Overview

You will be a member of the Military Engineer branch and of the Combat Arms, which includes the Infantry, the Artillery and the Armoured Regiments. Your job will be to ensure that friendly troops can live, move and fight on the battlefield.

Main Benefits 

• Professional training provided for approximately 32 weeks 
• Opportunities for advancement

What They Do 

Combat Engineers perform construction and maintenance tasks, operate vehicles and equipment in support of Engineer Operations, and maintain field installations and facilities. Combat Engineers construct and maintain roads, airfields, heliports, bridges, causeways, rafts, permanent and temporary buildings, as well as field defences and obstacles. They also test, purify and filter local water supplies, construct distribution systems, detect and dispose of mines and bulk explosives, demolish roads and bridges, lay minefields and traps, maintain and operate engineering equipment (including weapons, vehicles, heavy equipment and supplies), and provide engineer communications on the battlefield.

Qualification Requirements

Combat Engineers should enjoy outdoor work, be physically fit and mechanically and technically oriented, and be resourceful, innovative and self-reliant in nature. They should also be good learners with good hand-eye co-ordination and manual dexterity. Above-average mathematical ability is required for promotion to the higher ranks. 

Training

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

On successful completion of BMQ, Combat Engineers go to a Military Training Centre for the 10-week Soldier Qualification (SQ) course, which covers the following topics:

• Army physical fitness
• Dismounted offensive and defensive operations
• Reconnaissance patrolling
• Advanced weapons-handling
• Individual field-craft

On completion of SQ, Combat Engineers go to the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics in Borden, Ontario for two weeks of driver training. On completion of SQ, they are then required to attend the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at Gagetown, New Brunswick for 20 weeks of training, where they participate in the following areas:

• Construction of field defences and obstacles
• Construction of roads, airfields and helicopter landing sites
• Construction of rafts and bridges
• Radio communications for combat arms operations
• Mathematics, military writing, basic military organization, and military history
• Personal camouflage and camouflage of section positions
• Operation of troop weapons and section defensive tasks and procedures
• Basic procedures of rigging and firing of explosive charges, mine laying and booby-trapping
• Use and care of section tools and safety equipment

Working Environment

Both in training and on operations, Combat Engineers normally work outdoors, where they may be exposed to extreme environmental conditions for extended periods, by day and by night, without rest or shelter. Working conditions often include risk of bodily injury and exposure to noise, vibration, dust and fumes. Considerable physical and mental exertion is required of them, especially when working in difficult conditions with explosive ordnance, or with limited time to complete an assignment.

Opportunities For Advancement

Career advancement requires development of both skills and knowledge and the fields of leadership and combat engineering. Opportunities for career progression, promotion and advanced training are good for qualified Combat Engineers.  

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