Canadian Rangers

[Flatdeck6.2]

http://www.army.dnd.ca/land-terre/cr-rc/index-eng.asp


Any Rangers on this board?

A fellow that I do work for on occasion approached me last week and mentioned he has been a ranger for some time, he says its right up my alley. It seems pretty beneficial, free paid training, issued firearm (even if it is a Lee Enfeild ) and NO DEPLOYMENT.

I was just wondering if anyone on here is involved and had any advice on the subject.

[beakie]

Don't quote me but I believe it is open to first nations, not sure if it is exclusive or not tho.
The military reserves is somewhat along what your describing too tho. Issued firearm stays at unit, no deployment unless you volunteer for it, training is paid for, can be compensated for some schooling, you can work very little, or volunteer for more jobs/courses as you like.

not a bad job, I left the regular army, but still do reserves, it can be a stepping stone to other things... and depending where you are it's not just infantry you can go for, there are other trades open to you.

[Flatdeck6.2]

Its not only open to first nations, its open to residents of remote locations along the east/west coast and northern territories. Its like boyscouts, for big boys. Read the link.

The issued firearm is in the gun locker with your other rifles, the old fellow thats getting me into the Rangers has one in his home.

There is no military in my area so the reserves wouldnt be an option for me. And I like the sounds of this:

What is the time commitment for being a Canadian Ranger?
This varies from community to community. Many Canadian Rangers fulfil their military commitments while engaged in personal activities such as fishing or hunting. Canadian Rangers meet as a group six or seven times a year at a minimum. FAQ off the dnd website.

I think Im going to go for it, hopefully go for the initial training this fall.

[beakie]

nice,
ya I really didn't know anything about it, just the few times I interacted with them on EX they were always first nations/inuit. great people, blew my mind with survival techniques... snaring a moose?!?!?! ya, great stuff.

good luck.

[R O]

Shouldn't laugh at the Lee-Enfield. There are reasons it works so well up North.Especially in an Inuits hands.

[Flatdeck6.2]

I just find it funny theyre still issuing them. Its a proven rifle for sure, apparently its a no.4 mark 1.

[Flatdeck6.2]

Well, Filled out the paperwork today, brought the papers to the RCMP for my criminal record check, I shouldnt have a problem with that. We'll see how it goes.

[NUTTY4X4]

Couple of my buddys are in it, Pretty sweet skills to learn like the 1000yrd shoot, handgun training etc. I want to join but im not "remote" enough "yet".

[low-1]

Hey, just joined up because of this thread. I've been a member for a couple of years, and it's awesome. Just got back from the RV (rendevous) in Cochrane AB. It's a week of "adventure training", basically fun activities that allow you to meet other Rangers from across the country. This year we did some backcountry hiking and camping in Kananaskis Country, mountain biking at the Nordic Center in Canmore, and whitewater canoeing in some pretty fun rivers in the area.

What you are primarily tasked with depends a lot on where you are. 1CRPG does a lot of sovereignty patrols in the Far North, coastal patrols do a lot of stuff with Coast Guard, and us interior Rangers do a lot of search and rescue. We also do a lot of training and escorting for regular forces and reserves, things like wilderness survival training and winter mobility training to new recruits who have never left the city. If you like the outdoors, it's the perfect organization. You won't get rich off it, but it's a blast... Getting paid to camp, go on snowmobile and quad rides, etc.

Where abouts are you? Which patrol are you joining?

[Flatdeck6.2]

Im joining the 4th Ranger Patrol Group "Port Simpson Patrol" but I live in Prince Rupert BC, right on the Northern Coast of BC.

The RV that you just got back from I actually just missed out on, my paperwork is still going through. A few guys from the 4th Ranger patrol participated in it though.

Im really looking forward to it, But Im hoping the training this fall doesnt interfere with my 7 day Moose open season.

[low-1]

Met a couple of guys from the Port Simpson patrol. All of BC, AB, SK and MB are part of 4 CRPG (4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group). 1CRPG is the territories, 2 is Quebec, 3 is ON, and 5 is NL/Labrador. The RV was for 4CRPG, but we had a couple of guys from 5 come out as well.

Which training this fall, just local patrol? I don't think there is a DP1 (our basic training) going on this fall. Haven't been to Victoria/Albert Head for it yet, I should really go out next time it's running.

As for interfering with hunting, here's how it is, at least in MB. You can be as committed as you want, you aren't forced to do anything. It's obviously better if you are more involved, and depending on interest in the community, they can and will ask you to drop out if you don't attend a certain number of training exercises per year. That just frees it up for the people who are really interested. When I joined, I went in the first night, filled out the paperwork, got sworn in, then took the rest of the week off to go moose hunting. Apparently you guys out in BC have a slightly different paperwork process to go through, though. All we have to do is show up with the Ranger instructor is in town and fill out the papers he gives us. Criminal background check done ahead of time, of course. Then we get sworn in the same night.

If you do get in, and head to the next DP1, I'll likely run into you there. There's also an "advanced snowmobile training exercise" this January in Tumbler Ridge. I'm going to try and see if I can get in on a Ranger mountain snowmobiling trip, should be fun.

Keep in touch man

[Flatdeck6.2]

Swore my allegiance to "The Queen of Canada" (whoever the hell that is...) this weekend. Started things off with some Military First Aid; a 3 day course. DP1 is in march and Im hoping for a shooting exercise to come up soon so I can take my service weapon home. From what I gathered from current members is they give you 200 rounds a year, which non of the people in my group seem to take advantage of.

[low-1]

Originally Posted by Flatdeck6.2

Swore my allegiance to "The Queen of Canada" (whoever the hell that is...) this weekend. Started things off with some Military First Aid; a 3 day course. DP1 is in march and Im hoping for a shooting exercise to come up soon so I can take my service weapon home. From what I gathered from current members is they give you 200 rounds a year, which non of the people in my group seem to take advantage of.

Right on. Hoping to head out to DP1 in March as well, so might run into you there. Regarding the 200 rounds, as you mentioned, very few actually take advantage of it. As a Ranger, you are supposed to have 60 rounds on hand at any time. In our patrol, we can get as many as we want, provided we aren't just hoarding them. I have 800 at the moment, haven't had a chance to get out to the range lately.

Congrats and welcome aboard! Vigilans!

[Flatdeck6.2]

Only 800? at least your not hoarding, haha. Although its always good to keep some aside for the zombies.

[low-1]

Originally Posted by Flatdeck6.2

Only 800? at least your not hoarding, haha. Although its always good to keep some aside for the zombies.

Well... I wanted the ammo box, and it was just easier to take the whole thing full... lol.

[apocalypseknight]

This is all very interesting, can I apply to be a ranger where I live. Valemount, BC? Is there a web site I can get more info? For the criminal record check I got in trouble as a youth ( under 18 ) will that affect an application?

[low-1]

Originally Posted by apocalypseknight

This is all very interesting, can I apply to be a ranger where I live. Valemount, BC? Is there a web site I can get more info? For the criminal record check I got in trouble as a youth ( under 18 ) will that affect an application?

Apparently yes, Valemount has a Ranger patrol. As for more information, you can visit this site: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/4crpg/

There is a link on the left hand side, "join us", that has some contact information. There is a lot of general information on the site as well. Regarding your "youthful indiscretions", it shouldn't be a problem, I had to put in a few hours of community service as a kid. It may come back as a "hit", but that doesn't necessarily mean you're not eligible.

[jim1348]

Originally Posted by NUTTY4X4

Couple of my buddys are in it, Pretty sweet skills to learn like the 1000yrd shoot, handgun training etc. I want to join but im not "remote" enough "yet".

Hi. depending on where on Vancouver Island you live, you could still join a ranger patrol if you are fairly close to where they meet. We had guys from Parksville in the Ucluelet Patrol. A hefty commute, but they did it. Good luck.

[low-1]

Originally Posted by jim1348

Hi. depending on where on Vancouver Island you live, you could still join a ranger patrol if you are fairly close to where they meet. We had guys from Parksville in the Ucluelet Patrol. A hefty commute, but they did it. Good luck.

There was a lady from the Ucluelet patrol at the RV who lived in Victoria. If I'm not mistaken there are quite a few patrols on the island.

[beakie]

Originally Posted by Flatdeck6.2

Im joining the 4th Ranger Patrol Group "Port Simpson Patrol" but I live in Prince Rupert BC, right on the Northern Coast of BC.

The RV that you just got back from I actually just missed out on, my paperwork is still going through. A few guys from the 4th Ranger patrol participated in it though.

Im really looking forward to it, But Im hoping the training this fall doesnt interfere with my 7 day Moose open season.

odd you speak of it interrupting your moose hunt, last time we were with the Rangers, they taught us how to "snare" moose.
Same as any other animal, bottleneck the path, hang a large slip line across the path and then tether it to a tree, or tie a few cinder blocks to the cable... tree = there when you check it (for traps checked daily) cinder blocks = slowed travel and an obvious path to track (for less often checked traps)

glad to hear there are a few of you going for this, I look forward to hearing your stories, and maybe meeting up if I make it up north sometime for an EX.

[Flatdeck6.2]

I know of these methods and Im very interested in learning them. As far as I know they are only for survival situations though. Ill stick to killing them with a gun.

Moose hunt was a success btw.

[low-1]

As a patrol, we are planning on heading to York Factory by snowmobile in about a month on a recce. York was the Headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company, once the largest landowner in world, from 1682 until 1957. We will be, at times, following portage routes that have been used for over 300 years.

http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history...kfactory.shtml

It will be over 150 km one way by snowmobile with nothing in between us and there, and nothing for us when we get there. There are only a couple of Parks Canada employees in the summer, supplied from town here by Gillam Air. In the fall, they close up shop and don't come back until thaw, June or later. We have to plan for a trip of over 300 km with at least one overnight in canvas tents in polar bear country. Adventures like this are only one of the reasons I like being a Ranger.

We are doing this because this is our area of patrol. We need to be able to access any place where an event might happen, and provide support. We are doing an exercise with another patrol, from Churchill, going along the coast of Hudson Bay from Churchill to York Factory. We need to know how the trail is if we can make it across the Nelson River. If we can't, we have to come home down the railbed that was abandoned in 1918 at Port Nelson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Nelson,_Manitoba) when the decision was made to make the port at Churchill instead of on the Nelson.

[Paul Gagnon]

I'd like to join a Ranger Patrol but the closest one to me is Valleyview. With my work schedule I don't think I could swing it.

[kevn]

I never heard of this until Now. Its amazing that we have such large un populated areas to patrol. Do they patrol all of the arctic in this way?


Id also like to thank you guys for your service and for opening my eyes to what you guys do.

[Flatdeck6.2]

I recruited a couple buddies of mine and got them all signed up. A few of us from 4CRPG are going to be at DP1 (basic) on march 8th on Vancouver Island.

My boss is pissed I have to miss 10 days of work but I told him how many fucks I dont give. I havent had a holiday in a long time and I still get paid from DND to be there, double win.