We are always accepting new applications to become a Foot Guard. You begin your part-time career by committing one night a week, one weekend a month and 9 days a summer for training as a minimum. There are many more opportunities within the Regimental Family of Guards to work and train. The best part is that training is voluntary and based on your needs and availability. You can choose to be an infantry solider, a musician, an office clerk, or a logistics technician; it is up to you.

By committing to the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve Force you will be part of a professional team all working towards the same goal. You will be presented opportunities for travel, full and part-time employment, interesting training and possible deployments overseas and even the opportunity for education reimbursement benefits.
During the summer months on full-time service, you receive room and board, competitive wages, military training and job satisfaction. During the winter months you will have opportunities to take military courses for your career development, opportunities to train and develop personal skills on various full and part-time engagements.

If you are a student, you have the opportunity to qualify for the Tuition Re-imbursement Program which is based on your academic program. The minimum amount available is $2500 for under-graduate or college programs per successful year of education completed.
More importantly you will have the opportunity that few Canadians ever get. You get the opportunity to be apart of something special. You will make life long friends, you will grow as a person and you will have some of the best memories you could ever imagine. You will become a Foot Guard!

Not everyone has what it takes to become a Foot Guard. Are you up to the challenge?

Can you answer YES to the following?

• Are you bored?
• Do you need a challenge?
• Do you have a strong moral character?
• Do you want to work part time or full time?
• Do you need a summer job?
• Do you want to be measured against the best?
• Do you want to work with the best?
• Do you want to know more?

Click to request more information from the Recruiting Cell.

An email will be sent directly to the Recruiting Sergeant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join?

To apply, there are three minimal requirements which must be met in order for a person to be eligible to enrol in the Canadian Forces:

• you must be a Canadian citizen;
• you must be at least 16 years of age when you submit your application; and
• you must have a minimum of Grade 10 Ontario education (or provincial equivalent).

What do I have to do?

The application consists of a few tests and processes that are administered to ensure the applicant is indeed suitable for employment in the Canadian Forces and is given a job best suited to his abilities. These include:

a basic aptitude test;
a basic fitness test;
a basic medical exam;
a basic security check; and
a personal interview with a Career Counsellor.

When the applicant successfully completes these steps, he/she then swears an Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and is enrolled in the Governor General's Foot Guards, as part of the Canadian Forces; ready for basic training and building a career.

Do we get involved?

In addition to ceremonial duties, and regularly scheduled training, member of the Governor General’s Foot Guards have taken an active part in both domestic and foreign operations. For example, the Foot Guards have provided support domestic relief during the Ice Storm of 1998; providing assistance to Ottawa area residents lacking in basic amenities. * Quebec floods?, Manitoba floods?, Swiss Air disaster?, Bosnian refugees Trenton?*

Abroad, members of the Foot Guards have participated with distinction in deployments to Cyprus, the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia), Sierra Leone, Ethiopia (Eretria), and Afghanistan, to name but a few. It should be noted that tasking to these operations is of a voluntary nature; however it provides a challenge to personnel that develops a strong work ethic, camaraderie and character.

How much time does the training take?

Before participating in regularly scheduled training as part of No1 Coy, GGFG, it is necessary for all new soldiers to complete the following training programme, designed to provide the skills necessary to serve as a Reserve Force Infantryman:

Non-Commissioned Member (NCM)

All NCMs will be required to complete three separate courses, the Basic Military Qualification (BMQ), is the first course and is designed to provide the lowest level of soldiering skills common to all trades within the military. This course is offered during two periods during the training year, one in October, and one in January. The course runs two weekends a month for approximately four months. Following the successful completion of this course NCMs are sent to CFB Meaford (near Barrie Ontario) for their Soldier Qualification (SQ), and DP1 (Infantry) courses. Both courses are offered during the summer, and are full time. Therefore, all new NCMs should expect to be on full time service for approximately two months during their first summer within the Canadian Forces.

Officers

New officers to the Regiment will be required to commence their training on the BMQ, along side the NCMs who they will eventually be expected to lead on opeations, on training exercises and on Parliament Hill.

Following the completion of BMQ, officers can expect two full summers of training to follow, Phase 2 and Phase 3 officer training conducted at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick. This is a rigorous training package that demands the utmost of dedication from the officer corps within the Foot Guards.

Where do I apply?

If you are interested in finding out more about the Governor General's Foot Guards and what we do, contact the Recruiting Cell at 613-990-0502 or on the link below, and the Recruiting Sergeant will be able to answer all of your questions and provide you with the appropriate information on applying. Or visit us in person during regular business hours or on Tuesday evenings between 7 and 10 pm.

We are located beside City Hall at: Cartier Square Drill Hall, 2 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K2

Or head down to the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre at 66 Slater Street, downtown Ottawa and tell the staff "I want to join the 'Guards'!"

Ready to take the Next Step! Request more information from the JOIN THE GUARDS.