Overview

After receiving top-notch academic and equipment training, you will be responsible for the maintenance of all shipboard acoustic equipment and associated systems.

• Subsidized training
• Recruitment allowances
• Opportunity for advancement

Entry Plans

If you are interested in this occupation, the Canadian Forces (CF) can subsidize your training at a civilian community college or at the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School Detachment in Newfoundland and Labrador.

What They Do

Naval Electronics Technician (Sonar) personnel are responsible for the maintenance of all shipboard acoustic equipment and associated systems. They are technicians and perform no operator functions whatsoever.

Qualification Requirements

Personnel in this military occupation must, at a minimum, have obtained a passing mark in mathematics from a recognized academic Canadian institution, and demonstrate a high level of aptitude for electronics. Naval Electronics Technician (Sonar) personnel, when qualified as Journeyman Technicians, must be able to work under emergency conditions, adapt quickly to cope with unfamiliar problems, endure occasional periods of extended work hours in order to achieve objectives, and diagnose and correct equipment faults in minimum time. They must function as members and leaders of a technical team, understand directions quickly, and improvise if necessary to achieve objectives. Personnel must be dependable and discreet because of exposure to classified service matters.

The CF has introduced a series of recruitment allowances for eligible non-commissioned member (NCM) applicants entering the Regular Force.

• $10,000 signing bonus, post-secondary diploma or certificate
• $20,000 signing bonus, civilian trade-qualified NCMs 
• $20,000 signing bonus, MOC-qualified (Military Occupational career) NCMs

The allowances apply to new enrolees, re-enrolees and Reserve Force members who receive a component transfer into this Navy target occupation.

In addition, depending on their qualification level, many qualified recruits will be eligible for incentives such as promotion to the rank of acting corporal immediately after the successful completion of basic training.

Training

The first stage of training for everyone is the 13-week Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

On completion of the BMQ, Naval Electronics Technicians (Sonar) attend Naval Environmental Training (NETP) at the Canadian Forces Fleet School (CFFS) in Esquimalt, British Columbia or Halifax, Nova Scotia. The second portion is the Naval Electronics Apprentice Course which takes place at the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School (CFNES) in Halifax. Training takes approximately 63 weeks.

Working Environment

Naval Electronics Technician (Sonar) personnel are trained for service on ships and submarines stationed at Halifax, N.S., or Esquimalt, B.C. Personnel are employed in occupation-related duties at sea, in harbour and at shore establishments. Duties at sea are performed in exposed, as well as enclosed and confined spaces above and below the waterline, under all climatic and environmental conditions.

As with all sea-going personnel, Naval Electronics Technician (Sonar) personnel are sailors first, technicians second.

Opportunities For Advancement

For those who demonstrate ability and potential, opportunities for advanced and specialty training are available as your career progresses.

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