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Switching to Infantry or staying as a Combat Engineer

From what I have seen overseas

Engineers do not conduct offensive operations on their own,  or recce enemy positions.

The ones that work with the Infantry are attached to a Infantry Platoon / Combat Team(organization formed around a Infantry Rifle Company).  They will go out on patrol with the Infantry and deal with IEDs,  breaching, etc as required.  When not doing something Engineer specific they are essentially rifleman. 


On some of the convoys I was in we had engineers along with us.  We would stop at certain points and the Engineers would dismount and search for IEDs,  when they give the clear they would mount back up and we would carry on.  I believe they were always part of the Battle Group QRF as well.


Some Engineers also did construction tasks,  etc
 
-Skeletor- said:
From what I have seen overseas

Engineers do not conduct offensive operations on their own,  or recce enemy positions.

The ones that work with the Infantry are attached to a Infantry Platoon / Combat Team(organization formed around a Infantry Rifle Company).  They will go out on patrol with the Infantry and deal with IEDs,  breaching, etc as required.  When not doing something Engineer specific they are essentially rifleman. 


On some of the convoys I was in we had engineers along with us.  We would stop at certain points and the Engineers would dismount and search for IEDs,  when they give the clear they would mount back up and we would carry on.  I believe they were always part of the Battle Group QRF as well.


Some Engineers also did construction tasks,  etc
Quick Reaction Force. what are some of the taskings of an Engineer in a QRF? And what your trying to say is if I want to do those kinds of operations including Pathfinder I should consider Infantry if I can get the CT?
 
Soldierup said:
Quick Reaction Force. what are some of the taskings of an Engineer in a QRF? And what your trying to say is if I want to do those kinds of operations including Pathfinder I should consider Infantry if I can get the CT?

I'd have to check when I am at work,  too find out if Combat Engineers can attend the Patrol Pathfinder course.  No idea how many Engineers get the chance to attend that course though(if they can attend it).  No guarantee you will get that course,  even as a Infantryman. As a Reservist.. unless you are a Infantryman with the QoR(not even sure about that) don't count on ever seeing a Pathfinder course.  AFAIK it is mainly loaded with Regular Force Soldiers.


There is some Engineers on the board who I'm sure have either been part of the QRF or know people who have been and can give you a better idea of what they typically did.  But,  essentially they were part of the QRF to do Engineer things as required.
 
As a reservist you have as much chance at a pathfinder course as an engineer as you would an infanteer.
 
Reality Dose:  Don't expect, or base your decision on OTing in the PRes from CmbT Engineer to Infantry, based on all of this high speed/low drag stuff you've heard about, read about, etc.

You'd likely be doing exceptional if you get to the Recce Patrolman crse in the PRes, let alone Basic Para, Pathfinder, etc.  I am not confident you understand the level of training and ability courses like Pathfinder require.  Physically and otherwise. 
 
Eye In The Sky said:
Reality Dose:  Don't expect, or base your decision on OTing in the PRes from CmbT Engineer to Infantry, based on all of this high speed/low drag stuff you've heard about, read about, etc.

You'd likely be doing exceptional if you get to the Recce Patrolman crse in the PRes, let alone Basic Para, Pathfinder, etc.  I am not confident you understand the level of training and ability courses like Pathfinder require.  Physically and otherwise.
I recognize and understand these courses are a true privilege and a challenge. But what do you mean by "high speed low drag stuff"?
 
He means all the snake eating super soldier COD stuff you want to do.
 
Kat Stevens said:
He means all the snake eating super soldier COD stuff you want to do.
Sweet. I love eating raw Snakes and COD i'll look into that CT to Infantry! :D
But would the Engineers happen to do any of this Snake eating Infantry stuff on a field exercise?
 
Yes

Combat diver
You received beach heads, silently take down sentries and even plant explosives

MIND BLOWN

 
ObedientiaZelum said:
Yes

Combat diver
You received beach heads, silently take down sentries and even plant explosives

MIND BLOWN
:O Wowzers.
Perhaps I should be looking into Infantry AFTER spending time as a Combat Engineer,but don't Infantry operate amphibious boat craft as well?
 
And on a side note if I were to get a CT, would it be best done before my QL3 course?
 
OK, first things first.

CT = Component Transfer.  That means moving from one component of the CF to another, eg the Reserve to the Regular, Reg to Reserve, Reg or Pres to Supp Reserve.

OT = Occupational Transfer, also referred to as 'remustering'.  That means changing trades in whichever component you are in.  (what you are talking about).

I think you should talk to your BMQ staff or Section Commander if you really want to do this OT to Infantry that bad.  I also think you are basing it on doing alot of things that you may end up never doing/false sense of what your initial 3-4 years in the PRes Infantry will have you doing.

Remember, you can APPLY for an OT, but you may not get it.  Just to get you started, the regulations for remustering (OT) as a NCM in the PRes are found in CFAO 49-11.  (CFAO = Canadian Forces Administrative Order, not avail on the Internet).
 
Eye In The Sky said:
Combat Divers (a job only Combat Engineers get to do), etc....
Sweet.  Be the voice of reason, highlighting a false sense of initial Infantry options....then post links to Combat Divers and Pathfinders -- two courses likely awash with QL3 Thumperheads.    ;D



Initial Poster:  so there's no confusion, that last bit was sarcasm.  I guarantee...100%....that you will NEVER get a Dive or Pathfinder course as a brand new Reservist.  Never.  So don't use it as a planning consideration.
 
Journeyman said:
Sweet.  Be the voice of reason, highlighting a false sense of initial Infantry options....then post links to Combat Divers and Pathfinders -- two courses likely awash with QL3 Thumperheads.    ;D



Initial Poster:  so there's no confusion, that last bit was sarcasm.  I guarantee...100%....that you will NEVER get a Dive or Pathfinder course as a brand new Reservist.  Never.  So don't use it as a planning consideration.
I hadent intended on it I already started that I DO understand these specialty courses can be hard to get on.
What I'm asking is if I EVER get said training as a Pathfinder in the Engineers will I ever be called upon to use it?
 
Soldierup said:
What I'm asking is if I EVER get said training as a Pathfinder in the Engineers will I ever be called upon to use it?

How long is a piece of string?

I'll put it to you this way: IF you get said training you have a better chance of being called on to use it than if you do not get said training.
I don't think it gets any simpler.
 
Soldierup,

what you need to do is talk to some of the soldiers in your Engineer Regiment right now, and ask them what they actually do on exercises. Find out where the training emphasis is during the training year to understand what training you will likely be doing, rather than basing your decision on what individual engineers might find themselves doing on operations.

At the same time, talk to soldiers in your local infantry unit. Ask them the same questions.

Do not base your decision on the colourful recruiting descriptions of the trades, or on how sexy the specialist courses and potential tasks in each trade sound. In each trade, as in every other trade, for each soldier that gets those courses and opportunities, there's another ten (or hundred) spending their time driving, digging, freezing in a hole in the ground, (or whatever the normal daily tasks are for that trade) and wishing they had a better idea of the chances of those opportunities before they signed on.

It's easy to be carried away by the ideal image of a trade, both in foresight and in hindsight, the reality at the time can be very different.
 
Soldierup said:
What I'm asking is if I EVER get said training as a Pathfinder in the Engineers will I ever be called upon to use it?
A perfectly valid question, given the tenuous nature of that "if." 

I too spend an inordinate amount of time wondering, IF I got a unicorn would I be allowed to ride it on exercises.  :nod:
 
Soldierup said:
What I'm asking is if I EVER get said training as a Pathfinder in the Engineers will I ever be called upon to use it?

You're starting to get silly. Why would the military spend thousands of dollars to put you on a course that you would never be in a position to use?

If you want courses like this transfer to the regular force.
If you want to transfer to the regular force go onto the CFRC website and start your paperwork for it today.
If you can't decide on Infantry or Engineer then flip a coin.
 
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