BMQ = Basic Military Qualification.
This replaces, afaik, the old "QL2" or "GMT" (general military training).
It is the course I am on presently, and it is VERY introductory. An example of activities would be:
- Basic drill (with and without arms, simple stuff like how to march, how to salute, how to mark time, how to shoulder arms, etc.)
- General military indoctrination (how to act, how to shine boots, clean C7, burn threads off uniform, how to live up for chow, how not to be seen on parade square doing nothing, etc.)
- Classes on essential military knowledge: Rank structure, writing memos, military justice, where to find our rules and orders, types of orders, military symbols and flags, how to read a map and compass, etc.)
- Practical training on subjects such as map & compass navigation, how to use gas mask, how to shoot C7 rifle, etc.
The training is supposed to be common to all three branches of the CF - land, sea and air. Although on my course, all pers are from "land" and will eventually enter the army.
That‘s why the course is being immediately followed by three weekends of SQ (Soldier Qualification). SQ is the training done by those entering the Army (note the difference between "Army" and "Infantry" ... Army includes Combat Service Support, Artillery, Armour, Engineers, Infantry, etc.). Apparently, once we have SQ training, we are fully QL2 qualified under the old system.
After SQ, we must do our "trade" training, for whatever trade we picked when we signed up. I chose Infantry, so I will have several more weeks of training that is specific to that trade.
