Well, it's even more gruelling than the sniper course and has high attrition. It's an 11 week course that involves a ground phase in (usually) Petawawa, ON and a sea phase in either Halifax or Comox.
Students on the course are trained on Adaptive Dispersed Operations (ADO), which is a cornerstone of the Army's Land Force 2021 operating concept.
https://canadianarmytoday.com/close-...ating-concept/
The Pathfinder candidates are trained to be experts at insertion and extraction techniques by air, land, and sea, and to be proficient in the establishment of drop, landing, and beach zones and austere airstrips for follow-on forces. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to advise commanders on the patrol pathfinder phase in joint operations.
Prerequisites:
- Infantry leadership qualified
- Basic Parachutist
- Basic Recce Patrolman
- Drop Zone/ Landing Zone Controller
- Commanding Officer's recommendation.
Because of the historically high attrition, the CAF has developed a program to prepare candidates and this program begins at least a year out from the course start date.