General CFRC Questions – Regular Forces

[Komal]

Hi! I have also applied for Engineer Officer but through the ROTP program, I am now thinking of accepting my offer, but I just wanted to ask about the engineer officer lifestyle and how often you guys get deployed? I don't want to sign up for a career where i'll never be at home... 

 

[mariomike]

I just wanted to ask about the engineer officer lifestyle and how often you guys get deployed?

On being an Engineer (officer)
https://army.ca/forums/threads/33020.25
2 pages.

Engineering Officer training/career questions 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/102989.0

Tuna's questions about a career as an Engineer (Officer)
https://army.ca/forums/threads/101268.0

I don't want to sign up for a career where i'll never be at home... 

How long do I need to be away from home in regular force?
https://army.ca/forums/threads/91732.0

All things joining the military (but not wanting to deploy) - merged 
http://army.ca/forums/threads/89177.0/nowap.html
4 pages.

Away from home
https://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Aarmy.ca+engineer+officer&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&gfe_rd=cr&ei=C1kTWYegLcGC8Qft343gCQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=site:army.ca+%22away+from+home%22&spf=1494440921675

Deployments
https://www.google.ca/search?q=site%3Aarmy.ca+engineer+officer&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&gfe_rd=cr&ei=C1kTWYegLcGC8Qft343gCQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=site:army.ca+deployment&spf=1494440921672

etc...

As always,  Recruiting is your most trusted source of information.

 

[Blackadder1916]

. . .  I don't want to sign up for a career where i'll never be at home...

This, an not uncommon train of thought for contemporary ROTP applicants, I find to be somewhat odd for anyone starting as an officer in the CF.  While you will, if you accept the ROTP offer, be in uniform for several years, it is not a period of servitude.  Look at it in the same way as any other young person who has decided on an educational path because that is what it is at this stage of your life.  For the next four years you will be in university.  You're not going anywhere, other than attending occupational related training in the summer.  Okay, you may be attending a school where you will have to dress the same as every other student, but the country pays you to wear the funny looking student clothes.  You don't have to worry about finding summer employment or student loans.  When you finish your degree you have a guaranteed job that will (especially as an engineer) be directly related to your degree (that first job is important to padding the resume).  You'll probably have one or two other distinctively different and progressively more responsible jobs in the short (5 years?) time that is payback for your education.  Again great for the resume.  By the time one has discharged his service obligation, the typical ROTP type will be 26 or 27 years old.  At that age, nobody is so established in a "career" that they can't easily move into a different direction.

Now, if your thought is that you want to have all the benefits of a subsidized education but don't want to deploy so are looking for an occupation that stays at home, then find someone else to pay for your schooling.

 

[Mahir0901]

How many infantry soldiers get accepted to the CAF every year?

 

[Infant_Tree]

Are you going in as NCM or Officer?

 

[Kat Stevens]

How many infantry soldiers get accepted to the CAF every year?

All of them.

 

[Mahir0901]

I'm going as an NCM

 

[da1root]

How many infantry soldiers get accepted to the CAF every year?

All of them.

BAHAHAHAHA ... love it Kat Stevens!!

On a serious note, there is no exact number of Infantry that the CAF recruits on a yearly basis.  The number changes year to year; sometimes it's because the Government increases the size of the military - other times it's due to individuals who are in the trade either changing to another trade or retiring from the CAF.

 

[Louis_Army]

I've been considering joining the army for a long time and I would like to know what my best options are.

I currently live in Montreal with no significant work experience, activities, and no University degree. Completed my C-GEP in Sciences years ago.
I recently started training my body since I wasn't exactly in shape (never been fat or even skinny fat tho) but I'm kinda physically clumsy by design.

It recently came to my understanding that there was a possibility of being an intelligence operator. I'm drawn to it because I have a good verbal intelligence, analytical skills, fascinated by world events, about geography, history and other languages. I'm bilingual.
But what are the chances to get hired there considering my predicament?

And aside from that orientation, is there something for me in the army?

 

[enahs603]

First of all the process is not a quick yes or no thing. You shouldnt even worry about chances, you have nothing to lose by applying, just apply and see what happens and if 6 months down the road you happen to get an offer you can always turn it down if you decide you no longer want it. Theres nothing inherently wrong with your predicament, many NCMs dont have university degrees or work experience when they apply, there are many factors taken into account for applicants including stuff still directly in your control: your CFAT test and your interview.

The chance of failure or not being accepted is not a good enough reason to not even attempt it.

 

[mariomike]

It recently came to my understanding that there was a possibility of being an intelligence operator. I'm drawn to it because I have a good verbal intelligence, analytical skills, fascinated by world events, about geography, history and other languages. I'm bilingual.
But what are the chances to get hired there considering my predicament?

In case you have read it already, you may find this discussion of interest,

"I want to be Int" Mega-thread 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/12858.200
16 pages.

 

[Louis_Army]

Yes that's the thread that convinced me to make this one.

Aside from intelligence operators, which in my understanding is hard to get into, what other paths would be available, and what are the promotions/career advancement down the line for someone starting 'low'?

 

[mariomike]

Aside from intelligence operators, which in my understanding is hard to get into, what other paths would be available, and what are the promotions/career advancement down the line for someone starting 'low'?

Career Options
http://www.forces.ca/en/page/careeroptions-123

As always, Recruiting is your most trusted source of information.

 

[Louis_Army]

Yes but from experience, which one of these is easy to get in, opens up career paths and can be intellectually stimulating?

 

[Loachman]

That depends upon you. Everybody is different - different interests, experiences, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.

Anything easy is not worth doing, and you should be seeking challenges rather than something "easy".

Read through older threads here. That will give you much better insight.

 

[Louis_Army]

Yeah I'm skimming through them. I'm not looking for anything easy. I'm looking for something I have good chances of getting in on the spot.

Aside from what I described, I'm expecting the possibility of a career that has good and realistic promotion potential, through experience and competence. Not just being stuck in the same occupation for the same wage my entire career.

I know next to nothing about the army, but say, where can an infantry private head too on the long term, without going back to college? Or a naval communicator?

 

[Loachman]

No two careers are alike. There are many variables. Promotion will depend largely on your efforts and abilities. The CF is quite supportive of those who seek to improve their education as well.

As for "getting in on the spot", I'm not  sure how you define that, but the occupation that you select will depend upon the positions available, your interests, your CFAT score, and your overall competitiveness.

Keep reading...

 

[Louis_Army]

I'm not sure how to define on the spot. I mean being guaranteed a place as long as I proceed normally through the process and show a reasonable understanding of what I'm getting into with a strong motivation to serve my country.

 

[mariomike]

where can an infantry private head too on the long term, without going back to college?

Infantry Soldiers who demonstrate the required ability, dedication and potential are selected for opportunities for career progression, promotion and advanced training, including Paratrooper training.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/caf-jobs/career-options/fields-work/combat-specialists/infantry-soldier.html

Or a naval communicator?

Opportunities for career progression, promotion and advanced training are available for those who demonstrate ability and potential.
https://www.canada.ca/content/canadasite/en/department-national-defence/services/caf-jobs/career-options/fields-work/telecommunications/naval-communicator.html

I mean being guaranteed a place as long as I proceed normally through the process and show a reasonable understanding of what I'm getting into with a strong motivation to serve my country.

TIMINGS - ESTIMATED TIMES FOR_______________ 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/81054.0

Application Process Samples 
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/13064.0.html
213 pages.

 

[Good2Golf]

Louis, for what it is worth, consider that ANY career in the military will bring with it a fair bit of uncertainty, whether that is caused by the military's own internal characteristics, or from the environment within which the military will operate.  So, if it is certainty that you are looking for, then you have to decide: "is an organization that has to deal on a regular basis with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity in Canada and around the world, the kind of organization you want to be a part of?"  It sounds like you need to ask yourself if you are okay with that now and years into the future, because you will most certainly find life in the CAF to be anything but deliberate, certain, planned, dependable, etc.  There are probably few here serving or having served, who had their careers unfold precisely as they initially though, back when they recruited into the CF/CAF.  It probably isn't a stretch to say that every one of us had a fair bit of uncertainty throughout our careers.  Are you okay with that?

Regards
G2G