CAF rank system [Merged]

[Jmacca]

Hello everyone,

I just got done emailing my local recruiter with a series of 3-4 emails and my question still wasn‘t achieved so I am seeking it here.

Anyhow, so I would be joining the army when im 18-19 in the infantry.
Now I am aware that I start off as a private, but I have a few questions concerning that.

1 - The recruiter said it takes approx 3-4 years usually to achieve the rank of corporal. Is their any ways to get to corporal faster?

2 - On the DND site it has like additional training or advances training, I was wondering if you take these specialty training coarses on your own time, or is it class/job specific. IE - All infantry will do a desert training coarse, or a combat diving coarse. If these coarses are available how do you go abouts enrolling in them?

3 - In excess to number 2, if their are these additional optional training coarses, would they perhaps make you a more multi role - umm well, better soldier if you understand what Im saying. Like would you be a more called upon soldier?

4 - Stupid question, but when I read the infantry officer " what they do " it gave me the impression they arent on the fields much and are more of a strategic play maker for the unit. Correct me if Im wrong, but I thought officers were like commanders to a platoon or what not on the field? Much like it is in the United States, a captain would lead his men into battle.

5 - In general, is it 3-4 years between each rank?

6 - Would a college ( Not university ) trade like lockpicking and airsmithing be of any use in the infantry, or would they simply look at me and say " why the **** did he take that " sort of thing

Thanks guys

 

[L/MCpl_Argyll_ Kurrgan]

How about getting through your BMQ/SQ and DP1A before worrying about getting promoted to Corporal. Everyone has to do their time in.

 

[Slim]

Three or four years will pass before you know it and before long you‘ll wish you were still a PTE so you wouldn‘t get s#*t on as much!

 

[combat_medic]

1. In the reg force, no. You have to earn the promotion and spend a certain amount of time in rank. Once that time has elapsed, then you can be promoted if you merit it. If not, you stay at your current rank until you do.

2. Advanced and specialty courses are based on availability, time in, performance and merit. If you‘re interested, you can express your interest, and if your boss thinks you deserve it, they MAY put your name in. If they don‘t think you deserve it, then they will nominate someone who does.

3. Getting a specialty course in the infantry won‘t get you more tours or operational experience, if that‘s what you‘re asking. However, it will offer you more diverse employment opportunities. For example, if you get your basic para course, you could get employed in a jump company.

4. Lower ranking infantry officers will lead their platoon or company in the field, but even then there‘s a lot of strategic planning and paperwork to be done. As you become a Battalion or Brigade commander, your hands on time in the field diminishes, and you do more of the higher level planning. It‘s the same in the US army; once you get promoted past a certain level, you aren‘t going to be on the ground commanding Platoons anymore.

5. The time between each rank increases as you go up. While you‘re waiting 4 years to be a Cpl, you could be waiting twice that for a higher rank.

6. Something like locksmithing or airsmithing would not really be of much use at all to an infantryman. They would probably give you wierd looks.

 

[Jmacca]

Awsome, thanks for the answers there guys.

On the subject of question 6, are their any trades that be of use to a typical infantryman? Anything that comes off the top of your head that would be of interest to them

 

[stukirkpatrick]

I believe a college course along the lines of ‘police foundations‘ or ‘law and security‘ will be smiled upon. I think it is one of the few (if not only) college courses that one can be reinbursed for in the reserves, so it must mean something.

 

[Jmacca]

And, if I were to take this, what would it mean for me?

General gratitude and applause?

 

[Padraig OCinnead]

I think those last two courses would be more pertinent to a trade such as MP. There aren‘t too many courses offered downtown that are applicable to the infantry. Maybe if they offered courses on how to switch your mind off when your body is screaming for a bit of rest, or a course that quieted your sense of injustice when you saw wogs like me sitting in the back of C/S O with my feet dry and my coffee hot. These would be good courses to have.

Combat Medic answered your other questions pretty good I think

 

[Ruthless4Life]

May I also add that it usually takes a shorter time to climb ranks in the Reserves than the Regular force, for, sadly, many in the Reserves quit, and many are needed to fill the ranks.

 

[Armymedic]

Wanna get promoted:
1. do your time, learn your job, and then,
2. as a Pte, work hard, do everything your told, and never ask why?...
3. As a cpl, work hard, do everything your told, ask why so you can understand why your doing it and so you can teach others how to do it...
4. then just be **** good at everything, and learn from your mistakes, cause people will usually let you screw up once.

 

[xFusilier]

1. Usually not. From time to time, depending on the need in the Bn certain, usally with outstanding preformance, private soldiers, and corporals recieve acellerated promotion. As far as I know (which at times can be not very much), this is quite rare.

2. Most infantry battalions will run a PCF (Primary Combat Function) Cycle. Duirng this time individuals will be nominated for these courses. (now basdically Infantry Comms, Recconaisance Patrolman, Armour Defence and Driver Wheeled. These are basic courses that privates will need for promotion. Certain courses, Basic Parachutist require that you volunteer in addition to being nominated. But to answer your question no not every infantryman in the Army does desert warfare, or jungle warfare, though I can pretty much guarantee that you will recieve basic winter warfare (tent goes up, tent comes down) .

3. Almost all training you will recieve in the infantry will be trade specific. The Army will not for example send you on Basic Med Tech if your trade is infantry. Any ocurses that are not trade specific will come much later in your career should you advance in rank. WIth reference to overseas tasking the majority of the overseas tasking that you will go on as a young soldier will be Battalion taskings. I.E. the Battlegroup in Bosnia or the one tasked to ISAF in Afghanistan, selection for these is usually that you be fit to go (ie, Medically, Dentally Fit, and have your personal life in order). There are overseas tasking that are assigned on a individual basis but these usually involve specialist trades (Med Tech, Rad Op, Supply Tech, etc.), Sergeants and Warrant Officers, and Officers.

4. Infantry Officers command, that is what they do. As a Lieutennant, command rifle Platoons. Captians Command combat support platoons (Armour Defence, Recce Pl), and Majors command companies. In between command positions, officers will take on staff appointments at the Battalion as a Captain; Adjudant (responsible to the Commanding officer for Personnel Administration), Operations Officer, etc.

5. Yes

6. It all depends how competetive the recruiting process is. When the economy is good less people want to join the Army, when the economy is in the tubes, more people want to join the Army. I would say that if you have made the decision to join the Army and you are in high school, apply as soon as possible, why waste your money on a college diploma that you most likely will not use for the 4 years of your basic engagement.

Please note that the Army has changed a lot in the past 6 years. I have answered your questions to the best of my knowledge. For those individuals who are in the regulary Army, employed as Infantrymen, I defer to them.
Thanks guys

 

[Jmacca]

Well guys, you have been a wealth of knowledge to me.

I think I primarily have to work out on the physical strenght building before I get my hopes to high.

 

[Home_Slice]

I'm conpletely clueless on this stuff. I'm trying to figure out pay...so, as someone who is starting in the infantry, what is your first rank? Where do you do from there?

And can someone explain to me the difference between commissioned and non-commissioned? Don't hurt the noobie  ;D

Thank you.

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Now I know there has never been one, but is Field Marshal part of the Canadian rank structure with established insignia etc.

Thanks

 

[tlg]

Field Marshall is part of the British rank structure and I believe is only used in times of war. Canada's highest rank is General, which currently is the CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) Gen. Hillier.

So no, it is not part of the Canadian Forces Rank Structure.

 

[XMP]

TLG is correct, there is no Field Marshal in the CF and the highest military position is CDS with the rank of General. However for political purposes the Governor General is the Commander in Chief of the CF. If he/she whishes to wear uniform, the GG can either wear the rank of Governor General:

or the uniform and insignia of Colonel of whichever Regiment or Branch he or she is Honourary Colonel of.

 

[exspy]

AJ,

CF message DPLS 287 (issued on 30 Jan 1968, the day prior to Unification) had the subject heading "CANADIAN FORCES RANK TITLES".  It set out the new unified rank structure approved under CFAO 3-2 that was to take effect the next day.

The highest ranking officer provided for was 'General', however if in a naval position the rank 'Admiral' was still authorized.  I don't believe this has changed in the intervening 39 years.

Prior to this the Canadian Army rank structure went up to and included the rank of Field Marshal however, as you point out, it was never awarded.  The RCAF also had Marshal of the RCAF and the RCN had Admiral of the Fleet.  This information comes from an article called "Integration at the Top" written in 1965 by Squadron Leader AT Paton and published simultaneously in Roundel, The Crowsnest and The Canadian Army Journal.  With the article was a chart of the three services rank structure provided 'to help ease the pain' of Integration for those personnel working at CFHQ in Ottawa.

Hope this helps.

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

I thank you all,


I'll put Field Marshal into my technetium mine proposal.

 

[Greymatters]

Prior to this the Canadian Army rank structure went up to and included the rank of Field Marshal however, as you point out, it was never awarded.  The RCAF also had Marshal of the RCAF and the RCN had Admiral of the Fleet.  This information comes from an article called "Integration at the Top" written in 1965 by Squadron Leader AT Paton and published simultaneously in Roundel, The Crowsnest and The Canadian Army Journal.  With the article was a chart of the three services rank structure provided 'to help ease the pain' of Integration for those personnel working at CFHQ in Ottawa.

It takes a lot of soldiers to make up a lot of divisions that in turn would have to make up a few armies before you can even sonsider having someone deserve to be called Field Marshall.

Although, if we had given senior planning staff long enough, Im sure there would have been enough paper soldiers to justify three Field Marshalls... 

 

[kawa11]

I've been looking around for some time trying to find a comprehensive list of ALL Canadian forces ranks.
I don't know if I'm using the wrong keywords or maybe I just don't understand the rank structure & break down.

The closest answer I get for Canada is something rather repetitious and similar to the rank image listed on this site (http://milnet.ca/info/ranks.php)

However, is there not a rank below Private? (Pvt/Rte.) Is there not 2 ranks above Private? (Pvt-Tr./Junior Pvt & Senior Pvt.)
Does Canada not have the appointment of Sgt-Major?
Do we have "levels" of CWO? (ie. CWO1 - CWO5)