TangoTwoBravo
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 3,118
- Points
- 1,110
I've fielded some personal messages recently on what is involved in being an Armoured officer, and when I searched my previous open forum posts on this topic I noted that some of it is out of date and some of it is buried inside threads. Since it seems to be that time of year when people are considering career options I'll beg the moderator's indulgence in posting some information on what it is like to be an Armoured officer.
The good book states that Armoured officers need the following: sense of awareness, leadership, speed of reaction and anticipation, knowledge and common sense. Some of the NCOs reading this might be giggling now. The guys that do not get through training tend to fail because they cannot navigate (sense of awareness) or cannot navigate quickly enough (speed of reaction). Others might not be able get a decent plan together quickly enough (speed of reaction) or be able to get it out to the crew and subordinate crews in a timely fashion that is understandable. If things get sticky out in the rhubarb remember that the good book says:
The first rule of tactics is "Do Something."
Assuming you pass all your Canadian Forces, Army and Armoured officer training (could take two years for a Direct Entry Officer) you will be badged and posted to one of three regiments. You will be posted to Edmonton (LdSH(RC)), Valcartier (12 RBC), Petawawa (RCD) or Gagetown (C Sqn RCD). You can expect your first tour at the regiment to last between two and three years. You might not get a Troop right away depending on how many junior officers are at the regiment. Every branch in the Army is full of junior officers right now, but for those looking to join that situation might be different by the time you arrive. Even with a full house new officers are getting at one year as a Troop Leader.
The role of Troop Leader is the most important one that a new officer will have the priviledge of executing. You are responsible to the squadron commander for "command, control, organization, fighting effectiveness, training, discipline and welfare" of your Troop. A tank troop has four tanks and sixteen men while a recce troop has eight Coyotes and thirty-two men. You are assisted by a Warrant Officer (Tp WO) with 16 to 20 years of experience and a number of Sergeants and Master Corporals. Your first task is to gain the trust of your Tp WO and develop a strong working relationship. Your OC, 2IC and BC will torture you daily, but your Tp WO can make your life much easier.
As a Troop Leader during a year you can expect to spend between two to three months in the field, a month or so on leave and the rest of the time in garrison. If you are deploying then the field time will go up. In garrison your daily schedule runs from 0730 till about 1600, but you don't have a fixed clock. Sometimes I come in at 0530 and leave late at night, but other times I seem to barely work at all! Garrison time includes going to the ranges, running courses such as 25mm Turret Operator, conducing low-level tactical training, PT and sports. You will spend time at your desk, but when the troops go to the field you go to the field and live with them in a crew tent with your crew. Looking at the past two years as a squadron commander, my Troop Leaders have generally run 25mm ranges, participated in live fire exercises with the infantry, conducted a field exercise in the fall and spring, conducted an exercise in Kentucky, ran 25mm TOC and other courses, participated in a number of higher level Computer Assisted Exercises and a host of other things. It is great fun being a subbie - don't get too stressed about the future and just focus on learning as much as you can.
After two or three years you will get posted to Extra Regimental Employment (ERE). You will be a Captain by this point, noting that each entry plan is a little different. Roughly half the guys will go the Armour School to instruct and the other half will go the Reserve units as Regular Support Staff. Both postings are intended to develop your ability to plan training and look after administration. You will spend three years in this posting, which we use to season you as a Captain. This time is a great time to get your Army Tactical Operations Course (ATOC), your French profile squared away and perhaps get your Army Operations Course (AOC) done. Guys who got posted to Petawawa for their first Troop Leading tour can use their ERE tour to find a wife since it will usually be in a city.
The lucky ones will then get posted back to the regiment as a Captain. Depending on numbers your will start as a Squadron Battle Captain. This is probably your most important year, which accounts for why BCs torture subbies so much. Your next year should see you as a Squadron Second in Command (2IC). These jobs can be quite stressful, but your ERE time should have prepared you for it. You won't be alone, and as a BC you have an Ops WO with you who can set you right. If you didn't already get AOC then it should happen in this time. If you are a strong performer you will then get one of the "Big Three" Captain jobs: HQ Sqn 2IC, Adjutant or Operations Officer. You generally need one of those to get considered for the next level.
After that you get posted somewhere and if everything has gone well you might get promoted to Major and be considered for Squadron Command. It will probably take twelve years to get to this level, and it is far from guaranteed.
Armoured officers have much in common with other combat arms officers, and the differences are subtle to outsiders (except for our dashing looks and rakish berets that women find irresistable). Our leadership style with subordinates tends to be a little more casual than our infantry and artillery brothers due to the crew concept, but most Armoured officers are type A++ personalities so as a group we can be difficult.
Cheers
The good book states that Armoured officers need the following: sense of awareness, leadership, speed of reaction and anticipation, knowledge and common sense. Some of the NCOs reading this might be giggling now. The guys that do not get through training tend to fail because they cannot navigate (sense of awareness) or cannot navigate quickly enough (speed of reaction). Others might not be able get a decent plan together quickly enough (speed of reaction) or be able to get it out to the crew and subordinate crews in a timely fashion that is understandable. If things get sticky out in the rhubarb remember that the good book says:
The first rule of tactics is "Do Something."
Assuming you pass all your Canadian Forces, Army and Armoured officer training (could take two years for a Direct Entry Officer) you will be badged and posted to one of three regiments. You will be posted to Edmonton (LdSH(RC)), Valcartier (12 RBC), Petawawa (RCD) or Gagetown (C Sqn RCD). You can expect your first tour at the regiment to last between two and three years. You might not get a Troop right away depending on how many junior officers are at the regiment. Every branch in the Army is full of junior officers right now, but for those looking to join that situation might be different by the time you arrive. Even with a full house new officers are getting at one year as a Troop Leader.
The role of Troop Leader is the most important one that a new officer will have the priviledge of executing. You are responsible to the squadron commander for "command, control, organization, fighting effectiveness, training, discipline and welfare" of your Troop. A tank troop has four tanks and sixteen men while a recce troop has eight Coyotes and thirty-two men. You are assisted by a Warrant Officer (Tp WO) with 16 to 20 years of experience and a number of Sergeants and Master Corporals. Your first task is to gain the trust of your Tp WO and develop a strong working relationship. Your OC, 2IC and BC will torture you daily, but your Tp WO can make your life much easier.
As a Troop Leader during a year you can expect to spend between two to three months in the field, a month or so on leave and the rest of the time in garrison. If you are deploying then the field time will go up. In garrison your daily schedule runs from 0730 till about 1600, but you don't have a fixed clock. Sometimes I come in at 0530 and leave late at night, but other times I seem to barely work at all! Garrison time includes going to the ranges, running courses such as 25mm Turret Operator, conducing low-level tactical training, PT and sports. You will spend time at your desk, but when the troops go to the field you go to the field and live with them in a crew tent with your crew. Looking at the past two years as a squadron commander, my Troop Leaders have generally run 25mm ranges, participated in live fire exercises with the infantry, conducted a field exercise in the fall and spring, conducted an exercise in Kentucky, ran 25mm TOC and other courses, participated in a number of higher level Computer Assisted Exercises and a host of other things. It is great fun being a subbie - don't get too stressed about the future and just focus on learning as much as you can.
After two or three years you will get posted to Extra Regimental Employment (ERE). You will be a Captain by this point, noting that each entry plan is a little different. Roughly half the guys will go the Armour School to instruct and the other half will go the Reserve units as Regular Support Staff. Both postings are intended to develop your ability to plan training and look after administration. You will spend three years in this posting, which we use to season you as a Captain. This time is a great time to get your Army Tactical Operations Course (ATOC), your French profile squared away and perhaps get your Army Operations Course (AOC) done. Guys who got posted to Petawawa for their first Troop Leading tour can use their ERE tour to find a wife since it will usually be in a city.
The lucky ones will then get posted back to the regiment as a Captain. Depending on numbers your will start as a Squadron Battle Captain. This is probably your most important year, which accounts for why BCs torture subbies so much. Your next year should see you as a Squadron Second in Command (2IC). These jobs can be quite stressful, but your ERE time should have prepared you for it. You won't be alone, and as a BC you have an Ops WO with you who can set you right. If you didn't already get AOC then it should happen in this time. If you are a strong performer you will then get one of the "Big Three" Captain jobs: HQ Sqn 2IC, Adjutant or Operations Officer. You generally need one of those to get considered for the next level.
After that you get posted somewhere and if everything has gone well you might get promoted to Major and be considered for Squadron Command. It will probably take twelve years to get to this level, and it is far from guaranteed.
Armoured officers have much in common with other combat arms officers, and the differences are subtle to outsiders (except for our dashing looks and rakish berets that women find irresistable). Our leadership style with subordinates tends to be a little more casual than our infantry and artillery brothers due to the crew concept, but most Armoured officers are type A++ personalities so as a group we can be difficult.
Cheers
