The Bio-Science Officer Merged Thread

[rohitk]

Hey Everyone, I'm in a bit of a unique spot here.

I have a BSc. in Biotechnology and I'm in the final year of my MSc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences ... I'm considering applying to the Pilot and Bioscience Officer positions. I've read many posts on this site talking about how hard the "Pilot" trade is, so I was wondering if having gone to graduate school will put me in a better position than my competition?

Also, I've had a surgery to repair a torn ligament (ACL) in my knee two years ago...My knee is not yet a 100%, but i'm still in rehab for it. So hopefully by the time summer rolls around and i'm ready to apply, it will be around 90%. Will this be an issue with my Physical? Any advice would be really helpful! Thanks!

Kalvapalle

 

[George Wallace]

NOT REALLY.

I am surprised if I can read your post.  Is something wrong at your end?

 

[Loachman]

Your success (hopefully) or otherwise during pilot training will depend solely on how hard you work on the course, plus a bit of natural ability and a bit of luck.

Your previous education may help with study habits, but not necessarily (I had no study habits at all when I went to Moose Jaw, and amazed myself at how much effort I was able to put into studying and homework), and that's about it.

I went through as UTPO, ie high school only. I noticed a far higher wash-out rate for the DEOs (Direct Entry Officers, ie already had a degree). I suspect that this was purely due to motivation and hunger - they had something to fall back upon, whereas we wanted it more.

 

[rohitk]

Firstly, apologies about the font colour of my post, i didnt realize it was that dark!

About the graduate degree, i'm more curious as to whether that will give me an edge in the application process. Because as of yesterday, there were 0 positions for both, the Pilot and the Bioscience Officer positions.And i was told that there were several hundred files waiting for positions to open up...If i was to apply with a graduate degree, would i have any kind of advantage in the selection process?

 

[benny88]

If i was to apply with a graduate degree, would i have any kind of advantage in the selection process?

   
    Interesting question. For pilot, I would say "no", as your master's degree isn't really relevant to the trade. For Bioscience officer though, it might help as the degree is related to the trade. I'm just guessing though, the only way to find out is to apply.

 

[WannaBeFlyer]

If i was to apply with a graduate degree, would i have any kind of advantage in the selection process?

From what I understood during my interview, and don't quote me on it, having a degree did not mean that much during the selection process unless of course you were applying DEO: you had to have one. Having said that, a degree will really help your total score if your grades were exceptional. If you have C's all over your transcripts, it may actually hinder your total score. There are other ways you can distinguish yourself from the competition including: completing volunteer work, having cadet experience, and although it is not required, having previous flight time in the case of Pilot. You can also improve your score but getting the highest mark possible on the CFAT.

In terms of your injury, I would suggest that you get things started now if they are accepting applications for Pilot. You will have plenty of time to heal and visit a specialists if you are applying for Pilot. To give you an example, I submitted my application in March 2007 and I am going to Aircrew Selection, the final step in the Pilot application process, in April. During your initial medical at the recruiting centre, they may spend a bit more time examining your injury and they may also ask you to visit a specialist concerning your injury.

The only way to know how you will do is to apply and find out. Good luck.

 

[rohitk]

Thanks so much for all the replies! Very helpful and informative... MG, so you were saying that it took them 1year to call you for the Air Crew Selection? So i'm assuming that once thats done you go one file and then wait another few months for a position to open up...correct? To me that sounds like a 2 year process from the time of application! Is that an accurate estimate?

 

[bbell]

i can tell my story as a comparison. 3.79 GPA, steady job for 8 years, 7 years as a volunteer hockey coach, wrote my cfat- was told i was qualified for all officer pos. however i was told to wait to do my interview and medical because there are too many ahead of me, ie. just because i'm qualified doesnt mean they are going to take away a position already offered. i do think that you will eventually get in and get whatever trade you desire, you sound more than qualified. i just think we all have to wait our turn. I'm assuming i will be in the Sept BMOQ and that will put me at about a years wait. Now as i say this stranger things have happened and if you do searches you will read about much quicker and much longer wait times. the advice given to me was to be patient and you will get what you want. good luck mate.

 

[WannaBeFlyer]

Thanks so much for all the replies! Very helpful and informative... MG, so you were saying that it took them 1year to call you for the Air Crew Selection? So i'm assuming that once thats done you go one file and then wait another few months for a position to open up...correct? To me that sounds like a 2 year process from the time of application! Is that an accurate estimate?

Not necessarily two years for all applicants - timing, entry plan, your suitability, and the CF's requirements have a lot to do with it. When I applied, it was early in the year and from what I understand the CF's priority didn't include having more untrained Pilots in the system; they were looking to put boots on the ground.  Also, the airforce had raised the minimum required score to receive an offer. I was told I did really well, but I didn't have the required score to receive an invite for a week in Southern Ontario at that time. Should you do better, and if your timing is right, then you probably won't wait as long as I did. I should add that initially I was scheduled for ASC in February but I was bumped to April to make room for ROTP applicants. I guess a lot of them book over the spring break because you may have to be gone for a week.

There is a lot to do from the time you initially hand in your application to the time you receive an offer. There is:
- the initial CFAT, interview and medical (very similar to an annual medical)
- enhanced reliability check
- visual acuity test with a civie eye doctor recommended by the CF. You have a vision test at the recruiting centre, one with the civie eye doctor, and from what I understand, they examine your eyes in Toronto to determine whether or not you have had laser eye surgery. Maybe someone else can chime in on that one.
- blood tests
- in my case, because I am CT'ing from the Reserves, a PT test (basic fitness test)
- finally, air crew selection in Trenton and if you pass that portion, aircrew medicals in Toronto. (It is one week straight)

So, given the amount of testing involved, considering my score/suitability, plus the amount of applicants that are processed for all trades; I think the process is moving along quite well.

Call the recruiting centre and find out if or when they are accepting applications for DEO Pilot. Again, good luck. In the mean time, I would suggest you prepare for your CFAT even if you can't apply now. (Have a look at the CFAT thread) When you are healed up, start running even when you don't want to. (actually, especially when you don't want to!) Do some weight training / body weight training. Maybe have a look at the Basic Training threads.

 

[ark]

MG, under which entry program are you applying?

 

[WannaBeFlyer]

MG, under which entry program are you applying?

CEOTP

 

[rohitk]

First off, a huge thank you to everyone thats replying to my query! I really appreciate it.

With regards to the post by BBell, thats amazing that with such a high GPA and voluneer experience its taking a while. I assumed that as and when they get a great candidate, you move to the front of the pack regardless of how long the others have been waiting...is that not how it works?

Also, I was wondering if applying for Bioscience officer as my second option would give the decision-makers the idea that i'm not 100% committed to being a Pilot? The recruiter said that they make the judgement for each position independently and that its only upto me to decide...is that really how it works though? Does anyone have any inside info or experience with this? Also, I was thinking of maybe making Armoured Officer my third option, so I'm worried that they'll straightaway ignore the Pilot and Bioscience options and consider me for only the Armoured position as there may be more spots open there...Because in the end, I want my suitability for each position to be judged independent of my other choices ... i.e., if there's more armoured openings and i dont make the cut for pilot, then fine. but i dont want them to not consider me for Pilot just cause I've already listed Armoured as an option...any advice/comments?

( With regards to my ACL injury, I've already begun running and training to get to peak fitness...so hopefully I'll be good to go in a few months! )

 

[Loachman]

They ask for your top three preferences anyway, which helps them match you to something that you want.*

Once the process is complete, you will be made an offer, which you can accept or not.

We are about three hundred pilots short right now, and that is not going to improve for some time to come. That should help you somewhat, although trining system delays will not.

Your best and most current info will come from the recruiters. Ask them any questions that you have.

*Mine were "Pilot", "Pilot", and "Pilot" but that was because I'm doing another CT (back to the regular force) and I already are one. They still insisted that I put down three choices though.

 

[rohitk]

Haha thats hilarious that they NEED 3 choices. You said we're short some 300 pilots, but I was told by the recruiter that there were 0 positions..So does it mean that the lack of positions is due to them not being able to train enough pilots at once to overcome it? Also, does anyone know when during the year most positions open up? Is it at the start of the fiscal year in April? Or is it that as soon as one spot opens up, the best candidate from the hundreds who are on file gets the call? I assumed that they would pick the 170 that they need in one swoop, and train them together...can someone elighten me on the process please? Also, I've written several aptitude tests like the SAT and the GRE, and did very well on both...(1250/1600 on the SAT and 1350/1600 on the GRE). Can I safely assume that the CFAT test will not be much harder than those two? I plan to apply as a DEO (I'm currently in the last year of my graduate degree,i.e., MSc.)...

PS: any advice is great advice!

 

[kincanucks]

Haha thats hilarious that they NEED 3 choices. You said we're short some 300 pilots, but I was told by the recruiter that there were 0 positions..So does it mean that the lack of positions is due to them not being able to train enough pilots at once to overcome it? Also, does anyone know when during the year most positions open up? Is it at the start of the fiscal year in April? Or is it that as soon as one spot opens up, the best candidate from the hundreds who are on file gets the call? I assumed that they would pick the 170 that they need in one swoop, and train them together...can someone elighten me on the process please? Also, I've written several aptitude tests like the SAT and the GRE, and did very well on both...(1250/1600 on the SAT and 1350/1600 on the GRE). Can I safely assume that the CFAT test will not be much harder than those two? I plan to apply as a DEO (I'm currently in the last year of my graduate degree,i.e., MSc.)...

PS: any advice is great advice!

Read the recruiting threads.

 

[rohitk]

I did kincanucks, but I just thought it was humorous that it says they need three choices, but that they dont require it to be 3 different choices. I didn't mean to demean the policy or ask for info that was already out there.

 

[bbell]

according to the RC here in Edmonton, i dont get to jump ahead in line just because my grades are high. because if you think about it there are people who have been offerred jobs waiting to go to BMOQ, why would they take those job offers back for me? i wouldnt expect that to happen, so i'm assuming it doesnt. anyone feel free to correct me on this. I do know there is a lot of ocdt's waiting to go.

 

[rohitk]

Oh I understand that ... I was actually curious as to whether more qualified candidates get to jump ahead of the line in terms of those waiting to receive offers... the recruiter online said they had 0 positions and several hundred files waiting for the position to open up .. so i was wondering whether a new and more qualified applicant would jump to the front of that waiting line...I'm assuming thats what they'd do since they'd want only the best candidates. But either way it sounds like a looong wait ... I hope to get my application in during the summer, once my knee is all healed up.

 

[benny88]

I was actually curious as to whether more qualified candidates get to jump ahead of the line in terms of those waiting to receive offers...

  Highly dubious...but like Loachman said, your recruiters are the best source for this info. The system is so wacky (I did all my medicals, interviews, aircrew, and got an offer all within 4 months of submitting my application.) so really no one's experience is relevant because it changes all the time, and the recruiters are the only ones who are current.

 

[WannaBeFlyer]

bbell, grades are a part of your score. My point was that if you had low grades in your transcripts, it could hurt your chances. Other applicants may have "jumped" ahead of me, but it was because I did not meet the required score to receive an ASC date at that time. I guess I was using my situation to illustrate how grades can hurt you. My grades were one of two areas I could have improved on. Good luck.

rhotik, it doesn't have to take a "loooong" time. It depends on timing, the CF's priorities, and how competitive you are. Don't forget, I am doing a component transfer from the Reserves. It took a while for my docs to get to the recruiting centre. That combined with the fact that I didn't meet the minimum score lengthened the process.

Four months benny?! That is great. I think I had my vision test at that point.