Question about Mechanic trade in Army

[fishtooth87]

Hey Everyone,

One dream of mine has been to join the military, I am 33 and time is flying by so am looking at actually possibly making the jump.
I am a red seal heavy duty mechanic, class 1 license, can operate anything out there, very proficient with all kinds of firearms etc. The one thing that has stopped me from enlisting is the starting wage. Hard to raise a family on the starting salary. But was does a ticketed mechanic make if I tried signing up for a mechanic position? I always wanted to be a Sapper but starting from ground level would be hard financially.

Can mechanics take training that does not have to do directly with the trade? Weapons training and such? Do mechanics get deployed often as that is something I would love to be part of as well. Also, has anything changed in terms of where you are stationed? Can a guy choose or is it wherever they send you?

I have considered the reserves, from searching threads and such it seems chances of deployments and opportunity for extra training seems very low right now. Not sure if it is true but I hear alot of people say the reserves is full of a bunch of 22 year olds screaming at everyone and leading a group when they have no real life experience. I could be 100% incorrect but its just what I have been told.

Any insight on this would be appreciated.

thanks!

 

[fishtooth87]

Emailed recruiting, no reply yet lol

 

[daftandbarmy]

Hey Everyone,

One dream of mine has been to join the military, I am 33 and time is flying by so am looking at actually possibly making the jump.
I am a red seal heavy duty mechanic, class 1 license, can operate anything out there, very proficient with all kinds of firearms etc. The one thing that has stopped me from enlisting is the starting wage. Hard to raise a family on the starting salary. But was does a ticketed mechanic make if I tried signing up for a mechanic position? I always wanted to be a Sapper but starting from ground level would be hard financially.

Can mechanics take training that does not have to do directly with the trade? Weapons training and such? Do mechanics get deployed often as that is something I would love to be part of as well. Also, has anything changed in terms of where you are stationed? Can a guy choose or is it wherever they send you?

I have considered the reserves, from searching threads and such it seems chances of deployments and opportunity for extra training seems very low right now. Not sure if it is true but I hear alot of people say the reserves is full of a bunch of 22 year olds screaming at everyone and leading a group when they have no real life experience. I could be 100% incorrect but its just what I have been told.

Any insight on this would be appreciated.

thanks!

I'm not a recruiter but just Googled it and turned up this pay scale thingy:

Vehicle Technician Salaries in Canada for National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces | Indeed.com

Explore National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Vehicle Technician salaries in Canada collected directly from employees and jobs on Indeed.

ca.indeed.com

This is the official website for CAF pay FYI:

Military pay - Canada.ca

This page displays information about pay for Canadian Armed Forces members.

www.canada.ca

Again, I'm not the expert here but this might get you started...

 

[MedCorps]

Can mechanics take training that does not have to do directly with the trade? Weapons training and such? Do mechanics get deployed often as that is something I would love to be part of as well. Also, has anything changed in terms of where you are stationed? Can a guy choose or is it wherever they send you?

Some opportunities for this, depending on you and your unit. I have personally seen Vehicle Technicians do all sorts of all-arms drivers courses, armoured vehicle crew commander, communications (radio) courses, basic winter warfare, basic mountain operations, parachutist, chemical biological radiological NCO course, radiation safety, conduct after capture instructor, unit public affairs representative, unit storesman, basic fitness training assistant, advanced instructional techniques, combat first aider, tactical combat casualty care provider and badic unarmed combat courses.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[brihard]

In Afghanistan we had vehicle techs deployed in fairly substantial numbers doing a ton of really important maintenance/repair work. There were some who would deploy outside of the secure camps for battlefield recovery of damaged/broken vehicles; I think I remember us having a wrecker with us on many of the convoys that I escorted. I had a lot of respect for the transport and maintenance troops I did security for.

 

[BreakSha]

In Afghanistan we had vehicle techs deployed in fairly substantial numbers doing a ton of really important maintenance/repair work. There were some who would deploy outside of the secure camps for battlefield recovery of damaged/broken vehicles; I think I remember us having a wrecker with us on many of the convoys that I escorted. I had a lot of respect for the transport and maintenance troops I did security for.

Did vech tech actually fight? I just joined as a vehicle tech and I would like to get deploy someday, but I would want to do combat.

 

[PuckChaser]

Your job is to fix stuff so other people can go into combat and theres absolutely nothing wrong with that. You may be required to move into a combat area to recover or battlefield repair vehicles but if you're expecting to be infantry and maybe fix vehicles sometimes you're in the wrong trade.

 

[brihard]

Did vech tech actually fight? I just joined as a vehicle tech and I would like to get deploy someday, but I would want to do combat.

There may have been some Veh Trchs fire their weapons in anger, but I don’t personally know of it happening. The most likely combat roles for vehicle techs would be combat recovery of damaged vehicles; in such a case, the focus is on hooking up the hull you’re recovering while overs are fighting the enemy. Odds of you being involved in direct combat as a veh tech are very, very slim.

Of course, Afghanistan was a war. A future war might be more conventional, with its vehicle techs’ exposure to combat being on the receiving end of artillery at their workshop, or FPV drones targeting the wreckers during a recovery. If you want to shoot bad guys, change trades.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I personally know a (now former) Vehicle Tech who, in Afghanistan, exposed himself to enemy fire while recovering a stuck Leopard Tank. He wasn’t doing any outgoing shooting, but he was very much on the receiving during the process…

 

[BreakSha]

There may have been some Veh Trchs fire their weapons in anger, but I don’t personally know of it happening. The most likely combat roles for vehicle techs would be combat recovery of damaged vehicles; in such a case, the focus is on hooking up the hull you’re recovering while overs are fighting the enemy. Odds of you being involved in direct combat as a veh tech are very, very slim.

Of course, Afghanistan was a war. A future war might be more conventional, with its vehicle techs’ exposure to combat being on the receiving end of artillery at their workshop, or FPV drones targeting the wreckers during a recovery. If you want to shoot bad guys, change trades.

How would I change my trades if I just started? Would I have to finish BMQ first?

 

[Winds]

How would I change my trades if I just started? Would I have to finish BMQ first?

If you have yet to enrol as a member of the CAF, you just tell the recruiting centre that you want to change trade selection.

After joining, changing trades is not particularly easy.

 

[BreakSha]

If you have yet to enrol as a member of the CAF, you just tell the recruiting centre that you want to change trade selection.

After joining, changing trades is not particularly easy.

Yes I joined the reserves about a month ago. What will be the process?

 

[Winds]

You need to speak to your chain of command to get an appointment with a Personnel Selection Officer. Process in the reserves is a bit easier than in the Regular Force.

I wouldn't expect to "do combat" anytime soon regardless of the occupation you join though... unless Russia decides to get in a direct war with NATO.

 

[BreakSha]

You need to speak to your chain of command to get an appointment with a Personnel Selection Officer. Process in the reserves is a bit easier than in the Regular Force.

I wouldn't expect to "do combat" anytime soon regardless of the occupation you join though... unless Russia decides to get in a direct war with NATO.

I am currently in support unit. If I wanted to switch for vech tech to supply or HRA/FSA would it be fast form your experience?

 

[brihard]

I am currently in support unit. If I wanted to switch for vech tech to supply or HRA/FSA would it be fast form your experience?

You're confusing. You brought up changing trades in the context of wanting to fight, but now you're talking about supply tech or admin?

 

[Blackadder1916]

I think that he is more interested in the Log trades because he hopes that they may be easier to get course loaded on and, as he says (in another thread) "any dummy can do these trades".

 

[BreakSha]

I think that he is more interested in the Log trades because he hopes that they may be easier to get course loaded on and, as he says (in another thread) "any dummy can do these trades".

Wow you went to check me out. I didn't mean it like that. I was comparing the other log trades with Reme trades. Reme trades such as Vech tech is really cool but the issue with them is it takes quite awhile to get them done. Also, apparently the courses are often cancelled. Log trades are in demand in my unit and the courses are always there. I am looking at all my options because when I am done university I would like to have a full time job (Class B) with the highest rank.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Wow you went to check me out. I didn't mean it like that. . . .

Not really, I recalled the comment you made as it was one of those 'really stupid things to say' as an untrained and inexperienced soldier. At the time, I contemplated bringing your error in judgement to your attention but half expected someone else to chime in with a 'don't talk shit when you don't know what you're talking about' lesson. It's especially true on the internet (or in emails, paper correspondence, or any other form of enduring communication); your words follow you around. It took me about 15 seconds to find the other thread and quote you.

 

[Winds]

Wow you went to check me out. I didn't mean it like that. I was comparing the other log trades with Reme trades. Reme trades such as Vech tech is really cool but the issue with them is it takes quite awhile to get them done. Also, apparently the courses are often cancelled. Log trades are in demand in my unit and the courses are always there. I am looking at all my options because when I am done university I would like to have a full time job (Class B) with the highest rank.

Didn't you state that you're already a red seal heavy duty mechanic? If you're looking for a job in the CAF where your current training and experience would be put to good use, then Vehicle Tech is the way to go. You'd be much more useful for the country in a war scenario as an experienced mechanic than any other trade... if you were Ukrainian, fixing and refurbishing vehicles would definitely be the best contribution you could make to the war effort. The army has a real, hard need for good mechanics to keep its equipment in working order. If nobody has said it before, as a Vehicle Technician your experience will be highly valued. I used to be in the artillery and we employed most of our mechanics on the gunline, with the rest of the gun battery, and treated them as highly valued members of the regiment.

As an HRA, you'd be working at a desk doing administrative tasks, such as processing soldier's requests to go on maternity leave. Before you were asking about being infantry and seeing combat, now you're contemplating being an administrative clerk?

As well, if you haven't already done so, ask your unit to do a Prior Learning Assessment (PLAR) to see if your Red Seal and other certifications as a mechanic may write off certain aspects of the Vehicle Tech occupation training, shortening it. It should also have you start at a higher pay increment and/or rank (Corporal). If you were joining the RegF as a Vehicle Tech, you'd also get a signing bonus (recruitment allowance).

If you're just looking for a job that pays, heavy duty mechanics in Alberta can make over $200k/year last I checked. I've known several people, including officers, who left the army to do so.

 

[da1root]

Not really, I recalled the comment you made as it was one of those 'really stupid things to say' as an untrained and inexperienced soldier. At the time, I contemplated bringing your error in judgement to your attention but half expected someone else to chime in with a 'don't talk shit when you don't know what you're talking about' lesson. It's especially true on the internet (or in emails, paper correspondence, or any other form of enduring communication); your words follow you around. It took me about 15 seconds to find the other thread and quote you.

the someone else to chime in was just busy with work ... however was killing time before bedtime and has now commented

Wow you went to check me out. I didn't mean it like that. I was comparing the other log trades with Reme trades. Reme trades such as Vech tech is really cool but the issue with them is it takes quite awhile to get them done. Also, apparently the courses are often cancelled. Log trades are in demand in my unit and the courses are always there. I am looking at all my options because when I am done university I would like to have a full time job (Class B) with the highest rank.

"with the highest rank" ?? So what I'm seeing is you're all over the place with what occupations you're looking at, and now you're wanting a Class B job with the highest rank. Although reservists can get FTSE contracts which are Class B because they're more than 12 days in duration, to get Full Time Class B (I'm assuming you mean 3 year contracts) you need to reach OFP (depending on what occupation you're joining that can mean either Operational Function Point or Occupational Function Point... same acronym)... what that means is that you've done Basic Training plus whatever course you need to do to be considered "qualified" in that occupation. Honestly it feels like you jumped into the CAF with both feet without knowing really where you want to go - you might want to sit down with a Personnel Selection Officer and discuss your actual goals as you seem all over the place right now.