Comm Research

[chevalnoir]

It depends entirely on where you work, there isn't a standard shift for all positions.

 

[Kokanee]

I know the usual work schedule for comms research is shift work but I cant find any clarification on the usual shift schedule. Is it 4- 10's, rotating days, evenings, nights, with days off. etc. How does the shifting work?

@ The "Mothership" there is both shift and day work. The current shift schedule is 7 days on, 5 days off. The schedule rotates starting with 3 days, 2 eves, 2 mids ... then 2 days, 3 eves, 2 mids and finishes with 2 days, 2 eves, 3 mids.

Outside of operational positions/deployments or ship/overseas postings, Comm Rsch postings are standard days.

 

[candooggle]

has anyone been contacted or know when the selection for comms research is. I was merit listed when the trade still had openings and every time I call the RC they tell me the selection has not been done yet.

 

[Deelo]

I was informed today that there were three open positions for Comm Research as of November 23rd, but was unable to get any additional information with regards to selections.

 

[blacktriangle]

Those three poor souls...

 

[Deelo]

I'd love to be one of those "poor souls"... Merit listed and waiting for the call. 

 

[candooggle]

No more positions. Possibly more in April. Maybe. lol

 

[Deelo]

One can only hope. Second choice is ACISS. Hopefully one of the two open up soon.  ;D

 

[YBN3A]

This is where the nonsense is, the trade is marked red, meaning you can not get out of it easy unless you sit out your contract, but then again the recruiting limits it instead of trying to fill those needed positions.
im not saying they need to do what they did with Infantry and hire more then needed and then force people out of trade, but seriously alot of people do leave because of the long wait for clearance (2 years for me) but i know alot of people who waited 3-5 years.
but they need to hire alot more keeping in mind that some of those people will leave during the long wait.
apart from that it is a very rewarding job, and there are alot of interesting things happening.

 

[aesop081]

they need to hire alot more keeping in mind that some of those people will leave during the long wait.

It is precisely because of that long wait that hiring more just to fill positions is hard to justify. Paying people to sit around and wait is hardly efficient use of our limited budget.

 

[jmlane]

[...]
but seriously alot of people do leave because of the long wait for clearance (2 years for me) but i know alot of people who waited 3-5 years.
[...]

Do you get to do anything interesting and somewhat relevant to your trade in those 2 years of waiting for clearance, or is it plainly 2 years of waiting before you could starting training for anything trade related?

 

[hotei]

Do you get to do anything interesting and somewhat relevant to your trade in those 2 years of waiting for clearance, or is it plainly 2 years of waiting before you could starting training for anything trade related?

You are going to hear a variety of answers on this one, and as the old saying goes: your time between your initial Phase I training and your Phase II training is largely what you make of it. There are some who are more than content to sit around day-in and day-out and do very little. However, there are a plethora of different possibilities.

Many Comm Rsch PATs (personnel awaiting trg) are attach-posted to 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment in a variety of capacities. I have seen everything from people working in the training cell developing the unclassified training, to a former Sig Op reprising his role and deploying up north on Op Nannook with the infantry. There are courses available (i.e. driver wheel -- learning to drive a variety of military and civilian vehicles), and training or development opportunities. Some of these might not be readily apparent, but there are always things that need to be done, and a similarly regular lack of people to do them.

A few PATs are also attach posted to CFS Leitrim -- though this typically requires you to have family (either a wife/children or parents) in the area -- though that is not a hard-and-fast rule. In Leitrim, there have been PATs employed in the training cell -- probably one of the better opportunities as you get to maintain proficiency in a number of things that often fall by the wayside while a PAT (i.e. PWT 1/2 [weapons' trg], pistol trg, the opportunity to participate in BFT (a 13km forced ruck march), first aid and many others. Other PATs are posted to supply where they assist the supply personnel with the routine there.

Other PATs can be tasked out to a variety of other units, both in Kingston and across Canada on short-term and longer-term taskings. Port security on the coasts, working with the SOAC (which I believe stands for the Special Operations Assaulter Course -- i.e. Special Forces), or I have even seen a handful of PATs deploy with JTFX (now called the Mission Support Unit) to 29 Palms in California. There have also been people who were attach posted to other units around Kingston unrelated to Comm Rsch but this seems to be an exception and not the rule.

Another exceptional opportunity that you get as a PAT is an abundance of free time. This doesn't mean you have to sit idle. While I was in Kingston, I applied for an ILP (individualized leaning plan -- subsidized education) and attended Queen's University at night. Likewise, you can complete OPME courses (Officer Professional Military Education -- courses that help for promotion once you reach the rank of Corporal or if you choose to commission). I also know of at least one individual who applied directly to RMC, was accepted, and proceeded to finish his degree, full time. What other job gives you a benefit like that, and pays you to do it?

Also, fitness is another possibility. Again, I know of one individual who, with his free time and the consent of his chain of command started a directed running programme. He eventually went on to participate in 100+ km land races.

There are a lot of people who will extol the hardships they endured on PAT, but it really is what you make of it. There will always be less than stellar moments -- and no shortage of them -- but then again that is life in general.

 

[Jammer]

No. You likely will not be enrolled until a course is available.

 

[jmlane]

Thanks hotei. Stellar reply. Good to know that for those with initiative and ambition, there can be lots to do.

 

[kimbrian]

Oh....you meant "Morse" code.........

That was very funny

 

[kimbrian]

Do you mean back dated to when promotion to cpl happend or cpl and ql5?

I know a guy who was finishing his 5s and he did his 3s as a cpl and he said he was getting back dated to when he finished his part 2.

Which came to about 18 months of back dated spec pay which is a pretty nice chunk of change.

woooow......

 

[chevalnoir]

Your guy is in for a rude surprise. That may have happened in the past, but no more. The time between when you get your corporals and when you finish your QL5 is counted as time towards your next IPC, but there is no lump sum back payment of spec pay.

 

[kimbrian]

IPC?  What does that stand for?

 

[aesop081]

The requirements to move from standard to specialist 1 is CPL and QL5. Only when both of these requirements are met, can you be paid spec 1. If you were a Cpl on your QL3, that still does not entitle you to be paid specialist 1 for that period of time.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

This is happening for folks who OT into a Spec trade and are Cpls;  after your finish your QL5, your IPC calculation in the Spec catagory is backdated to the day you entered the trade.  So if you were 2 years 2 months between your OT date and QL5 qual, well upon finishing the 5s, you would go to Spec 1, IPC 2.  The IPC is the only backdated part, there is NO 'backpay' aspect to it.

I can't remember the exact ref for it, I have it tucked away in my 'Saved' email folder at work, but I'll try to remember to post it tomorrow...