The Short-Range Anti-Armour Weapon-Medium, also known officially as the SRAAW (M) is more popularly known as the Carl Gustav, 84, or Carl G. It is an 84mm reloadable recoilless rifle, used at the section or platoon level for anti-armour defence.

What is the Army Reserve?

In the Primary Reserve, service is voluntary and for an indefinite period of time. Reservists are enrolled to serve on a part-time basis but they may volunteer for full-time employment in the Canadian Forces. While serving in a reserve unit, most reservists have full-time careers in a wide range of civilian occupations or are full-time students. While reserve service is a part-time vocation, reservists may volunteer for full-time deployments, and in the event of a war, they may be required to serve full time in Canada or overseas.

Training at Moss Park Armoury
Training at Moss Park Armoury

As an infantry unit, our main focus is to provide trained infantry soldiers to meet the operational requirements of the Canadian Forces. Training is done both locally and at various training centres across Canada. The training is challenging and rewarding and prepares the soldiers to react to difficult situations both at home and abroad.

WHAT TRAINING WILL I GET?

Upon enrollment, you will have to complete introductory military training courses. Training emphasizes basic military skills, weapons handling, first aid, and ethical values. Physical fitness is an integral component of military service, so a large part of the course is focused on fitness training. The basic courses are conducted on a full or part-time basis, most likely somewhere in or near Toronto.

Next, you will travel to a Canadian Forces base to complete your infantry specialty training. Following graduation, Highlanders continue to develop their soldierly skills, advancing to handle heavier weapons like machine guns and anti-tank weapons, and learning communications, camouflage, fieldcraft, fighting by day and night, reconnaissance and other patrolling, and construction of field defenses.

Individual training quickly escalates into collective training in sections, platoons, and companies, culminating in the all-arms (infantry, armour, artillery and engineers) battle group in the deliberate attack, advance to contact, quick attack, fighting patrols, defensive operations, and domestic operations.

Ongoing training continually sharpens the Regiment’s infantry skills, keeping it and its members mission ready.

All training places a strong emphasis on live-fire tactical exercises at the section, platoon and company level, providing Highlanders with outstanding, realistic, and exciting training in field operations. And again, being fit – both mentally and physically – is essential.

TRAINING RUNS ON AN ANNUAL CYCLE:

SEPTEMBER – JUNE
  • Fridays: 1930-2230 hrs (7:30 to 10:30 pm) at the Armory
  • One weekend per month at large training areas such CFTA Meaford, CFB Borden, and CFB Petawawa, or at the Armoury. (See below.)
JULY and AUGUST

Annual training culminates in a one- to two-week-long large-scale field training exercise with other units, such as armour and artillery units. Recent 4th Canadian Division exercises saw 48th soldiers training hard in offensive operations in the Arctic and at CFB Petawawa, and conducting domestic-operations training.

July and August is subject to change, however most members are typically supporting summer training through instructor or staff opportunities or participating on their career courses. 

PROMOTION AND SPECIALIST TRAINING

Developing leaders and broadening the skills and experience of its soldiers is a high priority for the Regiment. Soldiers who excel attend specialty-skills courses for roles such as reconnaissance patrolman, machine gunner, anti-tank gunner, signals operator, and driver.

The Regiment selects Highlanders with strong leadership potential to attend promotion qualification courses. With promotion comes the challenge of taking responsibility for those under command and the opportunity to exercise leadership skills.

PIPES AND DRUMS

The members of the Pipes and Drums are both trained soldiers and musicians. Garrison duties include playing for Regimental parades and unit ceremonial events. Most members also participate in field-training exercises. and the band often plays in various Highland Games.

IMPROVE YOUR CIVILIAN JOB PROSPECTS

Your military training will help you become a sought after employee.

Reservists are employees, co-workers and students from your community who embody the courage, loyalty, and integrity to keep one foot firmly planted in a civilian career and the other training and preparing to protect Canadians at home and abroad. They are the neighbours who knock on your door during fires, floods and ice-storms to make sure you and your family are safe.

Through military service, reservists acquire a range of skills that are valuable to the civilian workplace. Leadership, reliability, strong communications skills, and teamwork are a few of the professional attributes that are reflected in an ethos of ethics and hard work.

YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF

Your part time Army career will change your life. Visit us at Moss Park Armory (see map below) on a Tuesday or Friday evening to get your questions answered and your concerns assured by someone who has “been there”, “done that”, and walked down the same path you will.

Our information session will cover the many benefits of joining the famous 48th and the Canadian Forces as a whole. Benefits such as:

  • Pay,
  • On the Job Training,
  • Medical/Dental benefits, and
  • Paid Education.

The training is fun and you will enjoy the experience that comes from doing something really worthwhile. Regardless of where your life takes you, you will remember the amazing experiences and friendships.

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