Canadian Forces Questions

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asvpak47

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Hi there,

I've been thinking about a career in the Canadian Forces.

I've been working in Calgary for last 8 years in an oil company. I have a BComm degree and currently working in the Accounting/Finance department.

I am not married and have no kids, in my early 30s. I am physically active and feel at close to my physical prime.

As a child, I was always interested in all things military, playing with plastic guns and GI Joes. I've tried to follow the system and completed a degree at University and have worked 8 years. A desk job isn't exactly my cup of tea and I am now considering part-time or full-time change of career.

On the Canadian Forces website, they do a good job with listing out available positions, however I would like to hear more personal accounts for those have served and are still serving. Experience as full-time or part-time or reserves would be very helpful.

Information I'm looking for is responsiblities and expectations (especially for part-time and reservists) and as well as full-time.

I have a degree from U of C, that makes me eligible to apply as an officer. Is that preferred? What are the differences?

Are there reservists or part-time Canadian Forces that are in similar careers like mine and are able to work a job and be part of the forces?

I know this is alot of vague questions, I've sent a similar email to a local Canadian Forces email address that I found on their website.

I guess I'm just combing for more personal info at CGN, thanks for any advice/info you all might be able to provide.

GT
 
Every occupation would be interested in an officer win Accounting trading. I was a CGA when I commissioned from the ranks (infantry) to the Artillery. Almost all officers handle their own sub unit budget now.
 
If you have time, go for a visit to the recruiting centre.
But to answer a few of your questions:
I have a degree from U of C, that makes me eligible to apply as an officer. Is that preferred? What are the differences?
yes and no, if you are a hands on type of person then go for the ranks, if you are more of a manager and not getting your hands dirty then go for your commission ( officer), if you are not sure then go for the ranks, and if you wish, commission later.
Are there reservists or part-time Canadian Forces that are in similar careers like mine and are able to work a job and be part of the forces?

Yes, but when you are in your training phase you will be undergoing courses that will consume your time. Some courses are not offered as a part time basis,mmeaning you could be expected to be away for a few months at a time, especially if you go officer.
 
It all depends what you want to do. If you found that you no longer want the desk job life, it really makes no sense getting the army version of a desk job. If you're looking to challenge yourself you may want to look into getting into combat arms. With your degree you can go officer if you are looking for more responsiblilties.

I'm a reservist and work full time, it can be challenging at times to make both of them work. My experience with the army is great, it sucks but it's a special fun kinda suck. Hard to explain best to see for yourself.

Good luck!
 
My best suggestion is go for before life takes you away somewhere, especially since you have no kids or are married. It's a life like no other, good or bad. Sometimes I regret leaving even though I've accomplished a lot of #### that I never would if I stayed in. Soldiering is like policing or firefighting, it gives a steady purpose to your life, because outside of that with no family we're just consuming and slowly dying lol.
If you've worked for oil companies and spent time in the oil patch you've already seen a bit of the positives of the life, you'll get brothers from other mothers and you'll bond like they're blood. It does have it's negatives too, sometimes you'll pull your hair out in frustration at #### that just don't make sense. In the end it's like most jobs because it has an amount of BS that you'll either love, hate, or tolerate just so you can enjoy the positives. It's a life that can come with a lot of pride and self worth. As far as the trade you'll pick, recruiters will try to funnel you into something related to your degree, if it's something you'll enjoy doing then pull the trigger. As far as the component; Reg force you're fully married to the life until the end of your contract, you may have no choice on your postings; with reserves you have a little more control but still have the opportunity to bid on contracts all over the country if you have the want, but you're really only committed to one night a week and one weekend a month outside of your initial training, although your career will advance faster with the more time you put in.
 
Even tho I love this job and where it has taken me, I'm counting the days down to retirement. Like posted above its a special kind of place and its hard to explain.
 
Served with the PPCLI for 3 years in the 80's. I can NEVER repay this country for the endlessly valuable lessons I learned while enlisted, hard lessons but worth every damn bit of sweat and blood I gave. Values I use to this day.

Izzit
 
I definitely suggest to go Logistics officer for you. You find them on every base and location, they're needed everywhere. I suggest Air Force rather than Army or Navy, but that's a matter of philosophical preference: I was green and loved working on a blue base. People in blue tend to care more for the results you get than what you look like obtaining them. ;)
 
Thanks everyone for your insights, your personal opinions have been informative and helpful.

In conclusion, as Percussion mentioned, I am not looking for a finance/accounting related job in the Canadian Forces. I think my motivation is doing something different with my life that is more than clocking in and out and working away on excel worksheets all day. For me, my current career it isn't peronally satisfying and more a means to sustain my financial obligations and I thought that joining the army reserves may provide that balance I'm looking for, to be part of something that I can be proud of, ie serving my country.

There are information sessions every Wednesday (recruiter emailed me back), and I will attend those and go from there.

Thanks again for all those who have replied, more information is also welcome, thanks in advance.
 
First the following is the way I see it

Go officer. They look after their own and you have more opportunities and a bigger pension when you get out

The recruiting center lies LIES ! they either lie by malevolence , by omission or STUPIDITY.
If you ask a question and they give you a stupid look RUN!

Do not let them bully you into taking a job/Trade/Position you do not want! you will be in predicament for at least 3 years (that's being optimistic )

Go for a trade that will translate into the civilian field , stay away from stuff like weapons tech , 291er , intel ,(seriously guys no fowl against these trades but there is no civilian equivalent) and infantry .......unless your only going to do 3 years or so.

IF the recruiters cannot answer your questions about a particular MOC,MOSID, or what ever they call them ........forget them they will not help

Do Not! Have any ideas that enlistment will help make the world , let alone the country a better place.

DO NOT have any weird ideas that an interest in firearms will be an asset in the military , esp in the support trades where firearms are feared and interest is discouraged

Now in the military you have GREEN (army) Blue (airforce) and Black (NAVY) or Purple (all elements.....though that is change depending what your uniform is )

BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO A UNIFORM PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION WHERE THE BASES ARE

IE trention is airforce , petawawa is army .....Victoria is navy , etc ......look at the cost of living , and the potential postings for those bases .....you could stay there for years or you could move every year or two .

Now for the purple trades they will tell you that , an occupation is purple thus you can go anywhere ..........sounds good ..BULLSH!T ! If you pick a navy uniform....look at Victoria or Halifax......etc etc etc ........People will tell you different , ITS WRONG ! The military has been moving towards that for years and it will actually be better to consider that .

military service has nothing to do with freedom, it's just the way it is

Do not hang your identity ont the military, marry the military is like marrying a whore, it will use you up and throw you away

When you get out , Do not put military service on your resume it will impede your selection for employment

Oh , btw since the liberals are in power make sure you read about , Somalia , Rwanda , and medac pocket as that is the kind of thing your going to be dealing with.


OH if your looking to make a career , look hard at being bilingual , unless you want to be corporal for life

Other than that .... Have fun
 
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Kind of hard not putting it on a resume, there is no other way to explain a 25 year hole in my work experience.. lol...

And If a company doesn't want to see me because of it, well I dont want to work for them either. BTW Cummings love DND EGS techs :) so much that i'm thinking of remustering... lol...
 
DILLIGAF said:
Kind of hard not putting it on a resume, there is no other way to explain a 25 year hole in my work experience.. lol...

And If a company doesn't want to see me because of it, well I dont want to work for them either. BTW Cummings love DND EGS techs :)
Click to expand...

I hear ya buddy been there , my experiance avoid mentioning it , you could always lie and tell people you were in jail , I am starting to think that's preferable.

and if you can pick and choose your employers , good for you
 
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Oh one more thing. As a reservist, the pay is not that great, kinda sucks actually. However the real pay off is in experience, knowledge, comradery, etc.

I understand where you are coming from in terms of an unsatifying career. I was unhappy with the job i have, it was stressful, boring, can be physically and mentally intensive at times. But after joining the army and becoming trade qualified i started enjoying my job again. I dont know what it was, it could be a new sense of purpose, it could be that during training I've learned how to deal with pressure and intensity better. Either way i am a much better version of my old self.
 
Did almost 22 years in the ranks, retired as a Sgt. in 2002 - was a cold war soldier and worked in signals intelligence - things were different then.

If I had my time back I would have either gone officer (if the option existed) or have got into one of the trades that could directly translate into a well paying, in demand, civilian job (many of the hard airforce trades - safety systems, aero engine, airframe tech) or one of the electronics trades.

Given the current political climate which is likely to be in place for a number of years now (at least for a good chunk of your remaining productive years), if you are serious about a career change I would only look at the regular forces - forget the reserves. The budget is going to get really hacked in the next few years so unless you are just looking for an "occasional diversion from your otherwise stable lifestyle" the reserves would most likely not even keep you entertained.

The military does suck the life out of you - they own you and own your time - it's definitely NOT a democratic organization - they come first, second and third - what you want is considered (once you are in - they promise lot's before hand), but it's down near the bottom of things considered.

As a junior officer you will get treated like and eat a lot of crap - as a junior NCO you will 'one day rise to the point' where you get treated like crap and have to eat a lot of crap.

I might sound negative, but I'm not really. I don't regret my time in the Forces even though I went through two wives during my time in - thought they could deal with the lifestyle but found they couldn't. In hind sight, had I have remained single during my time in it would have made for a far more enjoyable career - when you don't have a "real home" or other obligations there is opportunity to really get involved.

After working through a couple of draw downs in the CF during my time in, all the warning signs are there again for another few "dark years". So while I wouldn't say "don't at least check it out", you may be looking at one of those "downhill times" and if you waffle for a year or two there may be great waiting lists to get into any trade or occupation.
 
Having a military background on your resume means: that you know how to adapt and overcome in tough situations; you understand the need for discipline in any effective group activity; you know the meaning of personal responsibility and the resultant consequences if you f@ck up; you know when to shut up or to stand your ground and don't get the two confused.
I would have been a lifer, but found out that I couldn't hack Quebec after a four year tour in Germany. I felt like I was serving in a foreign army in a foreign country.

I could go on, but .... those who wore the uniform know what I mean. I had a hard time re-adapting to civilian life after my 12 years. I walked into BC Tel right from the Signal Corps, lasted 4 years before I decided working outdoors was better and went into the natural gas industry where I stayed for 28 years.

In both companies, I was put off by the brown nosing, a$$ kissing and "career planning" that went on. It took about 6 months to figure out who had a work ethic and who was along for the pay and bennies.
 
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