of the Armour, Infantry and Combat Engineering regiments, they are members of the Combat Arms team and they provide indirect fire support, air defence, and surveillance and target acquisition in battle. When employed on a part-time or casual full-time basis Artillery Officers usually serve with Artillery units at CAF locations within Canada.

Find a Recruiting Centre

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. Following basic officer training, the home unit will arrange for additional training for specialized skills. Artillery Officers train to their Combat Arms qualification at the Royal Canadian Artillery School, at Gagetown, New Brunswick.

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

Infantry Officer

Engineer Officer

Armour Officer