- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 10
Little bit of a background story to start...
Since I was a boy, I've always wanted to be an air traffic controller. My father was a controller for NAV CANADA and my grand-father was a flight service specialist for NAV CANADA as well. Since both my parents worked shift work, I would sometimes have to accompany my father to work if they couldn't find a babysitter. I would spend evenings and nights helping my father enter flight information and watch planes land and take off. Fast forward to high school graduation. In my senior year, I applied to NAV CANADA and received an invite to write the aptitude test the morning following my senior prom (much to my date's chagrin, no party for this guy). Three weeks later I received a notice in the mail that I had not scored well enough to merit an interview.
Plan B it is. Off to the University of New-Brunswick I went, not really knowing what I wanted to study. Started out as an Arts student, transferred to Science and transferred again to Science in Kinesiology. I was tempted to apply to NAV CANADA while I was at university but I decided to complete my commitment and get my degree. During my last semester, I applied to NAV CANADA once again and received another invite to write the aptitude test during the summer of 2011 following graduation. Wrote it and did very well. I moved on the first interview and a week later I found out that I had passed the first interview. At this point, one's application is extended for 18 months and placed in a pool (just like the merit list for the Forces) and only those who are selected from this pool get a second interview. 18 months and a few phone calls on my part later, no second interview. My application is terminated and I must start from scratch again.
It wasn't until a few months ago that I decided to apply to NAV CANADA for the third time while also looking into other career options such as CBSA, RCMP, Marine Traffic Control with the Coast Guard, etc... Up until that point, it had not occurred to me that one can be an air traffic controller in a military setting. I saw a link to the Forces website one day, went to the jobs page and saw that the Forces were hiring Aerospace Control Officers via DEO. I started researching everything I could about AEC and submitted my application at the end of May this year.
Since applying, it would appear that my application process is going rather quickly compared to many others' applications. One month after applying I wrote the CFAT and scored very well, qualifying for the AEC and Pilot trades. A few weeks later I received a call to schedule my medical, which I completed yesterday. The medical officer indicated that my vision will likely disqualify me from the Pilot trade (I wear glasses/contact lenses) but that there's nothing else medically wrong that would prevent me from moving forward. I received a phone call today to schedule an interview in two weeks time.
Currently waiting for my interview. Only this step and the Aircrew Selection in Trenton are left to complete before going onto the merit list. After doing plenty of reading on these forums and researching the AEC trade, my goal is to be a Weapons controller. For a long time I wanted to be an air traffic controller with NAV CANADA, but since applying to the Forces I realize that a career in the military is an opportunity like no other. I look forward to the challenge of BMOQ and becoming a junior officer. I look forward to learning and becoming a leader. To have the opportunity to work beside men and women who proudly serve the Canadian Forces.
It is my sincere hope that I am able to have all necessary steps completed and be on the merit list in time for the next AEC selection date on November 17.
Thanks for reading folks. Any advice/questions/comments/feedback will certainly be appreciated.
Since I was a boy, I've always wanted to be an air traffic controller. My father was a controller for NAV CANADA and my grand-father was a flight service specialist for NAV CANADA as well. Since both my parents worked shift work, I would sometimes have to accompany my father to work if they couldn't find a babysitter. I would spend evenings and nights helping my father enter flight information and watch planes land and take off. Fast forward to high school graduation. In my senior year, I applied to NAV CANADA and received an invite to write the aptitude test the morning following my senior prom (much to my date's chagrin, no party for this guy). Three weeks later I received a notice in the mail that I had not scored well enough to merit an interview.
Plan B it is. Off to the University of New-Brunswick I went, not really knowing what I wanted to study. Started out as an Arts student, transferred to Science and transferred again to Science in Kinesiology. I was tempted to apply to NAV CANADA while I was at university but I decided to complete my commitment and get my degree. During my last semester, I applied to NAV CANADA once again and received another invite to write the aptitude test during the summer of 2011 following graduation. Wrote it and did very well. I moved on the first interview and a week later I found out that I had passed the first interview. At this point, one's application is extended for 18 months and placed in a pool (just like the merit list for the Forces) and only those who are selected from this pool get a second interview. 18 months and a few phone calls on my part later, no second interview. My application is terminated and I must start from scratch again.
It wasn't until a few months ago that I decided to apply to NAV CANADA for the third time while also looking into other career options such as CBSA, RCMP, Marine Traffic Control with the Coast Guard, etc... Up until that point, it had not occurred to me that one can be an air traffic controller in a military setting. I saw a link to the Forces website one day, went to the jobs page and saw that the Forces were hiring Aerospace Control Officers via DEO. I started researching everything I could about AEC and submitted my application at the end of May this year.
Since applying, it would appear that my application process is going rather quickly compared to many others' applications. One month after applying I wrote the CFAT and scored very well, qualifying for the AEC and Pilot trades. A few weeks later I received a call to schedule my medical, which I completed yesterday. The medical officer indicated that my vision will likely disqualify me from the Pilot trade (I wear glasses/contact lenses) but that there's nothing else medically wrong that would prevent me from moving forward. I received a phone call today to schedule an interview in two weeks time.
Currently waiting for my interview. Only this step and the Aircrew Selection in Trenton are left to complete before going onto the merit list. After doing plenty of reading on these forums and researching the AEC trade, my goal is to be a Weapons controller. For a long time I wanted to be an air traffic controller with NAV CANADA, but since applying to the Forces I realize that a career in the military is an opportunity like no other. I look forward to the challenge of BMOQ and becoming a junior officer. I look forward to learning and becoming a leader. To have the opportunity to work beside men and women who proudly serve the Canadian Forces.
It is my sincere hope that I am able to have all necessary steps completed and be on the merit list in time for the next AEC selection date on November 17.
Thanks for reading folks. Any advice/questions/comments/feedback will certainly be appreciated.
