Infanteer

Role overview

As an Infantry Soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, you will be part of the Army’s main combat force and a key contributor to the Combat Arms team alongside Artillery and Armoured Soldiers. The role is centered on engaging and defeating opposing forces.

Infantry Soldiers are trained to function in a wide range of environments, including Arctic tundra, mountains, jungle, and desert. They also operate in multiple types of operations such as airmobile and amphibious missions.

Key duties

• Handle and care for a broad set of weapons, including rifles, hand grenades, light, medium, and heavy machine guns, and anti-tank systems
• Work with advanced tools for field communication, navigation, and night-vision surveillance
• Check and maintain weapon platforms, vehicles, survival equipment, and personal protective gear
• Take part in airborne missions
• Operate alongside supporting assets such as fighter aircraft, tactical units, and artillery
• Participate in hand-to-hand combat when required
• Apply camouflage, concealment, patrolling, assault, defensive action, and escape/evasion methods

Work setting

Most of the time, Infantry Soldiers work outdoors and train in field-like conditions. In operations and training, the environment is intended to mirror real battlefield conditions. The role may involve postings to battalions in Canada as well as deployments abroad.

For Regular Force members, the first posting follows completion of all mandatory training, and relocation should be expected during the career. In the Primary Reserve, members are assigned to a specific Reserve unit, work part time at that unit outside training, and are generally not required to relocate. Reserve service typically involves one evening each week and some weekends, with opportunities for full-time work.

Entry route

This is a direct-entry occupation. No prior work history or career-specific experience is needed. Recruiters can help assess whether your interests and personal qualities suit the role.

Education

The minimum education requirement is Grade 10 or Secondary 4 in Quebec. Foreign credentials may also be accepted.

Training

The first stage is Basic Military Qualification, or Basic Training, delivered at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This phase builds the core skills expected of all military occupations and is physically demanding because recruits must meet the Canadian Armed Forces fitness standard.

Infantry training is delivered at one of three Military Training Centres: The Royal Canadian Regiment in Meaford, Ontario; Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Wainwright, Alberta; or the Royal 22 e Régiment in Valcartier, Quebec. The course lasts 17 weeks and covers weapons handling, fieldcraft, camouflage, sentry duties, signalling, tactical movement, defensive works, minefield marking, navigation, patrolling, and infantry section/platoon tactics.

Specialized and advanced development

As they progress, Infantry Soldiers may be selected for additional formal courses and on-the-job training. Options include parachutist training, jumpmaster, para instructor, mountain warfare, instructional techniques, first aid instructor, rappelmaster, NBC defence instructor, urban operations, and close quarter combat instructor.

With experience and proven potential, further advancement training may include primary army leadership, section commander, platoon second-in-command, company sergeant-major, communicator, reconnaissance patrolling, anti-armour gunner, sniper, machinegunner, 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

The role is also available in the Primary Reserve at select locations across Canada. Reserve members normally serve in their home community while attending school or working a civilian job, are paid during training, are not posted or required to move, and may volunteer for deployment in Canada or abroad. They train to the same standard as Regular Force members, begin with their home unit, complete 7 weeks of infantry training after basic training, and are typically paid at 92.8% of Regular Force pay with benefits and possible pension contributions.

Related roles

Related careers include Armour Soldier, Infantry Officer, and Gunner.

Other information

Priority application processing is noted for some related careers.