14-41 Annex A - ​Use of C7/8 Within the CCO

Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)

General​

1. This annex governs the use of C7/8 service rifles within the CCO.

2. Only familiarization firing may be authorized on the C7/8.  B-GL-385-001/PT-001 “The Rifle 5.56mm C7 and Carbine 5.56mm C8” Chapter 5, Annex A, Appendices 1, 3 and 4 should be used for guidance.

3. C7/8 firing, other than that authorized and approved for CSTC training, will be conducted only with the approval of the RCSU CO.

4. C7/8 use for drill purposes is not authorized.

5. The bayonet is not authorized for use during C7/8 training.

Sea Cadets

6. C7/8 firing is not authorized at the CSTC.

7. During authorized cadet corps training, cadets having successfully completed phase three or higher and Cadet Instructors are authorized to conduct familiarization firing with Regular Force (Reg F) or Primary Reserve (P Res) units, with the caveat that training resources and ammunition are to be provided at no cost to the CCO.

Army Cadets

8. C7/8 firing is authorized as part of the approved CSTC programme.

9. At the cadet corps, cadets qualified Silver Star level or higher and Cadet Instructors are authorized to conduct familiarization firing with Reg F or P Res units. All training resources are to be provided by the Reg F or P Res units with the following exceptions:

1. qualified Large-bore Range Safety Officer (RSO) may be Cadet Instructors or CIs; and
2. the ammunition may be provided by the RCSU on an as available basis.

10. Familiarization firing conducted as RDA is authorized.

Air Cadets

11. C7/8 firing is not authorized at the CSTC.

12. During authorized squadron training, cadets having successfully completed proficiency level three or higher and Cadet Instructors are authorized to conduct familiarization firing with Reg F or P Res units, with the caveat that training resources and ammunition are to be provided at no cost to the CCO.

Familiarization

13. Familiarization firing will be conducted under the following conditions:

1. cadets shall only engage targets at distances of 100 metres or less;
2. for firing, the fire control selector shall be set on ‘R’;
3. use of automatic fire is not authorized;
4. magazine capacity shall be restricted to five rounds;
5. only the prone position shall be used;
6. firing shall only be conducted as part of a zeroing, grouping or deliberate fire serial;
7. firing shall only be conducted against marksmanship targets;
8. engagement of figure targets is prohibited;
9. for the C8 the stock shall be locked in either the extended or closed position; and
10. training shall be under the direct supervision of qualified personnel. For cadet purposes direct supervision requires qualified personnel to be within three metres of the cadet. Qualified personnel are those who are authorized for the purposes of their duties to be in possession of a firearm. This includes: on duty members of the Reg F or P Res, on duty members of the Supp Res when on Attached Posting to a cadet establishment, or on duty Cadet Instructor employed in an instruction position at a CSTC, that are trained by means of a CF course on the C7.

C79 Optic Sight

14. The C79 optic sight is authorized for use by cadets and cadet instructors under the following conditions:

1. when used in an open air environment;
2. during intermittent use (such as firearms familiarization training); and
3. under normal handling for range practices.

15. A safety briefing to all involved personnel shall be given prior to the range practice. This briefing shall include the following points:

1. when properly used the C79 optic sight is very safe. Gaseous tritium (radioactive hydrogen) is contained in a sealed capsule inside the very rugged C79 optic sight. This capsule helps illuminate the reticule under low light conditions. There is no detectable radiation on the outside of the optic sight;
2. although extremely unlikely, should one of the tritium capsules break while being used under conditions listed above it may be possible that an individual may be exposed to some very limited quantity of tritium gas. In this instance the resultant radiation would only be a small percentage of the natural background radiation exposure to which a person is routinely exposed, and, is comparable to the background radiation of a two-way transatlantic jet flight;
3. the users must not tamper with the optic sight integrity (don’t try to open the optic sight); and
4. any problems with the optic sight, including suspicion that the illumination of the reticule by the tritium capsule is not working should be reported to the staff who will quarantine the optic sight until it is properly inspected.

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