Gunner

Join to apply for the Gunner role at Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes

As a member of the military, Gunners are responsible for surveillance and target acquisition, and indirect fire to engage the enemy.

As a Gunner you are responsible for the operation, maintenance and use of artillery systems, to include howitzers, mortars, radars, acoustic systems, uncrewed aerial systems, and armoured fighting vehicles. Gunners work closely with the other members of the combat arms as in the Armoured, Infantry and Combat Engineers, along with all other support arms on and off the battlefield.

The primary responsibilities of Gunners are to:

• Operate and maintain 105mm and 155mm howitzers
• Operate and maintain future Ground Based Air Defense Systems
• Operate and maintain surveillance and target acquisition systems, to include radars, acoustic systems, and uncrewed aerial systems.
• Operate and maintain a variety of vehicles including but not limited to ¼ ton – 7 ton trucks, Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV), and Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV 6.0)
• Operate technically advanced command-post computers, laser range-finders and fire control computers.

A Gunner can be called upon to serve in any kind of terrain be it Arctic tundra, tropical jungle, desert, mountains, or urban towns and cities. They are deployed overseas on operational missions and in Canada in support of civil authorities in cases of national emergency. Initially, they are posted to one of five Artillery regiments:

• 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Shilo, Manitoba
• 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Petawawa, Ontario
• The Royal Canadian Artillery School, Combat Training Centre, Gagetown, New Brunswick
• 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support) Royal Canadian Artillery, Gagetown, New Brunswick
• 5th Canadian Light Artillery Regiment, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Valcartier, Quebec

The minimum required education to apply for this occupation is the completion of the provincial requirements for Grade 10 or Secondary 4 in Quebec. Foreign education may be accepted.

The first stage of training is the Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) course which is 9-weeks, held at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. This training provides the basic core skills and knowledge common to all trades.

Upon completion of BMQ, Gunners attend The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School in Gagetown, New Brunswick for another 9-week course (DP1) covering Individual soldiers’ skills, more advance weapons handling, radio communications, vehicle driving, and common artillery knowledge.

This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time with a military unit in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job.

Related Careers include Infanteer, Armour Soldier, Accelerated Pay Increment, and Combat Engineer.