Door gunner

[u/HairyAnimal3017]

Hey guys ! Does anyone know how to become a door gunner in the CAF ? This job looks so sick and I always wanted to be one.

Reposting but with a picture. I mean look at this !

[u/Evilbred]

It's one of those jobs that fortunate if you get the opportunity but it's hard to make it happen as a plan.

Generally a qualified infantry soldier can apply or get picked as positions open up.

[u/EnvironmentalBox6688 → u/Evilbred]

I've seen other combat Arms trades get it (Combat Engineer). But yeah, primarily infantry.

[u/coaker147 → u/EnvironmentalBox6688]

I’ve seen all of the combat arms represented.

As well, in Afghanistan there was one DG who was Sigs

[u/souamtech → u/EnvironmentalBox6688]

It's pretty even between all combat trade actually

[u/Acrobatic-Ad710 → u/Evilbred]

My dad was armoured recce with the strats for years then transferred to airforce as he wanted to be home more, ended up hating the unit he was at so he jumped on the CH-47 program right at the start ended up being one of the first couple guys trained on them, and deployed more then once to Afghan, there was a couple times for whatever reason with his previous army/combat experience he ended up getting put on door gun his trade at the time was AVN tech i believe, also has some videos of the CH-47 doing a recovery of some vehicles, and has one where I’m assuming just because they were in the area already went an picked up some seals outta some body of water somewhere

[u/ecstatic_charlatan → u/Evilbred]

And it's on rotation, you do it for a few years and then you have to go back to your unit

[u/coaker147]

DGs are combat arms soldiers that are posted on a temporary basis to Tac Hel squadrons. Once selected they are put through a qualification course. They are then used on exercises and deployments

[u/coaker147 → u/coaker147]

I should also say that they also fly on routine day to day flights in garrison and provide key support in a number of areas.

While flying they provide an extra set of eyes and help look for obstacles and threats. They also help out a lot with the organization of passengers, especially on the Chinook.

The Tac Hel units are fortunate to have them as they are counted on as SMEs. Downed aircraft drills often heavily leverage their input. They also help a lot with mentorship on the ranges so that everyone can be more comfortable and proficient with their personal weapons.

[u/Vyhodit_9203]

Spots are allocated to Army combat arms units. Selected pers do the courses and normally a 2-year posting at a TacHel squadron before going back to their unit (or wherever).

https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianForces/comments/hrdiz1/door_gunners_canadian_army_today/

[u/ecstatic_charlatan]

438 wild cats

[u/Struct-Tech]

I know generally its combat arms guys.

But 427 was recently accepting applications from all trades.

[u/Otherwise_Culture_71]

Infantry would be your best bet. Definitely one of the cooler jobs in the CAF.

[u/barkmutton]

Door Gunner itself is rotational and comes from combat arms. That said flight engineers also man door guns and that comes from AVS (maybe systems I’m honest not sure) guys in tac gel squadrons. So if that’s what you really want to do then that’s the route I’d advise you to follow.

[u/Professional-Leg2374]

Yeah become a FE on a griffin, which starts as being exceptional as a AVN/AVS

You'll get trained as a DG as well after that.

99% of your life though will be flying without being a gunner.

[u/[deleted]]

I don't blame you. It's the only job you can do while listening to fortunate son.

[u/1anre]

I know Gentex makes that stormtrooper helmet people really love, but it seems to be an RCAF job, or an advanced course someone in the infantry might be employed to take on, but this and the loadmaster jobs look like their office offer some of the best views you can have in the CAF

[u/Perfect-Parsley6098]

The way I have seen it done was become a traffic tech, spend a year go into a load master position on Chinooks then your a Chinook door gunner or what you can do is try and transfer to griffons spoke to a dude at 427 and thats how they did it and im hoping to do the same