Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering

Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME)

Located at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, NB. Aside from being the principal training establishment of the Canadian Military Engineers, it is the heart and soul of the Branch.

CFSME is organized with a Headquarters, and five squadrons *(DOC, STDS , FETS, CETS and RETS), plus Tactics and CAES. In the summer months, RETS is formed to conduct training for Reserve Force Personnel.

CFSME is responsible for more than 75 courses and the total number of course serials vary between 75 and 100 per year. These courses range from the trades’ courses required for Combat and Construction Engineering, Officer Training and specialty training for the CME Branch, as well as other Branches. Over 1000 military and civilian employees of the Federal Government annually benefit from attending the challenging training provided by this school whose unofficial motto is "Excellence In Military Engineering".

History of CFSME

CFSME was first founded in 1942 as the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering (RCSME) to meet the training demands of World War II. The School was established in Chilliwack, BC, due to the year-round training capability afforded by the temperate climate. Over 5000 Engineers were trained for wartime service. Following the war, the need for military Engineers was validated, and the School was permanently established in 1946 with the aim, "To conduct individual training in Military Engineering for all ranks in accordance with approved doctrine." Upon unification, the School absorbed other courses and trades from the Air Force and Navy and was renamed CFSME, the title it holds today. The School relocated to CFB Gagetown in the summer of 1997 with the closure of CFB Chilliwack and has maintained a high tempo of training. CFSME is the Canadian Forces Centre of Excellence in Engineer Training and Home of the Engineers.

The School is responsible for the conduct of 85 different courses that span all ranks and MOCs within the Field, Construction and Airfield Engineer organizations. Training lasts from two weeks to eleven months (depending on the course), is conducted year-round and includes Regular and Reserve personnel in a Total Force environment. The staff of 200 military and civilian personnel, with the assistance of augmentees during peak training periods, conducts between 100 and 120 courses. This equates to 80,000-100,000 student training days annually.

The School is comprised of a Headquarters, two staff squadrons, and five training squadrons. The training squadrons are: Field Engineer Training Squadron (FETS), Reserve Engineer Training Squadron (RETS), Tactics Squadron (Tac), Construction Engineer Training Squadron (CETS), and Construction and Airfield Engineer Squadron (CAES).

FETS is responsible for MOC 041 and 042 (Field Engineer and Field Engineer Equipment Operator) training at all NCM rank levels. This training covers all aspects of combat engineering from basic tools, mine warfare and demolitions, and bridging, through to the operation and management of heavy equipment. RETS is responsible for the training of all R041 soldiers nationally, less SQFT. Tac Sqn is responsible for the training of Regular Force and Reserve Force MOC 24 Engineer Officers. CETS is responsible for training the construction tradespeople up to QL5. This includes MOC 641 (Refrigeration & Mechanical Tech), 642 (Electrical Distribution Tech), 643 (Electrical Generation Systems Tech), 646 (Plumbing & Heating Tech), 647 (Water, Fuels & Environmental Tech), and 648 (Construction Tech). CAES is responsible for training MOC 649 (Construction Engineer Superintendent) and MOC 46 (Airfield Engineer officer), as well as for instructing other Military Engineer MOCs on support to airfields and infrastructure management.

CFSME's vision is to be the Canadian Military Engineer individual trainer of choice, providing trained military Engineers who meet all operational requirements at optimum cost. We welcome one and all, and hope your time at CFB Gagetown is both educational and interesting. CHIMO!

Information provided from: http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/cfb_gagetown/schools/cfsme_e.asp