Not in the army said:
Thanks, I found a list of all the spec jobs, the ATC job looks neat, so does airborne sensor operator. Still, I would really like to be infantry or armoured. Guess I’ll have to wait to get promoted to start making good bank.
AC Ops receive spec pay if they are PAR (Precision Approach Radar) operators, otherwise as far as I know they are in the Standard pay category.
Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator (AES Op) is a Specialist 1 pay trade.
* note - the current recruiting video is out of date; it shows a SeaKing for MH which has been replaced with the Cyclone on both coasts and the Aurora is a Block 2 version (older sensors, displays, etc). The tactical stations/displays on the Aurora are substantially different now with Block 3 modernizations complete, and Block 4 coming down the pipe to the fleet.
Once you are a Cpl and trained to the Operationally Functional Point (qual'd as aircrew on the Cyclone or Aurora, at this point) you will move to Spec 1 pay category. To give some perspective on how much of a difference spec pay makes over your career for earning potential AND in retirement for your pension, back when I was a newly qualified Aurora AES Op, as a Corporal, I made more per month than the Sqn Orderly Room Chief Clerk who was a Sgt.
That also didn't include my aircrew allowance, an additional $327/month starting off.
Now, pay isn't the only or (IMO) primary factor in deciding a trade, but at the same time it is something to consider. AES Ops who pass all their training to the point of being qualified on the Aurora or Cyclone fleets and have 48 months of service (time required to be promoted to Cpl) will have roughly the same pay as any Standard Pay Category Sergeant/Petty Officer 2nd Class.
As Dimsum mentioned, there are 4 initial postings for AES Ops. 2 of them are for Maritime Helicopter; Esquimalt BC (Sqn is actually in Pat's Bay on the Island) and Shearwater NS. Both of those locations are currently assessed as a higher cost of living area and receive something called Post Living Differential (PLD). PLD for Sheawater is $631 a month, and for Victoria BC (Esquimalt falls under Victoria) PLD is $816 a month.
MH AES Ops also can receive an additional allowance (Sea Duty Allowance) if they are part of a Helicopter Air Detachment that is sailing on a HMCS.
The earning potential as a NCM is pretty spectacular for the AES Op trade.
It's also a busy trade if you are at a flying squadron. We are away quite often but we get to go to a lot of places and our flying schedule usually allows us to do some sight seeing. I've been all over North America from Vancouver Island, to Resolute Bay, to Nlfd, to Key West Florida. I've crossed both oceans numerous times and been to places like Iceland, Scotland, England, Germany, Norway, the Middle East, Central America, Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, Japan and Sicily on exercises and operations.
If you're interested in some more reading on AES OP on this forum, maybe start
about here in this AES Op thread.
Here's the link to the CAF internet on which trades are specialist pay trades.
Specialist Pay for Regular Force and Reserve Class C Reserve Service
