Basic Military Qualification
Encyclopedia
Basic Military Qualification is the recruit training
that is undergone to produce non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces
(CF). It is designed to introduce ordinary citizens of Canada
to the CF way of life by indoctrination of CF values, weapons training, first aid, fieldcraft, etc.
BMQ is common to all non-commissioned recruits of the Army, Air Force and Navy - regardless of trade. For regular force members, it is 13 weeks in length and is usually conducted at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
in Saint-Jean
. For reservists, it is condensed to a month, and can be conducted on any base or military installation that has the necessary resources.
It is a difficult course, designed to put recruits through great physical and mental strain. Its goal is to instill teamwork and cohesion, good working habits, physical and mental tenacity, confidence, military skills, and most obviously, discipline in recruits. Apart from physical demands, the adjustment to the military discipline and lifestyle is often the most difficult aspect of recruit training.
Courses are normally a platoon's size (60 candidates), under command of a Warrant Officer
(usually that rank), and carried out by section commanders (ICs, usually a Sergeant
or a Master Corporal
). BMQ is often staffed by combat arms soldiers, but can be taught by NCOs of any trade and element.
5:00 am – Reveille
5:15 am – 8:10 am Physical fitness training, breakfast and morning inspections
8:20 am – noon Instruction
Noon – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Instruction
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Dinner
6:00 pm – 11:00pm Homework, prepare for morning inspection, personal time, extra instruction. Staff will discuss any matter that they believe needs attention.
11:00 pm – Lights out
Physical fitness is stressed throughout the course. Every other morning begins with runs up to 5 kilometres in length, as well as various other PT activities. Although the minimum fitness standard is 2.4K under 12 minutes (with varying lengths for different ages and genders), recruits can expect to be pushed far beyond that threshold. Instructors often lead recruits to perform 25+ pushups at a time. There is often an obstacle course
which will be completed 2-3 times throughout the course to show improvement, and a swim test. Course staff can (and often do) use physical exercise to correct recruits' deficient behaviour, by ordering them to do pushups, run up and down sandhills, and other means such as marking time (stationary marching in a rigid fashion) or the dreaded "thinking position".
A large emphasis is placed on safety, especially the correct handling of weapons. Recruits are taught how to conduct a safe workplace, which includes Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, fire safety, first aid, and principles that guide the use of workplace equipment. When on the range firing a live weapon, recruits will wear their helmet and earplugs, as well as eye protection if readily available and instructed to do so. Wherever a recruit goes (aside from eating and PT), the rifle goes as well, from the instant it is issued to the instant it is returned. Recruits will always check the state of the rifle to ensure that is safe to use.
The course concludes with fieldcraft, which encompasses survival, map reading, target indication, camouflage techniques, and other field skills. After the course is complete, recruits carry on to environmental training or occupation-specific training. Many recruits remember their BMQ as a challenging, yet rewarding, experience, and often make lifelong bonds with other coursemates in the process.
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
that is undergone to produce non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
(CF). It is designed to introduce ordinary citizens of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to the CF way of life by indoctrination of CF values, weapons training, first aid, fieldcraft, etc.
BMQ is common to all non-commissioned recruits of the Army, Air Force and Navy - regardless of trade. For regular force members, it is 13 weeks in length and is usually conducted at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
The Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School is located at the Général-Jean-Victor-Allard Building in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.CFLRS is a leadership training school for both primary reservist and regular forces....
in Saint-Jean
Saint-Jean
Saint-Jean is the name or part of the name of several places and of people:- In Canada :*Lac Saint-Jean*Lac-Saint-Jean-Est County Regional Municipality, Quebec*L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Quebec...
. For reservists, it is condensed to a month, and can be conducted on any base or military installation that has the necessary resources.
It is a difficult course, designed to put recruits through great physical and mental strain. Its goal is to instill teamwork and cohesion, good working habits, physical and mental tenacity, confidence, military skills, and most obviously, discipline in recruits. Apart from physical demands, the adjustment to the military discipline and lifestyle is often the most difficult aspect of recruit training.
Courses are normally a platoon's size (60 candidates), under command of a Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
(usually that rank), and carried out by section commanders (ICs, usually a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
or a Master Corporal
Master Corporal
Master Corporal , in the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Army Cadets is an appointment of the rank of Corporal in the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Airforce...
). BMQ is often staffed by combat arms soldiers, but can be taught by NCOs of any trade and element.
Daily schedule
The typical day in BMQ is as follows:5:00 am – Reveille
5:15 am – 8:10 am Physical fitness training, breakfast and morning inspections
8:20 am – noon Instruction
Noon – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Instruction
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Dinner
6:00 pm – 11:00pm Homework, prepare for morning inspection, personal time, extra instruction. Staff will discuss any matter that they believe needs attention.
11:00 pm – Lights out
Course content
Recruits begin with a crash-course in military bearing. From the first day onward, recruits are expected to display a high standard of hygiene, dress, deportment, conduct, effort etc. This encompasses everything including the proper means of wearing a uniform, marching/drill, exerting maximum effort in PT sessions, and the correct addressing of superiors. The recruit is immersed in the stereotypical "boot camp" atmosphere, complete with pushups, sleep deprivation, shouting instructors, and other means to simulate the stress and fatigue that can be expected in a military environment. Apart from developing a recruit's ability to function under stress, the training aims to instill discipline in Canada's future troops. It is not uncommon for recruits to be confined to barracks for misbehaviour or even unsatisfactory performance.Physical fitness is stressed throughout the course. Every other morning begins with runs up to 5 kilometres in length, as well as various other PT activities. Although the minimum fitness standard is 2.4K under 12 minutes (with varying lengths for different ages and genders), recruits can expect to be pushed far beyond that threshold. Instructors often lead recruits to perform 25+ pushups at a time. There is often an obstacle course
Obstacle course
An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course...
which will be completed 2-3 times throughout the course to show improvement, and a swim test. Course staff can (and often do) use physical exercise to correct recruits' deficient behaviour, by ordering them to do pushups, run up and down sandhills, and other means such as marking time (stationary marching in a rigid fashion) or the dreaded "thinking position".
A large emphasis is placed on safety, especially the correct handling of weapons. Recruits are taught how to conduct a safe workplace, which includes Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, fire safety, first aid, and principles that guide the use of workplace equipment. When on the range firing a live weapon, recruits will wear their helmet and earplugs, as well as eye protection if readily available and instructed to do so. Wherever a recruit goes (aside from eating and PT), the rifle goes as well, from the instant it is issued to the instant it is returned. Recruits will always check the state of the rifle to ensure that is safe to use.
The course concludes with fieldcraft, which encompasses survival, map reading, target indication, camouflage techniques, and other field skills. After the course is complete, recruits carry on to environmental training or occupation-specific training. Many recruits remember their BMQ as a challenging, yet rewarding, experience, and often make lifelong bonds with other coursemates in the process.