Basic Military Officer Qualification

Last updated

Basic Military Officer Qualification [1] refers to both the basic training course, and the graduation qualification, received by individuals seeking entry as officers to the Canadian Forces. The course is conducted at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean, Quebec and is 12 weeks long.

Contents

In the training regime of the Canadian Forces, the Basic Military Officer Qualification falls within Developmental Period 1, which focuses on the skills and knowledge required for entry level employment and further training. Developmental Period 1 also includes environmental and occupational qualifications, and second language training as required. After its completion, officers are deemed occupationally employable at an introductory level, although progression to Developmental Period 2 occurs only when the candidate joins a unit and leaves the Basic Training List. This course is designed to prepare future officers to effectively lead small teams in simple operations in both garrison and austere field conditions. [1]

The course

Basic training provides the knowledge that is common to all military occupations and fields of the Canadian Forces, and "develops a military state of mind and behaviour, the mental and physical endurance and the combat skills necessary for the profession of arms." [1] The training is considered physically, mentally and morally demanding and founded on the fundamental values of the Canadian Forces: duty, loyalty, integrity and courage. The Basic Military Officer Qualification is required for all officer candidates of the Canadian Armed Forces, regardless of military role or occupation.

The course is designed to teach the core skills and necessary knowledge to succeed in a military environment. It puts officer candidates through significant physical and mental strain, with the goal of instilling a sense of teamwork and cohesion, good working habits, physical and mental tenacity, confidence, military skills, and discipline. Apart from the physical demands, the adjustment to military discipline and lifestyle is often the most difficult aspect of recruit training and may be the most demanding experience for many candidates.

Training is usually conducted with 60 candidates in a platoon, under a warrant officer, and reporting to a captain who acts as platoon commander. The platoon commander does not normally have much contact with the candidates except for instruction on leadership and battle procedure. Courses are delivered in four sections, commanded by a sergeant or a master corporal. The course is often staffed by combat arms soldiers, but can be taught by NCOs of any trade or field.

Compared to the Basic Military Qualification course for recruits, the Basic Military Officer Qualification course is more academic with 62% of training and evaluations being classrooms based, 25% conducted in the field and 13% being fitness based. Candidates are put in charge of their peers almost immediately after their leadership assessment in week 2 and are expected to resolve issues on their own without staff intervention. Candidates are also held accountable for their peers and subordinates' failures from day one, as it is as much a training course as a selection course to determine which candidates are fit to lead sailors, soldiers, and airmen in the Canadian Forces.

The structure of Basic Military Officer Qualification varies depending on the length of the course but can generally be broken down into three phases. The first phase lasts from 3 to 5 weeks and indoctrinates the candidate into the Canadian Forces teaching basic drill, handling of the C7 service rifle, a fitness evaluation, basic military first aid and general military knowledge. During the first phase candidates are not be allowed to leave the base and have use of their electronics curtailed.

The second phase teaches candidates about more advanced field craft and has the candidate fire the C7, conduct a 13 km forced march, trench digging, rappelling, leadership, battle procedure, force protection operations, topography and conduct tactical exercises without troops. This phase lasts five weeks and is to prepare the candidate for the final phase which evaluates them on their ability to conduct simple missions with 14 subordinates in the field. The final phase lasts 2 to 3 weeks and is conducted in Farnham, Quebec. Candidates conduct operations in a simulated theatre of war while each taking turn leading a four-hour mission against an opposing force. Candidates conduct their missions 24 hours a day until all candidates have been given a chance to lead, after which they receive a small period of rest. Retests if required and authorized generally commence after the forced rest. Throughout the training program fitness is evaluated and improved through group physical training conducted daily at 5 am and specialized fitness programs delivered by qualified trainers throughout the day.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military recruit training</span> Initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel

Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique demands of military employment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drill instructor</span> Military training officer

A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranger School</span> United States Army training course

The Ranger School is a 62-day United States Army small unit tactics and leadership course that develops functional skills directly related to units whose mission is to engage the enemy in close combat and direct fire battles. Ranger training was established in September 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Ranger course has changed little since its inception. Until recently, it was an eight-week course divided into three phases. The course is now 61 days in duration and divided into three phases as follows: Benning Phase, Mountain Phase, and Swamp Phase.

The School of Infantry (SOI) is the second stage of initial military training for enlisted United States Marines after recruit training. The ITB now called IMC went from a 59 day course to 14 week course. Since the initial training pipeline is divided between coasts, Marines from areas east of the Mississippi River usually graduate from MCRD Parris Island and move on to SOI at SOI East, while those from the western half of the nation attend MCRD San Diego and move on to SOI West at the Camp San Onofre area of Camp Pendleton in California. Female Marines are trained at both SOI East and SOI West. The School of Infantry's training mission ensures "Every Marine is, first and foremost, a Rifleman". At SOI, Marines with the Military Occupational Specialty of infantry are trained at the Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), while all non-infantry Marines are trained in basic infantry and combat skills at the Marine Combat Training Battalion. SOI marks a transition in the professional training of entry-level students from basically trained Marines to combat-ready Marines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Basic School</span> US Marine Corps school for new officers and warrant officers

The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines." The Basic School is located in Stafford County, Virginia to the south-west of the Marine Corps Base Quantico complex. Each year, over 1,700 new officers are trained, representing such commissioning sources as the U.S. Naval Academy, Navy ROTC, Officer Candidates School, and newly appointed Marine Corps Warrant Officers, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy accession programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police academy</span> Training school for police recruits

A police academy, also known as a law enforcement training center, police college, or police university, is a training school for police cadets, designed to prepare them for the law enforcement agency they will be joining upon graduation, or to otherwise certify an individual as a law enforcement officer, typically a police officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)</span> US Marines officer commissioning program based at MCB Quantico

The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) is a training regiment designed to screen and evaluate potential Marine Corps Officers. Those who successfully complete the period of instruction are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Marines. Unlike the other United States military services, the majority of Marine Corps officers complete OCS to earn a commission; the exceptions are midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy, limited duty officers and warrant officers, and inter-service transfers. It is located at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Marines Reserve</span> Volunteer reserve force of the Royal Marines

The Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) is the volunteer reserve force used to augment the regular Royal Marines. The RMR consists of some 600 trained ranks distributed among the four units within the UK. About 10 percent of the force are working with the Regular Corps on long-term attachments in all of the Royal Marines regular units. All the volunteers within the RMR must pass through the same rigorous commando course as the regulars. The former may be civilians with no previous military experience or may be former regular Royal Marines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalry scout</span> U.S. Army soldier who has received training as an Armored Reconnaissance Specialist

Cavalry Scout is the job title of someone who has achieved the military occupational specialty of 19D Armored Reconnaissance Specialist in the Combat Arms branch of the United States Army. As with all enlisted soldiers in the United States Cavalry, the person holding the Scout specialization will still be referred to as a "Trooper", the traditional colloquialism denoted in the cavalry's Order of the Spur.

Selection and training in the British Army is the process by which candidates for service are identified, inducted and brought onto the trained strength. The process is the responsibility of the Home Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Marine Corps Recruit Training</span> Program of initial training for USMC recruits

United States Marine Corps Recruit Training is a 13-week program, including in & out-processing, of recruit training that each recruit must successfully complete in order to serve in the United States Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Basic Training</span> Recruit training program of the United States Army

United States Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) is the recruit training program of the United States Army, for service in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Forces Group (Belgium)</span> Special forces unit in the Belgian Armed Forces

The Special Forces Group is the special forces unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.

Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) refers to both the basic training course, and the graduation qualification, received by non-commissioned recruits or reservists seeking entry to the Canadian Forces. The course is 9 weeks in length and conducted at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec for Regular Force recruits. For reservists the course is condensed to two months during the summer, or over the weekends during fall and winter and conducted at any military installation with the necessary resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Combat Rescue Officer</span> US Air Force officer specializing in combat search and rescue

Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) is a Special Warfare Officer career field in the United States Air Force. Its Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is 19ZXC and it was created to strengthen USAF Special Warfare personnel recovery capabilities by providing commissioned officer leadership that possessed an operational skillset paralleling that of the enlisted pararescuemen (PJ). The CRO specialty includes direct combatant command and control of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations. They plan, manage and execute the six tasks of CSAR: prepare, report, locate, support, recover, and reintegrate isolated personnel and materiel. CROs conduct strategic, operational and tactical level planning, provide battle staff expertise, manage theater personnel recovery operations and conduct combat special operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Navy SEAL selection and training</span> Special forces unit policy and procedures

The average member of the United States Navy's Sea, Air, Land Teams (SEALs) spends over a year in a series of formal training environments before being awarded the Special Warfare Operator Naval Rating and the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) O26A Combatant Swimmer (SEAL) or, in the case of commissioned naval officers, the designation 113X Special Warfare Officer. All Navy SEALs must attend and graduate from their rating's 24-week "A" School known as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) school, a basic parachutist course and then the 26-week SEAL Qualification Training program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Special Forces selection and training</span> Army training program

The Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) or, informally, the Q Course is the initial formal training program for entry into the United States Army Special Forces. Phase I of the Q Course is Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). A candidate who is selected at the conclusion of SFAS will enable a candidate to continue to the next of the four phases. If a candidate successfully completes all phases they will graduate as a Special Forces qualified soldier and then, generally, be assigned to a 12-men Operational Detachment "A" (ODA), commonly known as an "A team." The length of the Q Course changes depending on the applicant's primary job field within Special Forces and their assigned foreign language capability but will usually last between 56 and 95 weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Critical skills operator</span> Military unit

A critical skills operator (CSO) is a United States Marine in the primary special operations career field of the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). CSOs, colloquially known as "Raiders", are awarded the Military Occupational Specialty 0372. CSOs are assigned to Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT), Companies (MSOC) and Battalions (MSOBs). CSOs are trained to execute a variety of missions. Specialized training also provides capabilities in language fluency necessary for crossing cultural barriers, allowing CSOs to connect with local forces and civilians. It takes, at a minimum, four and a half years to create a Marine CSO; a Marine must have served a minimum of three years or achieved the rank of at least lance corporal before being considered a MARSOC candidate.

Royal Marines recruit training is the longest basic modern infantry training programme of any Commonwealth, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) combat troops. The Royal Marines are the only part of the British Armed Forces where officers and other ranks are trained at the same location, the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) at Lympstone, Devon. Much of the basic training is carried out on the rugged terrain of Dartmoor and Woodbury Common with a significant proportion taking place at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps</span> Military unit

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program which is a group of college and university-based officer training programs for training commissioned officers for the United States Army and its reserves components: the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. There are over 30,000 Army ROTC cadets enrolled in 274 ROTC programs at colleges and universities throughout the United States. These schools are categorized as Military Colleges (MC), Military Junior Colleges (MJC) and Civilian Colleges (CC).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Department of National Defence. "Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School > Get Ready for Basic Training". Queen's Printer for Canada . Retrieved 26 July 2014.