WEBVTT 00:00:04.379 --> 00:00:06.631 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:63% I'm Captain Erica Young from Kitchener, Ontario - 00:00:06.631 --> 00:00:10.051 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% an Armour Officer currently posted to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. 00:00:10.927 --> 00:00:14.180 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% Working in the turret of a tank isn't your typical office space, 00:00:14.180 --> 00:00:18.309 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% and no two days are alike working as an Armour Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. 00:00:19.436 --> 00:00:23.440 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% The role of the Armoured Officer is to manage the fleet of vehicles 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:26.067 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% and the troops that run those vehicles on the battlefield. 00:00:26.067 --> 00:00:29.612 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% So at our core, our role is to defeat the enemy on the battlefield 00:00:29.612 --> 00:00:31.948 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% through the use of battlefield mobility and firepower. 00:00:33.116 --> 00:00:35.994 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% Armour Officers work with highly motivated teams of soldiers 00:00:35.994 --> 00:00:38.830 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% in Canada's three armoured regiments in the Regular Force 00:00:38.830 --> 00:00:41.458 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:63% and 18 Reserve regiments. 00:00:41.458 --> 00:00:43.960 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% They lead battle-ready tanks and armoured fighting vehicles 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:46.212 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% on ground missions around the world. 00:00:46.796 --> 00:00:50.300 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% We have the tanks, which is more about destroying the enemy on the battlefield, 00:00:50.300 --> 00:00:51.509 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:73% a little bit more aggressive. 00:00:56.639 --> 00:00:58.767 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:108% And then we have the reconnaissance aspect; 00:00:58.767 --> 00:01:02.437 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:90% reconnaissance elements are typically trying not to be seen. 00:01:02.437 --> 00:01:05.315 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% They can gather more information the longer they are in place 00:01:05.315 --> 00:01:08.443 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% so they need to have a little bit more camouflage and concealment going on. 00:01:10.904 --> 00:01:15.450 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:125% Armour Officers command as many as eight vehicles and more than 20 troops at a time - 00:01:15.450 --> 00:01:17.994 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% all from the inside of these agile fighting machines 00:01:17.994 --> 00:01:22.040 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% that can punch a hole through an enemy position in any terrain - 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:23.958 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:70% shooting on the move and defeating the opposition 00:01:23.958 --> 00:01:27.086 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% through the aggressive use of firepower and battlefield mobility. 00:01:28.838 --> 00:01:31.508 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% Armour Officers are not just commanding their own vehicle - 00:01:31.508 --> 00:01:35.428 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% they're also responsible for leading all vehicles within their troop simultaneously. 00:01:36.012 --> 00:01:39.516 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% When we're all working together, you can see the effects that we have on the enemy 00:01:39.516 --> 00:01:41.893 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:98% and it is overwhelming and devastating. 00:01:42.393 --> 00:01:45.522 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% Armour Officers determine where their troop of vehicles will go, 00:01:45.522 --> 00:01:48.858 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:73% what the troop fires at, and how the troop will do it. 00:01:48.858 --> 00:01:51.986 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% Leadership is the key component of being an Armour Officer. 00:01:51.986 --> 00:01:54.572 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% The ability to build team cohesion and maintain morale 00:01:54.572 --> 00:01:57.158 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% in difficult situations are critical parts of the job. 00:02:01.287 --> 00:02:03.122 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:45% It's a lot of fun. 00:02:03.122 --> 00:02:05.583 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:105% There's nothing like being out on a tank - 00:02:05.583 --> 00:02:08.962 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% you're going 60 kilometres an hour or more, cross-country, 00:02:08.962 --> 00:02:11.297 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:95% while your turret is fully stabilized, 00:02:11.297 --> 00:02:14.050 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:105% so you're looking one way while your vehicle is driving another way. 00:02:14.050 --> 00:02:17.554 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% And meanwhile, that entire time, you're looking for the enemy. 00:02:17.554 --> 00:02:21.891 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:118% It's an incredible experience, and nothing like it anywhere else in the world. 00:02:28.189 --> 00:02:30.733 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:70% Once fully trained, Armour Officers are assigned 00:02:30.733 --> 00:02:34.654 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:100% to one of three historic armoured regiments in the Regular Force: 00:02:34.654 --> 00:02:39.117 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:85% the Lord Strathcona's Horse Royal Canadians in Edmonton, 00:02:39.117 --> 00:02:42.579 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada in Valcartier, Quebec; 00:02:42.579 --> 00:02:45.707 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:78% or the Royal Canadian Dragoons, based in Petawawa, Ontario. 00:02:46.624 --> 00:02:49.752 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% There are also 18 Reserve armoured regiments across Canada. 00:02:51.588 --> 00:02:54.424 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:108% For the most part when you're in garrison, it's a 9-to-5 job. 00:02:54.424 --> 00:02:57.176 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% So you're in charge of the management of the troops, 00:02:57.176 --> 00:03:00.138 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% and as well, the whole time, you're managing your fleet of vehicles, 00:03:00.138 --> 00:03:03.433 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:95% so your tanks or your LAVs or your Coyotes or TAPVs. 00:03:04.142 --> 00:03:07.770 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:98% So your troops are doing maintenance, you're helping out as much as possible, 00:03:07.770 --> 00:03:10.481 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% and you're making sure that you are ready to go at a moment's notice. 00:03:11.149 --> 00:03:13.151 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:95% Professional development is important, 00:03:13.151 --> 00:03:16.112 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% and there are opportunities to advance both in rank and position, 00:03:16.112 --> 00:03:18.031 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:65% such as Transport Officer, 00:03:18.031 --> 00:03:19.657 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:48% Assistant-Adjutant, 00:03:19.657 --> 00:03:22.452 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:75% Accounts Officer or Regimental Liaison Officer. 00:03:23.703 --> 00:03:28.583 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:115% Armour Officers regularly deploy across Canada and overseas on military operations. 00:03:29.250 --> 00:03:33.421 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% I recently deployed to Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance. 00:03:33.421 --> 00:03:37.050 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:120% It was an amazing experience where I got to meet lots of different people from different nations, 00:03:37.050 --> 00:03:42.639 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:110% see how different armies operate and how we all work together as a team as part of NATO. 00:03:43.389 --> 00:03:46.434 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% So it was a great experience - as well, we had an opportunity to go out, 00:03:46.434 --> 00:03:48.937 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:63% interact with the public, make our faces known, 00:03:48.937 --> 00:03:50.855 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:68% and meet different cultures and different people. 00:03:51.773 --> 00:03:55.318 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% At home, they may be called upon to help during natural disasters 00:03:55.318 --> 00:03:57.362 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:65% like fire or flood relief. 00:04:04.786 --> 00:04:08.122 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:113% When I was younger, I didn't quite understand what the armoured corps was all about. 00:04:08.957 --> 00:04:13.711 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% What was explained to me was that you're going to be put into some sort of large armoured vehicle; 00:04:13.711 --> 00:04:16.714 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% you get to go out into the field, drive that vehicle; 00:04:16.714 --> 00:04:18.967 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:83% obviously you'd have a large gun, blow stuff up, 00:04:18.967 --> 00:04:21.260 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% and that's actually pretty accurate. 00:04:21.260 --> 00:04:24.305 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:93% I'm glad I selected it and I have a lot of fun doing it now. 00:04:26.432 --> 00:04:28.351 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:90% I'm certainly proud about what I do. 00:04:28.351 --> 00:04:30.186 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:105% I love being in the Canadian Armed Forces, 00:04:30.186 --> 00:04:33.272 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:103% I love putting on the uniform and representing Canada on a daily basis. 00:04:34.565 --> 00:04:38.861 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:123% Sometimes when I'm sitting out in the field on my tank and it's a beautiful day, 00:04:38.861 --> 00:04:41.739 align:middle line:79% position:50% size:80% I just can't believe that this is my life, this is my job. 00:04:41.739 --> 00:04:44.117 align:middle line:85% position:50% size:83% In a good way - I love what I do.