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Training
can be broken down into three general categories:
- Garrison Training
(Wednesday nights)
- Individual Qualification Courses
(Basic Training, SQ, etc)
- Unit Exercises
(1 or 2 weekend exercises per month)
Garrison
>> Garrison
training is the regular parade night. For the Argylls,
our regular night is eavery Wed evening, from 1900-2200
Hrs, between the months of September to May. At garrison,
we spend much of our time improving our skills through
either practical in-house training, training a a local
site or range, or in the classroom learning theory or
reviewing previous performance.
Individual
Qualification Training >>
Course work is an individual assignment in that you
are assigned (and committed) to take a course. The length
or duration varies with each course, and you receive
a qualification when the course is successfully completed.
Unit
Exercises >>
Exercises are performed on a variety of levels, from
platoon/company to unit, brigade, and region (also known
as land-force area). Typically, the Argylls will have
one or two unit exercise per month (from Sept through
May).
The unit also participates
in one or two brigade exercises in the fall and winter,
and also participates in a large, 9-day combined land-force
area exercise over March-break and at the end of the
summer (end of August).
Recent
and Upcoming Exercises >>
EX
Stalwart Guardian, 20-29 Aug 2005, Petawawa, ON
Upcoming
Individual Courses >>
- Basic Military
Qualification (Basic Training), Start date >>
June 2005
- Driver Wheel Course,
Start date >> May 2005, and Sept 2005
- Basic Comms Course,
Start date >> Sept 2005
- Recce Patrol Course,
Start date >> Sept 2005
- Basic Officer
Military Qualification, Start date >> July 2005,
and Nov 2005
- Basic Military
Qualification, Start date >> January 2006
- CO-OP Basic Military
Qualification Course/Soldier Qualification, Start
date Feb 2006
Reserve
Time Commitment >>
On
average, the unit conducts exercises one weekend per
month, and on every Wednesday evening from 1900-2200
Hrs from Sept through June.
There
are months where the unit is especially busy, and we
will be in the field for two or more weekends.
You
have the option of either doing your training courses
on weekends or during the summer. See the Argyll Recruiter
for details.
While
we do not expect you to attend every exercise or parade
night. However, all troops and officers are expected
to maintain a 65-75% attendance rate.
The
Army Reserves is a highly professional organization,
and the Argylls are one of the best units in Canada.
If you are unable to commit to 65-75% attendance, you
are letting yourself and the unit down, and you should
re-evaluate your commitment to the unit and the Canadian
Forces.
Determination
and Grit >>
Do
you have what it takes? Courses are demanding, and they
will physically and mentally challenge your limits.
Expect to get little sleep, and have multiple tasks
given to you to complete in an impossible amount of
time. Remember, this ain't the boy scouts, this is the
Army!
A
Typcial Day On Course >>
- 5.00 AM >>
Wake-up
- 5.30 AM >>
Physical training
- 6.00 AM >>
Shower and get dressed
- 6.30 AM >>
Inspection
- 7.00 AM >>
Breakfast
- 8.00 AM to 12
NOON >> Classes and drill
- 12.00 PM >>
Lunch
- 1.00 PM to 5 PM
>> Classes and drill
- 5.00 PM >>
Dinner
- 6.00 to 7.00 PM
>> Drill
- 7.00 PM >>
Homework and personal administration
- 11.00 PM >>
Lights-out
Argyll
Operational Specialization >> Urban, Mountain,
and Domestic Ops
As
an Argyll, you will receive highly specialized training
in urban, domestic, and mountain operations by training
with the unit in garrison and on unit exercises. Urban
operations is both mentally and physically challenging,
and emphasises team-work in a close-quarter battles
framework. Mountain ops is all about fighting at extremely
high altitudes or rugged terrain. It doesn't get any
better, or harder, than this! Domestic operations will
likely involve cross-training with local police officers
and other emergency responders.
Click
>> here
<< for more information on urban and mountain
operations.
Military
training is similar to school, you advance as you gain
more experience and complete courses. Your pay is also
tied to qualifications and time-in. Basically, the more
courses you complete, the higher you progress in rank,
and the more money you earn.
Where
Do I Begin?
For
Non-commissioned members, your first course will be
Basic Military Qualification (BMQ), or basic training.
After basic, you will then do Soldier Qualification.
At the BMQ and SQ levels you will be learning the basics
of being a soldier and working as a part of a section.
After
completing SQ, you will move onto Basic Infantry Qualification
(BIQ). Here, you will learn how to function as a part
of a combat platoon, and will also learn all the heavy
weapons as well as more advanced patrol skills.
From
here, you can progress onto a range of special courses,
such as Sniper, Heavy Weapons, Recce, Jump/Airborne,
Driver, Combat Signaller, Logistics, etc.
Breakdown
of Course Progression >>
- Basic Military
Qualification
- Soldier Qualification
- Basic Infantry
Qualification (Trade Training)
- Other special
courses as necessary
Officers
>> Where Do I Begin?
All DEO officers
start at Basic Officer Military Qualification, or BMOQ.
Here, you will learn all the basics of being in the
miliitary as well as leadership principles.
After BMOQ, you will
then advance to Common Army Phase (Reserve) and then
Phase III, which is the Infantry Trade training portion
of the program that focuses on platoon level tactics.
Non-infantry officers
will do trade training appropriate to their chosen trade
within the Argylls.
Weekend
Training Or Summer Training: What Are My Option? >>
All applicants have
two choices for training, either the weekend training
program (fall/winter) or the summer (block) training.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both programs.
Weekend
Training >>
Weekend training
starts on Fri evening at 7 PM and runs until Sun afternoon
at approximately 5 PM. You will eat, sleep, and train
at the armoury or a training base for the entire period.
Weekend courses only operate in the fall/winter and
are offered (typically) every second weekend over a
period of four or five months.
Summer
(Block) Training >>
Summer training takes
place between May and August. However, some courses
do not start until June (see the Argyll recruiter for
more info on start dates). You will do all of your training
on an army base, and will be away from home for the
duration of the course (which may be 4 to 8 weeks in
duration). While you may have weekend leave, it is not
guaranteed. NCMs usually do their training at Meaford
or Petawawa, and officers normally do their training
in Petawawa, and then are shipped out to Gagetown<
New Brunswick, to the Infantry Battle School.
Basic
Training >> Course Overview
Basic
Training, which is often called Boot Camp, is four to
five weeks of intense military training that is designed
to teach you the basic skills of being a soldier and
working as a part of a team. If you have the courage
and commitment to succeed, Basic Training will turn
you into a mature, disciplined, and fully capable soldier.
Basic
Training includes the following subjects:
- Military Knowledge
- Military Customs
and Law
- Administration
- Communications
- Military Dril
- Weapons Training
- Marksmanship
- Map and Navigation
- Combat Tactics
- Field Survival
- Physical Fitness
- Combat First-Aid
- Nuclear, Biological
and Chemical Defence
The key to surviving
Basic Training is to keep everything in perspective
and to have a positive attitude. You are learning a
new way of life; so listen, take notes, and work hard.
Argyll
Infantry Training >>
As Infanteers, we
are trained to do the following:
- Use assault rifles,
machine-guns, and pistols
- Use explosives
and pyrtechniques
- Use mortars, anti-tanks
weapons and missles
- Use grenades and
mines
- Use communication
and navigation equipment
- Use riot control
equipment and bio-chem survival gear
- Participate in
special operations (airmobile, amphibious and night
ops)
- Conduct recce
(recon) and surveillance ops
- Conduct intelligence
gathering ops
- Engage in unarmed
combat
- Perform security
duties
- Use escape and
evasion tactics
- How to rappel,
mountain climb, and perform other special ops tasks
Oh
My God! That's A Lot Of Work!
No
doubt about it, the army is not easy. And, when you
look at all the training a new recruit must complete
before actually becoming a soldier, the entire process
looks dauting and unachievable.
My
advice is not to worry about the big picture.
Do
your training in baby steps, rather than worrying about
the entire training program. What's important is that
you get into the army and start your first course. Once
you've completed Basic, you can work your way up the
courses at a pace that fits your schedule.
If
you've ever dreamed of being in the army, now is the
time to do it. Don't wait, seize the moment. This is
the unit you want to join, all others are merely second
best!
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