Pieman said:
waiving a big raise in my direction...ahh...so tempting...so very very tempting. :-\
They want to give you *MORE* money? Sometimes I really hate you...
Patrick H. - Did the recruiter say that there would be a detrimental effect if you were to pull out now? I mean, we can speculate here until we're blue (nice colour, BTW) in the face, but they make the final decisions. How long is the apprenticeship program?
Once completed, you'll have the potential to make quite a bit of money. I've talked to a few electricians in Calgary, and starting off you're looking at 45-70k a year, depending on the amount of time you want to work. It'd take you ~4-5 years to reach that level in the military, and you'll top out in the CF a lot lower than you would private sector. CHIMO, while vitrolic, has a point. How much do you want it (the CF)? Is there a possibility that you're looking at the civvie option because you may be getting cold feet? I'm sure everyone who's signed up has gone through the same thing...
Write down the benefits of joining the CF, as well as the reasons you originally applied. Do the same for the electrician gambit. Compare the two lists, and see what your gut tells you, and follow that decision.
Another option perhaps, is ask the recruiting centre about maybe doing reserves? This would give you the chance to explore both worlds a bit before committing either way. As an electrician, you'd also be able to get the time off to do tours (at least, in Alberta, electricians are in high demand) if that's what you wanted.
Okay, time to stop typing.
T