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Are you an engineer looking to become a leader in your field? As an Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), you’ll sharpen your skills to their finest point through unique conditions and changing environments.

Overview
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers maintain and support all Army equipment and land-based equipment of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force. They are commissioned members of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch of the CAF.

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers lead the soldier technicians who keep equipment in top condition and work in every equipment life-cycle phase, from design, evaluation and acquisition, to in-service support, to eventual disposal. They use their specialized engineering knowledge to lead a team of highly skilled technicians in the Vehicle, Weapon, Electronic-Optronic and Materials occupations.

To be eligible to apply to the CAF, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada;
• Be at least 18 years old (17 years old with parental consent), except:
  • For the paid education programs you may be 16 years old (with parental consent);
  • For the Primary Reserve you may be 16 years old (with parental consent) and must be enrolled as a full-time student;
• Have completed at least Grade 12 or Secondaire V in Quebec (some jobs need higher levels of education).

Paid Education Options

Regular Officer Training Plan

Since Regular Force CAF officers are required to obtain a university degree, the CAF will pay successful recruits to complete a bachelor’s program in the Royal Military College system. Recruits will receive full-time salaries, including medical and dental benefits, and paid vacation time, in exchange for working in the CAF for a period of time. Typically, candidates enter the Canadian Military College system as officer cadets and they study subjects relevant to both their military and academic careers. In rare instances, based on the needs of the CAF, candidates may be approved to attend another Canadian university, determined on a case-by-case basis. If you want to apply for this program, you must apply to the CAF. It is highly recommended to apply to other Canadian universities of your choice should you not be accepted for the Regular Officer Training Plan.

Work Environment

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers are employed at bases and garrisons across Canada and deployed on operations around the world. In the field or on deployment, they may work outdoors.

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers are generally posted to a large workshop to start, where they lead a group of up to 30 technicians who maintain a wide range of equipment. Under the guidance and supervision of more senior officers, they make the technical, administrative and training decisions for their team.

Basic Military Officer Qualification
After enrolment, you attend Basic Training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for 12 weeks. Topics covered include:

• General Military Knowledge
• The Principles of Leadership
• Regulations and Customs of the Forces
• Basic Weapons Handling
• First Aid

Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is a vital part of Basic Training to ensure all recruits maintain the CAF physical fitness standard; as a result, the training is physically demanding but achievable.

Following Basic Training, second official language training may be offered to you. Training could take from two to nine months to complete depending on your ability in your second language.

After Basic Training, Engineer Officers attend the Infantry School at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown, New Brunswick. They build upon their previous training and develop the skills required of all Army officers, including more advanced weapons handling, field craft and section-level tactics. They also continue the rigorous fitness training and sports program.

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers then apply their engineering and field skills to military technology and maintenance operations. Through classroom instruction and practical work, they will learn topics like:

• Maintenance Engineering Requirements of Combat and Special-Purpose Vehicles
• Land Weapons, Electronic and Optronic Sensors
• Instrumentation and Communications Systems
• Safe Handling and Storage of Petroleum Products and Ammunition

Throughout the final stages of training, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers learn the tactical deployment of a Maintenance Company comprising about 200 soldier maintainers and 100 vehicles. They control and plan the workload of a maintenance organization and handle the unit-level personnel administration.

Specialty Training

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training for topics like:

• Ammunition Technical Officer
• Nuclear Engineering
• Guided Weapons Systems

As they progress in their career, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Officers who demonstrate the required ability and potential may be offered advanced training. Available courses include Advanced Ammunition Engineering.

Direct Entry Officer Plan

Ideal candidates will already have a diploma. If you have a university or college diploma, the CAF will decide if your academic program matches the criteria for this job and may place you directly into any on-the-job training program that is required, following Basic Training. Basic Training is required before being assigned.

Please note that, if successful in the application process, you will be entering service in either the Regular Force (full-time employment) or Primary Reserve Force (part-time employment) of the Canadian Armed Forces as a military member.

• Regular Force: Upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career.

• Primary Reserve Force: You will be joining the Primary Reserve Force through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends with possibilities of full-time employment.

To learn more about the various ways to join the Canadian Armed Forces, visit:

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