Canadian Army Soldier First Course
The Canadian Army Soldier First Course (CASFC) is a new course that every Canadian Army soldier will undertake immediately on graduation from Basic Military Qualification (BMQ). CASFC will be delivered at regional Army Training Centres (formally Division Training Centres) over 22 training days during which soldiers will learn how to shoot, move, and communicate in a modern land environment. On completion of CASFC, soldiers will have the baseline core competencies necessary to operate in the land domain and will be considered to have reached their Employment Functional Point (EFP).
Employment Functional Point
Having obtained the skills necessary to operate in a land environment, soldiers who have reached EFP are employable within the Canadian Army field force. EFP does not replace the Occupational Functional Point (OFP). Soldiers are still required to complete occupational specific Developmental Phase 1 (DP 1) training prior to reaching OFP. EFP provides the soldier and the Canadian Army flexibility on the path to OFP.
What EFP means for Regular Force members
Most Regular Force soldiers will proceed to occupation specific DP 1 training immediately upon graduation from CASFC. When DP 1 training is not available within a typical timeframe of 60 days following the end of CASFC, soldiers who are EFP qualified will be employed within their occupational units until such time as DP 1 training becomes available. Soldiers employed in a unit while awaiting DP 1 training will be exposed to army teams and army leaders within their occupation and will gain valuable experiential learning ahead of completing their DP 1 training and reaching OFP.
Long description
A timeline depicting the pathway for Regular Force Canadian Army soldiers to reach their Operationally Functional Point (OFP) with the newly implemented Employment Functional Point (EFP). The timeline in order of start to finish begins with Basic Military Qualification, then Canadian Army Soldier First Course where soldiers reach EFP, then a split for soldiers awaiting Developmental Phase 1 Rank Qualification (DP1 RQ) course for greater than 60 days who proceed to Field Force Employment and for soldiers waiting for fewer than 60 days will proceed to their respective DP1 RQ, upon completing Developmental Period 1 soldiers will have reached OFP.
What EFP means for the Army Reserve
In the ARes, timelines for DP 1 completion factor in both programed course delivery timelines and individual soldier availability due to civilian life obligations. CASFC and the EFP qualification ensures that ARes soldiers have the baseline competencies for initial employment within the Canadian Army within the Defence of Canada Division prior to completion of subsequent DP 1 training and attainment of OFP.
Long description
The timeline in order of start to finish begins with Primary Reserve Basic Military Qualification at a Battle School, then Canadian Army Soldier First Course at a Battle School, at this point ARes soldiers are at EFP and can be initially employed within the Canadian Army within the Defence of Canada Division, then Developmental Period 1 Rank Qualification will be required to attain OFP.
CASFC Course Content
CASFC will be delivered through a mix of classroom learning and field exercises, with a majority of learning occurring in the field. Generally, soldiers will learn how to shoot, move, and communicate in a modern land environment. Specifically, they will learn how to engage a threat with a direct fire weapon, how to operate within a defensive position, how to perform as a section member during a section attack, how to perform personal extraction from an explosive threat area, and how to perform as a section member during a dismounted patrol.
Long description
Canadian Army Soldier First Course Training Model
This image presents the structured force generation pathway to produce resilient and competent soldiers ready for employment in the Canadian Army. The structure is shown as a left‑to‑right progression across multiple training phases and timelines, each with defined learning activities and outcomes.
Overall structure
The visual is organized into five vertical columns, each representing a stage of training. The stages progress from left to right and are labelled:
- Basic‑Trained
- Prepared
- Capable
- Integrated
- Optional
Stage 1: Basic‑Trained - Week 1
Phase title: Introduce – Soldier Foundation
Training activities include:
- Canadian Armed Forces ethos
- Considerations of modern warfare
- Use of personal kit
- Personal weapon refresher (C7 PWT 1)
- Human performance
- Hot‑ and cold‑weather injury prevention
Outcome:
Competent, aware, and prepared soldiers.
Stage 2: Prepared - Week 2
Phase title: Crawl – Individual Skills
Training activities include:
- Personal weapon progression (C7 PWT 2)
- Machine gun fundamentals (C9 PWT 1)
- Fragmentation grenade fundamentals (PWT 3)
Outcome:
Confident soldiers capable of operating weapons safely and effectively.
Stage 3: Capable - Week 3
Phase title: Walk – Tactical Theory
Training activities include:
- Offensive and defensive theory
- Patrolling theory
- Ethical handling of arms at Level 2
- Basic fieldcraft techniques
- Reports and returns
- Section attack demonstration
Outcome:
More knowledgeable soldiers operating under low‑stress conditions.
Stage 4: Integrated - Week 4
Phase title: Run – Field Integration
Training activities include:
- Section attacks
- Patrolling
- Defensive routine
- Employment of pyrotechnics
- Withdrawals by day and night
- Day and night navigation
- Scenario‑based performance checks
Outcome:
Soldiers applying theoretical and practical skills as a team in operational conditions.
Stage 5: Optional - Plus 2 days
Phase title: Bolster – Shotgun Training
Training activities include:
- Shotgun fundamentals (PWT 1)
Outcome:
Operate a shotgun in preparation for employment in a counter‑uncrewed aircraft system role.
Persistent training condition
Across all stages, a banner emphasizes that training occurs within a C‑UAS environment throughout the entire training continuum, reinforcing exposure to emerging operational threats at every level.
CASFC ensures that all Canadian Army soldiers have the baseline competencies necessary to operate in a modern land environment.