Basic Military Qualification
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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 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...
. The course is 10 weeks in length and conducted at
Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School The Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) is located at the Saint-Jean Garrison in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Courses offered The two main courses offered at CFLRS are the Basic Military Qualification Basic Military Qualifi ...
in Saint-Jean, Quebec for Regular Force recruits. For reservists the course is condensed to two months during the summer, or over the weekends (typically 9 to 12 weekends) during fall and winter and conducted at any military installation with the necessary resources. In the training regime of the Canadian Forces, BMQ falls within Developmental Period 1 (DP1), which focuses on the skills and knowledge required for entry level employment and further training. In addition to BMQ, DP1 includes environmental and occupational qualifications, and second language training as required. After completing DP1, Non-Commissioned Members (NCMs) are deemed occupationally employable at an introductory level. Progression to DP2 occurs when the recruit joins a unit and leaves the Basic Training List.


The course

Basic training provides the knowledge that is common to all trades 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." The training is considered physically, mentally and morally demanding and founded on the fundamental values of the Canadian Armed Forces: Duty, Loyalty, Integrity and Courage. BMQ is common to all non-commissioned recruits of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Navy - regardless of trade. The course teaches the core skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a military environment. It puts recruits 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 recruits. There is a high emphasis placed on workplace safety, with instruction in the
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS; french: links=no, Système d'information sur les matières dangereuses utilisées au travail, SIMDUT) is Canada's national workplace hazard communication standard. The key elements of t ...
, fire safety, first aid, and principles that guide the use of workplace equipment and arms. The course also provides training in elements of fieldcraft, such as survival skills, map reading, target location and camouflage. Training is usually conducted with a platoon of 60 candidates under a
warrant Officer Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...
or
petty officer first class Petty officer first class (PO1) is a rank found in some navies and maritime organizations. Canada Petty officer, 1st class, PO1, is a Naval non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Forces. It is senior to the rank of petty officer 2nd-cla ...
for regular force BMQs. In the Primary Reserve, a BMQ platoon is usually under a commissioned officer in the grade of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
/ navy lieutenant or below with a warrant officer / petty officer 1st class as the platoon second in command (2IC). Courses are delivered by four section commanders (ICs), a
sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
/
petty officer second class Petty officer second class is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, just above petty officer third class and below petty officer first class, and is a non-commissioned officer. It is equivalent to the rank of serge ...
(PO2) or a master corporal /
master sailor Master sailor, formerly Master seaman,Government of Canada. D Cdts. National Defence. "''Cadet Instructor Cadre - Basic Officer Qualification Course - Programmed Instructional Package''". 2006. Chapter 2, Annex A, "''Abbreviations for Titles and ...
). Every platoon also always has a Swing NCO (a Sergeant / PO2) and an admin NCO (a master corporal / master sailor) to help the section commanders out with the course. The Swing NCO acts as a back-up course staff in case one of the section commanders is not available although still teaches classes even when they all are. The admin NCO helps the rest of the platoon staff out with administrative duties for the platoon. Physical training (PT) classes are taught by Personnel Support Programs (PSP) civilian staff. They are responsible for the teaching of all physical instruction to recruits as well as grading recruits on their FORCE test. Due to an agreement between the Canadian Armed Forces and PSP, the course staff still need to be present in PT classes to watch over the recruits to ensure they are obeying the PSP staff. After BMQ is complete, training within DP1 continues in each candidate's environment (Navy, Air Force, Army) or occupation. In the Primary Reserve, newly enrolled Officer Cadets/Naval Cadets and Second Lieutenants/Acting Sub-Lieutenants will also undergo BMQ, alongside NCMs, as Module 1 of their
Basic Military Officer Qualification Basic Military Officer Qualification 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 Re ...
(BMOQ) Course.


Daily schedule

The typical day in BMQ is as follows: * 0500 hrs: wake up; * 0530 hrs: morning physical training; * 0630 hrs: breakfast; * 0700 hrs: inspection of quarters and beginning of instruction; * 1130 hrs: lunch; * 1230 hrs: instruction; * 1700 hrs: dinner; * 1800 hrs: common station jobs, personal hygiene, study period; and * 2200 hrs: lights out. Reservists BMQ on weekends usually starts Friday evening for a half-day of instruction, then follows a similar full-day schedule for Saturday and Sunday


References


External links


Canadian Armed Forces Education and Training

Canadian Armed Forces Training Establishments
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728093304/http://forces.gc.ca/en/training-establishments/index.page , date=2014-07-28
Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School

Canadian Forces qualification levels
Military education and training in Canada