- Location
- land of f-cktards
Totally agree......but employers don't care about that, not in Ontario anyway
yup that's quebec
but you were a sig........oh wait lineman? if so got it lol
Canadian Forces Questions
- Thread starter asvpak47
- Start date
Totally agree......but employers don't care about that, not in Ontario anyway
yup that's quebec
but you were a sig........oh wait lineman? if so got it lol
- Location
- East ontario
22 years in and only made Sgt. Is that normal in the CF. Not trying to be a ####
Just asking
Canadian Force Reserves/Reservists
Hey again, first off, thanks for all the replies on my original post under subject heading "Canadian Forces Questions".
That led to my posting this new thread.
For those that are full-time or part-time would it makes sense to start off as a reservist to get a feel for what a career might look like in the CF.
Please take into consideration, that financial gain and pay is not a high priority for looking into the CF. A comment that I read from my previous thread mentioned that unless I am looking for a diversion from normal life per say then do not look into the reserves.
Maybe that is what I'm looking for right now. Not to jump into a full life and career change, but to add something else into my life ie part-time/reservist. I envision that I can still have my civilian occupation (for financial stablility) as well as spend time in an organization for part of the week/month.
Are there people here that are in a similar predicament or know of people who have both a civilian occupation and are part time reservists. If you're one of those and are reading this, I'd like to know what your experiences are like. If you aren't in this category, I'd like to welcome your views also.
I'm not trying to change the world, and I don't necessarily think being part of the CF will make my life better (or worse) but looking to add something to my life that is structured and part of something bigger. I could of course volunteer around the city, join beer leagues in softball, etc. I am more interested in the CF because of what I think I know about it. But am on here seeking information as I know there are people that have direct experience(s).
Thanks again,
GT
Hey again, first off, thanks for all the replies on my original post under subject heading "Canadian Forces Questions".
That led to my posting this new thread.
For those that are full-time or part-time would it makes sense to start off as a reservist to get a feel for what a career might look like in the CF.
Please take into consideration, that financial gain and pay is not a high priority for looking into the CF. A comment that I read from my previous thread mentioned that unless I am looking for a diversion from normal life per say then do not look into the reserves.
Maybe that is what I'm looking for right now. Not to jump into a full life and career change, but to add something else into my life ie part-time/reservist. I envision that I can still have my civilian occupation (for financial stablility) as well as spend time in an organization for part of the week/month.
Are there people here that are in a similar predicament or know of people who have both a civilian occupation and are part time reservists. If you're one of those and are reading this, I'd like to know what your experiences are like. If you aren't in this category, I'd like to welcome your views also.
I'm not trying to change the world, and I don't necessarily think being part of the CF will make my life better (or worse) but looking to add something to my life that is structured and part of something bigger. I could of course volunteer around the city, join beer leagues in softball, etc. I am more interested in the CF because of what I think I know about it. But am on here seeking information as I know there are people that have direct experience(s).
Thanks again,
GT
- Location
- land of f-cktards
non combat arms ........yup
a lot of 20 year masterjacks out there too
esp now because you have have to parle vous and have a profile
to me the WTF was always the number of 20year+ captains out there
I remember one who joined in like 75 and got out in 2006
I've done both reserves and regular forces, and it's somewhat different in focus. As we used to say as reservists: "Your career is my hobby". Meaning, the reserves tend to be a bit of a social club disguised in military clothing. You can't absolutely count on reservists to "be there" on any given training occasion: their civilian lives will always (and justifiably) have precedence: family, job, studies, etc. over a part time job. That's the nature of the reserves. On the other hand, when they are there, they are usually quite well motivated: they haven't signed a contract binding them to the job for years, they're there because they wish to be, and it shows. Because there is a rather quick rotation of people joining and leaving the reserves, promotions tend to be a little fast, meaning a reserve NCO does not usually have the depth of knowledge or experience than a regular NCO of the same rank will have. Again, that's not derogatory: it's the nature of the part-time service. If I remember right, officers do get the exact same training in Res F and Reg F, but are more limited in job opportunities in the Res F: there's only so many positions for officers in a given unit.
You get essentially the same training, the same uniform, follow the same traditions and ethics, are under the same physical fitness requirement, discipline and military laws while you're at work, but the focus is more on the short-term training needs so there's things reservists simply cannot do as part of the reserves due to lack of time and resources. Reg Forces get access to language training, for example. Thing to remember, from the system's point of view you are in the reserves not for the purpose of being a reservist, but to be able to supplement the regular forces with a minimal amount of supplementary training (we call that "augmentation"). And the Reg F can definitely use you, as a rule: there's opportunities to work for 3 or 6 months contracts with the Ref F anywhere, including on operational deployments.
But you won't really get a "feel" for what a career in the Reg F is by going the Res F, just as being a part-time floor manager in a store cannot give you the full experience of making a full-time career of the position, day in day out, with long term plans involved. Strangely enough, the reserves tend to be a little more "Hollywood Army" than the Reg F, in my experience: because they don't get to be military day in, day out for years at a time, they tend to almost be more military than the regulars in regard to how they act and react while they're at work. More of "Yes Sir, No Sir, Perhaps Sir would reconsider before pulling that pin right now Sir?". More formal in behaviour.
Overall assessment? It's a LOT of fun, I recommend it without reservations.
You get essentially the same training, the same uniform, follow the same traditions and ethics, are under the same physical fitness requirement, discipline and military laws while you're at work, but the focus is more on the short-term training needs so there's things reservists simply cannot do as part of the reserves due to lack of time and resources. Reg Forces get access to language training, for example. Thing to remember, from the system's point of view you are in the reserves not for the purpose of being a reservist, but to be able to supplement the regular forces with a minimal amount of supplementary training (we call that "augmentation"). And the Reg F can definitely use you, as a rule: there's opportunities to work for 3 or 6 months contracts with the Ref F anywhere, including on operational deployments.
But you won't really get a "feel" for what a career in the Reg F is by going the Res F, just as being a part-time floor manager in a store cannot give you the full experience of making a full-time career of the position, day in day out, with long term plans involved. Strangely enough, the reserves tend to be a little more "Hollywood Army" than the Reg F, in my experience: because they don't get to be military day in, day out for years at a time, they tend to almost be more military than the regulars in regard to how they act and react while they're at work. More of "Yes Sir, No Sir, Perhaps Sir would reconsider before pulling that pin right now Sir?". More formal in behaviour.
Overall assessment? It's a LOT of fun, I recommend it without reservations.
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Can't refute this as a general rule, but when I am hiring, Ex-forces is always a big sell for me...I like to have a team that can handle a little pressure without getting all precious. I have hired several over the years and never regretted it. but I also come from a family with a long history of service so I may be biased.
That depends a lot on your trade. There's not as much mobility in smaller trades, where there's no opening for a Warrant Officer before one that's in place either leaves or gets promoted... for which he needs a Master Warrant Officer to leave or get promoted... etc. (think geomatics, meteo, that sort of things).
A typical unit might have 6 Lieutenant positions, 2-3 Captain positions and just 1 Major position. Captain is one rank where lots of officers remain at for their whole career, which is why they get a relatively nice pay scale with 10 yearly increases that ends up at about $98k a year. Specialist captains like Doctors, Dentists, Pilots, Lawyers make more than that. Incidentally, that's also why there's so many officers in staff positions in headquarters: that's where they end up in between postings to operational units.
Kudos and thanks to you!
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- Location
- land of f-cktards
your a rare one then
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
and I'm merging the threads.
really its not a milsurp thread and should go somewhere else.
really its not a milsurp thread and should go somewhere else.
i'm definitely interested in the reserves. one of my b-i-l was a reservist and my sis is one as well. My other b-i-l is a reg force and my father in law was with JAG as a reservist. i think it would be awesome to have a small amount of supplementary income while contributing and serving your country, albeit whatever small contribution that is.
- Location
- land of f-cktards
Reserves, I do not agree with Grawfr's opinion
some of the best and worst troops I have worked with have been both reserves and reg
first not all trades are the same in the military , the regs , or the reserves.
I seen a lot of support trades deploy, and have the opportunity for component transfer to go reg , imo its a good thing to have the door there.
I think they might offer money towards to a degree as well
The military put me through university and I did six years after in the PPCLI (Infantry) and it was one of the best things I ever did. Don't think about whether you want to stay in for 30 years right now, you can decide that later. Try to get in as an officer if you can, and if you do treat everyone that works for you with respect, and don't be afraid to ask them for their advice. Logistics is a great path, I had many friends in that branch and they all loved what they did. Good luck, and get on with it.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Pops did 32 years in and only retired as a WO. And WO was only his like last several years in.
I did 12 and was A CFL ( Corporal for life )
Its normal when you fight for your people.
Looks like every piece of advice is has been given already but my suggestion is to find some one in the trade you want and get their impressions and experience about the job. Most recruiters will lie to you and if they don't how can an Air force officer tell you about what it is like a being an army Corporal? That's like Pilot telling explaining the life of a ditch digger or vice versa. Also be prepared to travel across Canada for at least a year before having an actual home again.
I am sure most people will that agree the military is the most extreme love hate relationship anyone can experience. I miss it everyday but I am not going back. Go Regular Force but if for whatever reason you think joining the reserves is a good idea then do big boy basic. Don't do the Four weekend or condensed version or what ever, do the full reg force basic because not only do get the better experience and training you won't get ridiculed later on.
***YOUR EXPERIENCE MAY DIFFER***
I am sure most people will that agree the military is the most extreme love hate relationship anyone can experience. I miss it everyday but I am not going back. Go Regular Force but if for whatever reason you think joining the reserves is a good idea then do big boy basic. Don't do the Four weekend or condensed version or what ever, do the full reg force basic because not only do get the better experience and training you won't get ridiculed later on.
***YOUR EXPERIENCE MAY DIFFER***
Go Officer , don't wast your time in the Militia. Go Air force they serve the best food, actually best everything. as others have said, get in a trade that has a job waiting after the military.
avoid the combat trades, as having frozen muck lucks gets old quick. Dentist , Dr, pilot , etc.
avoid the combat trades, as having frozen muck lucks gets old quick. Dentist , Dr, pilot , etc.
infideleggwelder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Best.Job.I.Ever.Had.
on 28 years now. first PPCLI for 5, now an Army cook, thinking of hanging up the full time apron soon and joining the reserves. i`m sure theres an infantry unit looking for a chief cook somewhere.
If you join as an officer and have student loans, don`t take them up on their offer to pay them off. they`ll own you for a while. unless you planning on doing that anyway.
takes a certain kind of person to be a good officer, those are far and few between.
on 28 years now. first PPCLI for 5, now an Army cook, thinking of hanging up the full time apron soon and joining the reserves. i`m sure theres an infantry unit looking for a chief cook somewhere.
If you join as an officer and have student loans, don`t take them up on their offer to pay them off. they`ll own you for a while. unless you planning on doing that anyway.
takes a certain kind of person to be a good officer, those are far and few between.
