PATHFINDERS

[pete]

Can anybody tell me what the Pathfinders are.
Does Canada have them, and how do they compare to JTF-2?

Thanks

[TonyM]

I understand Pathfinder(Airborne) to be advance team for airborne/airmobile ops. Usually freefall insertion, selection of LZ, recce, etc. I also hear that the CF ran the first Pathfinder course in 5 yrs and some officer from 3PPCLI (somebody correct me here if I'm wrong)topped it. Very hard course. Chances of getting a pathfinder course for someone not reg+recce+airborne are about same as door-gunner on space shuttle. But, hey, it's hope that keeps you going.

[pete]

TonyM,
Are Pathfinders a seperate unit from the reg force or is there an assigned team to each reg force unit?And are Pathfinders pure recce, or do they operate as a commando unit?

[TonyM]

Pathfinder is a qualification. (like para, sniper, mg, pioneer, etc) There is no separate "Pathfinder" unit. I'm not an expert on this but from what the ex-Airborne Rgt guys tell me, each Commando would have a cadre of Pathfinders who would operate as the recce troop, usually attached to battalion hq.

[pete]

Thanks for the information TonyM

[pete]

Thanks for the information TonyM

[Enfield]

TonyM - they ran the Pathfinder course again? Why? Are they making a Pathfinder unit to work with the Jump Company's? Or is it just a qualification to add to your record?

Enfield

[TonyM]

Who knows? Maybe some JTF guy needed the qual. Other strange things are happening. WATC (used to be called PPCLI Battleschool) is running a basic sniper course this fall, and (get ready for this one) some reservists are actually going on a jump course. Our unit got to send 2 guys. Must be some kind of abnormal planetary mis-alignment.

[Enfield]

You mean they're catually bringing back combat skills??? Wow. Guess something happened on Ottawa. I've heard of this sniper course thing too, I think there's one being run in Gagetown as well (just Reg Force)
A jump course eh? I thought only Reg Force and Army Cadets could get that. Maybe that Commando Course mentioned on this board is being shaped up...

Enfield

[Hap]

Enfield:
The Queen's Own Rifles have an airborne tasking - the only reserve unit in Canada that can say that. There are 66 parachute positions provided to the QOR in support of the Canadian Parachute Centre.
They also have one of the best websites for a reserve unit http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/wink.gif http://www.qor.com/

Hap

[recce_o]

Make that the second best, please.
http://www.connection.com/~qyrang/

[Enfield]

I thought the QOR had lost that tasking a few years ago - glad to see it hasn't. Just out of curiosity, how does a soldier get into the QOR Airborne Coy? Is there a selection, are they rotated, etc.?
Wow.. I guess Toronto is the place to be for Reserves - Airborne, armoure recce, all the bells and whistles.
I'd post my unit's page up here, but I'm afraid we're too busy out training to sit and write html all day... *grin* Good pages, guys, look's like you got some pretty tight unit's.

Enfield

[baboon]

Do all Canadian reserve units only have one line squadron/company/battery?

[Cree Warrior]

Ours has 1 line Coy, and a line band, heh.
Check out our page www.hstone.com/ler/ (http://www.hstone.com/ler/)
Its good stuf, led by good stuff.
Hap,
how often do you guys get to jump?

Sua Sponte

[Enfield]

Baboon-

There's no rule that says they have too, but a lot of Reserve units seem to end up like that, due to the constant demands of recruiting and retaining personnel. I know of at least a couple reserve inf. regiments that can field a few battalions - whereas mine can field a large company. Depends on geographical recruiting area, population, and all that stuff. The Reg Force units aren't this fluid - they have standard sizes and keep them.

Enfield

[Cole]

Enfield,
You state that the reg force has standard sizes. Can you tell me what they are? I believe that an infantry regiment has 3 battalions. What is the breakdown at the battalion level, and who is in charge. I am interested in joining the CF pretty soon and this background info would be nice.
Thanks!

[baboon]

The three Canadian regular inf regts may have three battalions each, but this is by no means standard. In armies which follow the British/Commonwealth pattern an inf regt is not a tactical organisation but the home of tradition, history and esprit de corps, as well as some administrative functions. A regt could have anything from 1 to to (as some did in WW1) thirty battalions. The battalion is the tactical unit and bns are grouped into brigades. Regt in the artillery and armoured corps refers to the equivalent of a battalion in size.

[FNG]

In the Canadian Army, pathfinders are airborne recce. They ususally jump in ahead of the main group, scout out the objective, mark the drop zones, and give intel to the assault force.

I don't know too much about them, but I think that within each airborne company, there is still at least a platoon of pathfinders.

As to how they compare to JTF? You are comparing apples and oranges. Theoretically, JTF can carry out the same missions as the pathfinders, but I don't think it'll work the other way around.

[FNG]

Yes, it seems that there are more interests in highspeed courses now. A few members of my unit are on jump tasking... there's a recce course planned, and some others may be sent on an Unaarmed Combat Instructors course too.

BTW, does anyone have info on the above UCI crse?