CF Pioneer
 

I wanted to make a CF pioneer load-out, which got me to thinking do they even wear anything different? There are only a couple left in the CF so pictures were hard to find. Suggestions/photos are greatly appreciated

Assault Pioneers ceased to exist late 90s early 2000s. Yes some former Assault Pioneers still exist, but not in that job anymore.

Only thing that made them stand out from other Infantry was they were allowed to have beards.

Mind if I ask, what was a CF pioneer?

A bunch of angry lumberjacks that traded their axe for an assault rifle?
(O:

Pioneers would do a few things, they were the Infantry's organic combat engineers.

You'd run the rubber boats crossing rivers, blow mortar pits with explosives, do all the NBCW testing and cleanup, lay and remove minefields, set claymores, tie lots of knots and work with ropes, fill lots of sandbags, set and remove booby traps, chop down trees and build bunkers with them, and other similar tasks.

You'd have a chainsaw, a carrier with a dozer blade, and lots of C-4. About the only piece of personal kit you'd have that was special was a crimper for setting blasting caps on det cord. It was a pretty good platoon to be in, a lot of hard work but maybe less bull. Put the crimper in your KFS carrier.

The traditional pioneer would to out way ahead of the main element with an axe or a pick and chop down trees to build bridges or clear other obstacles They did the real mountain man gig and were the blacksmiths too so shaving for daily parade wasn't required. The beard protects you from heat and slag.

At times the folks in the Pioneer platoon would also get to be regimental pioneers so they'd dress up in 1800s garb (leather apron and axe), wear a beard, and parade with the band or the colours.

Wow, that job description is so extremely stereotypically Canadian it's almost offensive. No wonder they got rid of Pioneers.

The Brits started this if you can believe it. We just made it look good!

Top tip? Make a raft with a tarp, rope, and a bunch of sticks. Then float the Newfie out into the middle of a very big and cold river.

yeah I've met one before attached to CER, total fucking badass.... oh well, I figured it would be a cool idea. But I also assumed it would just be cadpat with a beard haha

Please ignore the demotivator but would these guys be possibly part of the pioneers?
http://marginalizedactiondinosaur.ne...-commandos.jpg

might be an old photo from the 80s from the look of it, though i am nowhere near an expert

Those are Canadian Pioneers in Bosnia
Source: http://www.suite101.com/view_image_articles.cfm/235018

They are Pioneers from 1RCR(pretty sure it's 1) in Bosnia(or Kosovo?). I'm pretty sure the pic is from the 90's, not the 80s or 2005 as what the link above says. If it was 2005 they would be in CADPAT and I believe by then the Assault Pioneers were gone.

They are wearing the OD Goretex/Combat Jackets which I think came out in the later half of the 1990s.

well look at the right guy...his helmet looks like having a cadpat cover

hm?

someone call me?

oh, it's about the unit, lol

The Helmets and covers were the first pieces we received in the mid 90's.

Just to add to what ex said...

ok didn't know!

Were they issued the CF belt knife?

http://www.grohmannknives.com/images...ann%20r3sa.jpg

Yes...Pioneers were issued this. Still have my Grohmann.

We need a picture of a badass bearded MCLMM with a chainsaw and shovel straped to his 64 jump ruck.

I just wish there was something a little more unique about their gear, they are just so badass and would make a unique loadout

These guys are the pinnacle of the Canadian Bad-ass...it is a shame with have done away with Pioneers.

YEP, Sounds right
 

I completed my Assault Pioneer Course in Gagetown 1993, one hell of a course. It was one of the most diverse positions in the Infantry...especially the Ordenance Training and blowing things up, like bridges, bunkers, making shape charges etc...fun course

Flight Engineers are also issued with this knife as well.

Funny story about that...
Base clothing is so messed up. I'm a Combat Engineer, and when I went to get my Grohmann, I got told "You're not entitled, it's only for Flight Engineers"

.....Excuse me? the FE in FE Knife stands for Field Engineer (now called Combat Engineer) not Flight Engineer.

Mind you, this was 3 years ago, and I have since gotten my own equipment, bonus is I don't have to return it when I'm done :)

My buddy from 3RCR informed me that they are looking into bringing back the Pioneers for the Light Infantry.

~Thanato

Those rumors aren't new, I've also heard rumor awhile ago about Mortar Pl coming back to Combat Support Coy. At this point though, I wouldn't consider them to be anything more then just rumor.

Only thing that was old and gotten rid of that is coming back is Assault Troop for the Armour, at least for the RCDs. I think the LdSH is doing the same, or considering it.

personaly i think all the canadain forces should have the option of a beard, cause they look bad ass.

In the 80's the beard was to distinguish them easily on the battlefield. The assault pioneer was part of an infantry battalion, he was very important because he would have the special equipment and training to breach enemy fortifications, disarm mines, breach barbwire, destroy fortified positions (concrete bunkers) etc. At least that's what I was told when I was attached to the infantry, I was signals:) The rest of us were told we couldn't wear the beard because of the gas mask.

I've heard the same rumour. Maybe bringing the pioneers back in that every company would have a pioneer det. So much of the CF is in flux right now though.

Just wondering. My grandfather was in the Navy, (don't know when, sorry) and the story is that he could keep a bit of a beard because he kept it trimmed so the gas mask still fit and sealed properly on his face. What are the comments on here of it?

Nonsense, it was a tradition, that was preserved.. at their own peril... One of these things is not like the other is a magnet for snipers.

Traditionally Sappers were often also company blacksmiths.. and anyone who has spent any time next to a forge knows why blacksmiths have beards.

The theory was for a beard/gas mask you coat the beard in Vaseline and then put the mask on. The grease made a secondary seal.

The reality was if you were an infantry soldier in the pioneer platoon headed to the Fulda Gap you would be shaving before you got there. You were on the sharp end for NBC tasks.

You also might wind up having to remove it if you went on a course that was outside you unit (unless you really enjoyed being the first guy noticed at inspection).

I'm studying Paramedicine and it's the same rule, gotta shave for the N95s. But my teacher told us that there was a Muslim guy(so if I got it wrong) I believe who couldn't shave his whole beard due to religion, so he compromised to shave an outline just so the mask could fit. =S