Anybody have an application in for the Airforce and if so have you started to hear anything back from the selection board yet? CFRC Halifax has told me that the selection board began yesterday (Oct 18th) and that the job offers should be trickling down to the candiadates anytime after that.
Cheers and Good Luck
Air Force Enlistment
Moderators: North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, I WAS Birddog
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RoyalCanadianRegiment
- Rank 1
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 6:00 am
- Location: Berwick, Nova Scotia
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Good luck
I had an application in a long time ago. That was when they had a "surplus" of pilots and could not offer me anything.. then the following year the were banging down my door after I had landed a sweet job in the private sector. I ended up staying in the private sector and have never really looked back since.
I would contact your recruiting officer and check with them. It is not uncommon for your "file" to be missed or still enroute to the selection board. Keep plugging away and don't let them forget about you.
A question for any of you out there flying for the military: Why does Canada not take advantage of all the surplus of pilots in this country by starting up an air reserve? Canada has one of the highest per-capita pilot ratio in the world, yet the Air Force is scrambling to find pilots. Why? I bet that at least HALF of the people that read and post at this site would be interested in flying aircraft for the military on a part time basis.
I would.
Well best of luck with your application!!
Adanac
I would contact your recruiting officer and check with them. It is not uncommon for your "file" to be missed or still enroute to the selection board. Keep plugging away and don't let them forget about you.
A question for any of you out there flying for the military: Why does Canada not take advantage of all the surplus of pilots in this country by starting up an air reserve? Canada has one of the highest per-capita pilot ratio in the world, yet the Air Force is scrambling to find pilots. Why? I bet that at least HALF of the people that read and post at this site would be interested in flying aircraft for the military on a part time basis.
I would.
Well best of luck with your application!!
Adanac
Good day, eh!
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North Shore
- Rank Moderator
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- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:47 pm
- Location: Straight outta Dundarave...
Adanac, why would the government even think of doing something so commonsensical? Besides, we're too busy spending billion$ registering grandpa's 30.06 to even think up a way of paying for what you are suggesting.
Say, what's that mountain goat doing up here in the mist?
Happiness is V1 at Thompson!
Ass, Licence, Job. In that order.
Happiness is V1 at Thompson!
Ass, Licence, Job. In that order.
RCR (previous service?),
I got the word last month. I can't say for certain for you ... but if the board just started reviewing your file...a week or so and you should hear something....maybe two if your paper work needs to be updated for whatever reasons , etc...
PM me if you need anything else. Good Luck!
Cheers
I got the word last month. I can't say for certain for you ... but if the board just started reviewing your file...a week or so and you should hear something....maybe two if your paper work needs to be updated for whatever reasons , etc...
PM me if you need anything else. Good Luck!
Cheers
For Those Who Like it.... Like it A Lot!!!
I, myself, had never really considered air force a viable option for me. However, a few years ago when I was finishing up schooling there was a supposed cry of pilot shortage in the military and everyone I knew was saying, "oh, what a rewarding career. You should apply...(and so on with the everything is glorious babble)" Well it just so happened that I worked with a girl who was very interested in joining the navy, or probably anything for that matter, and needed a ride to the recruting centre. So I thought what better time than now to at least get information no the whole program. To make a long story not as long...I was just there to ask a couple of questions...watch their pump-you-up videos and get perticulars on the application process if I was interested. The guy talked to me like I had no reason to be interupting his donut break, and just because I knew how to fly a plane meant less than a hill of beans. (maybe so) What really got me though, was the girl I was with went in for her testing and was very excited about a possible career and they told her she "wasn't qualified to dig a hole in Canada" (for the record she was not a stupid girl)
While I have respect for the majority of men and women who serve, I have none for those who show me none. And that was my experience with the Great Canadian Military.
where do I sign
While I have respect for the majority of men and women who serve, I have none for those who show me none. And that was my experience with the Great Canadian Military.
where do I sign
It's always better to appreciate the things you cannot have than to have the things you cannot appreciate.
Mario,
Its not the first time I heard that story. I can undertsand your frustration.... Some recruiting centers are better than others and the CF know that there are major problems like the one you just descibed... It won't mean anything to you now that you had a bad experience but they are in the process of "rooting up" said problems with the recruiting process with a review committee to hopefully rectify this huge shortfall.
Safe Flying,
Cheers
Its not the first time I heard that story. I can undertsand your frustration.... Some recruiting centers are better than others and the CF know that there are major problems like the one you just descibed... It won't mean anything to you now that you had a bad experience but they are in the process of "rooting up" said problems with the recruiting process with a review committee to hopefully rectify this huge shortfall.
Safe Flying,
Cheers
For Those Who Like it.... Like it A Lot!!!
Good for you. Better lifestyle and financial rewards in Civilian avaition.Mario said
I, myself, had never really considered air force a viable option for me.
It's the bait that gets you in the door.....for infantry!However, a few years ago when I was finishing up schooling there was a supposed cry of pilot shortage in the military...
Welcome to the great Canadian Donuts Forces, who sent a C-130 Hercules away with Tim Horton Coffee beans to our glorious troops instead of badly needed desert cam gear!...I was just there to ask a couple of questions...watch their pump-you-up videos and get perticulars on the application process if I was interested. The guy talked to me like I had no reason to be interupting his donut break,
They have plenty of guts and courage to serve in a sub-standard armyWhile I have respect for the majority of men and women who serve
Most recruiters are "unfit" for combat roles or other operational duties.I have none for those who show me none. And that was my experience with the Great Canadian Military.
They have a quota to meet and after they're marking time until retirement.
.
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groundpilot
- Rank 4
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 10:10 am
- Location: A Smokn' Hole
After reading the posts and being a relatively young new pilot officer in the CF and a fan of this site I feel I should say something.
First of all, the military is not easy and it is not for everyone. It is competitive to get in and once your in it is very challenging. It is a job that challenges you both physically and mentally. I was a civilian pilot before as well with my ATPL and the flying you do in the military does not compare to the civie world. I have so much respect for the personnel both on the ground and in the air. All pilots in the military are officers. This is essentially the big difference between the civilian world and the military world. As a civlian pilot your primary responsibility is flying, thats it. You are responsible for your aircraft and you go home. As an officer you are accountable for all your actions 24/7. You can be sent overseas at a moments notice to serve for your country. Another part of being an officer is that even though you may be trained as pilot, your job does not always just include flying duties. There are many ground jobs that require pilots. Although most of these positions are usually taken by personel later in there careers.
A career in the forces is very exciting. If you want a challenge this is a great opportunity. You will receive the best training in the world and will have opportunity to fly aircraft civilians only dream of. The first aircraft you will be flying is the Harvard II and is awesome to say the least. There is of course many down sides too. You will more than likely fly less then your civilian counterparts and just like any other organization there will be some BS. You will have to travel from base to base especially when your in the training system (where I am right now) Another benefit is undeniably the financial awards. In your first year you will make over +40K a year with full medical/dental, pension plus numerous other allowances. How many civie out there pay you that much to start with maybe 50 hrs under your belt?
I was really surprised to find how many former Air Canada pilots have quit the military to come back. They were making a lot more with a lot less BS when they were in the military. They were sick of not knowing if they were going to have a job next week and not to mention moving backwards to smaller aircraft or moving back to an FO position with downsizing. In your fifth year in with the rank of Captain(which is guaranteed promotion) you will make easily over +80K/year with about 6 weeks of vacation plus all weekends and stat holidays are off.
The one thing I absolutely agree with is the criticism towards the recruiting system. It is in my opinion horrible. My experience in getting in was very discouraging. The first time I went to the recruiting center they made me feel that my experience meant nothing and my degree was worthless. You have to remember the logistics of the people at the recruiting centers. They are not the military's finest. I have worked with the finest and they are definitely not at the recruiting center. They are at HQ and operational at squadrons. Do not treat the recruiting center like it is the military because it represents little of how it actually is. Fortunately for me I met a senior officer incidentally a couple of years ago and I complained to him my problems too with the recruiting center. He, unlike the recruiting center, understood the value of my experience and the current need for pilots in the CF. He made some calls and before I knew it I was slinging mud in basic training. It is unfortunate that without my coincidental meeting of him I would not be in the forces today.
All in all, please do not disrespect the military because the media tends to focus on the negatives and never the positive. "This submarine was on fire...the commorant has a crack on the tail rotor...this CF-18 dropped a bomb on a golf course...blah blah..." Of course any organization operating military machinery is going to have incidents. I am not saying the system is perfect but never in my life have I met so many outstanding individuals then I have met in the forces. It is a unique career that will continually physically and mentally challenge to your absolute limits.
For me, I am excited and honoured to be part of this organization. I am sick and tired people trying to downplay this organization. If your materialistic and have the attitude "what can the forces do for me..." you probably should not join. You are joining an organization that represents Canada on the international level all over the world. You should be saying to yourself: this is my chance to not only fly, which is something we all love to do, but also a chance to serve your country. How many people get the opportunity to rescue people off coast on a search and rescue mission? I promise if you work hard and get in and succeed in training, you will never regret the career you can have in the forces.
If you want to see what flight training in Canada is all about, check out this website:
http://nftc.net/nftc/en/flash/nftc.jsp
First of all, the military is not easy and it is not for everyone. It is competitive to get in and once your in it is very challenging. It is a job that challenges you both physically and mentally. I was a civilian pilot before as well with my ATPL and the flying you do in the military does not compare to the civie world. I have so much respect for the personnel both on the ground and in the air. All pilots in the military are officers. This is essentially the big difference between the civilian world and the military world. As a civlian pilot your primary responsibility is flying, thats it. You are responsible for your aircraft and you go home. As an officer you are accountable for all your actions 24/7. You can be sent overseas at a moments notice to serve for your country. Another part of being an officer is that even though you may be trained as pilot, your job does not always just include flying duties. There are many ground jobs that require pilots. Although most of these positions are usually taken by personel later in there careers.
A career in the forces is very exciting. If you want a challenge this is a great opportunity. You will receive the best training in the world and will have opportunity to fly aircraft civilians only dream of. The first aircraft you will be flying is the Harvard II and is awesome to say the least. There is of course many down sides too. You will more than likely fly less then your civilian counterparts and just like any other organization there will be some BS. You will have to travel from base to base especially when your in the training system (where I am right now) Another benefit is undeniably the financial awards. In your first year you will make over +40K a year with full medical/dental, pension plus numerous other allowances. How many civie out there pay you that much to start with maybe 50 hrs under your belt?
I was really surprised to find how many former Air Canada pilots have quit the military to come back. They were making a lot more with a lot less BS when they were in the military. They were sick of not knowing if they were going to have a job next week and not to mention moving backwards to smaller aircraft or moving back to an FO position with downsizing. In your fifth year in with the rank of Captain(which is guaranteed promotion) you will make easily over +80K/year with about 6 weeks of vacation plus all weekends and stat holidays are off.
The one thing I absolutely agree with is the criticism towards the recruiting system. It is in my opinion horrible. My experience in getting in was very discouraging. The first time I went to the recruiting center they made me feel that my experience meant nothing and my degree was worthless. You have to remember the logistics of the people at the recruiting centers. They are not the military's finest. I have worked with the finest and they are definitely not at the recruiting center. They are at HQ and operational at squadrons. Do not treat the recruiting center like it is the military because it represents little of how it actually is. Fortunately for me I met a senior officer incidentally a couple of years ago and I complained to him my problems too with the recruiting center. He, unlike the recruiting center, understood the value of my experience and the current need for pilots in the CF. He made some calls and before I knew it I was slinging mud in basic training. It is unfortunate that without my coincidental meeting of him I would not be in the forces today.
All in all, please do not disrespect the military because the media tends to focus on the negatives and never the positive. "This submarine was on fire...the commorant has a crack on the tail rotor...this CF-18 dropped a bomb on a golf course...blah blah..." Of course any organization operating military machinery is going to have incidents. I am not saying the system is perfect but never in my life have I met so many outstanding individuals then I have met in the forces. It is a unique career that will continually physically and mentally challenge to your absolute limits.
For me, I am excited and honoured to be part of this organization. I am sick and tired people trying to downplay this organization. If your materialistic and have the attitude "what can the forces do for me..." you probably should not join. You are joining an organization that represents Canada on the international level all over the world. You should be saying to yourself: this is my chance to not only fly, which is something we all love to do, but also a chance to serve your country. How many people get the opportunity to rescue people off coast on a search and rescue mission? I promise if you work hard and get in and succeed in training, you will never regret the career you can have in the forces.
If you want to see what flight training in Canada is all about, check out this website:
http://nftc.net/nftc/en/flash/nftc.jsp
groundpilot,
Well said!!!
I am glad you took the time to share the embodiment of what our Canadian Forces represent. This is the life I always wanted and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to make it a reality. It will be a long and challenging road ahead.... But it is the road I always wanted to travel.
Safe Flying,
Cheers
Well said!!!
I am glad you took the time to share the embodiment of what our Canadian Forces represent. This is the life I always wanted and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to make it a reality. It will be a long and challenging road ahead.... But it is the road I always wanted to travel.
Safe Flying,
Cheers
For Those Who Like it.... Like it A Lot!!!
ok...that was was well said groundpilot.
Aside from your brain being squeeky clean now, it sounds like you have a decent view of things...if you were sitting in the recruiting office and gave me that no BS speil who knows I might be right there with you. I am by no means belittling the organization and you are right, it is not for everyone. I wont even pretend it's for me. Some people though, are waaaaaayyyy to proud of who they are. That, coupled with the direct communication I've had, has left me with a jaded opinion. I'm glad to hear that it's not just the retired who have decent attitudes these days. Thanks.
Aside from your brain being squeeky clean now, it sounds like you have a decent view of things...if you were sitting in the recruiting office and gave me that no BS speil who knows I might be right there with you. I am by no means belittling the organization and you are right, it is not for everyone. I wont even pretend it's for me. Some people though, are waaaaaayyyy to proud of who they are. That, coupled with the direct communication I've had, has left me with a jaded opinion. I'm glad to hear that it's not just the retired who have decent attitudes these days. Thanks.
It's always better to appreciate the things you cannot have than to have the things you cannot appreciate.
groundpilot,
here's a stupid idea from a stupid manager, why not get some of this enthousiasm in the recruiting centres?
A few mandatory weeks during your training and CF wouldn't lose some of the finest candidates! Remember, you can burst anyone's bubble, even if they're the most motivated candidates!
here's a stupid idea from a stupid manager, why not get some of this enthousiasm in the recruiting centres?
A few mandatory weeks during your training and CF wouldn't lose some of the finest candidates! Remember, you can burst anyone's bubble, even if they're the most motivated candidates!
In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield...W. Buffett
Groundpilot:
I agree with much of what you said. My military time (a little over 6 years of it) was spent pounding the ground with my two-stroke black cadillacs. For those of you not in the know, that means I was an infatnry officer. I'm stating this so that my next statement will be taken in context...
I left the military because of the constant decline in spending (15 years in a row, while the demands made on the military were increasing), as well as the replacement of leadership by management. Effective management is a part of good leadership - but when management supplants leadship as the priority, the CYA-birds are the ones that get ahead in the organization. Add to that the fact that the spending cuts resulted in a hemmoraging of many of the very best senior NCO's due to repeatedly strong-arming them into UN/IFOR/SFOR tours that were above and beyond what the ppolicy dictated was the limit...well, you get the picture. When you ask someone to be away from their family, getting shot at for 12 months out of every 18, they tend to start looking for a new job.
I don't mean to discourage people from considering the military as a career choice - I enjoyed my time wearing green, I learned more about myself and about other people than I would have thought possible, and my time in the military had a potent formative effect on who I am now. That said, potential recruits should have their eyes open when they consider making a commitment.
I agree with much of what you said. My military time (a little over 6 years of it) was spent pounding the ground with my two-stroke black cadillacs. For those of you not in the know, that means I was an infatnry officer. I'm stating this so that my next statement will be taken in context...
I left the military because of the constant decline in spending (15 years in a row, while the demands made on the military were increasing), as well as the replacement of leadership by management. Effective management is a part of good leadership - but when management supplants leadship as the priority, the CYA-birds are the ones that get ahead in the organization. Add to that the fact that the spending cuts resulted in a hemmoraging of many of the very best senior NCO's due to repeatedly strong-arming them into UN/IFOR/SFOR tours that were above and beyond what the ppolicy dictated was the limit...well, you get the picture. When you ask someone to be away from their family, getting shot at for 12 months out of every 18, they tend to start looking for a new job.
I don't mean to discourage people from considering the military as a career choice - I enjoyed my time wearing green, I learned more about myself and about other people than I would have thought possible, and my time in the military had a potent formative effect on who I am now. That said, potential recruits should have their eyes open when they consider making a commitment.
Please don't tell my mother that I work in the Oilpatch...she still thinks that I'm the piano player at a whorehouse.
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Holy Magenta
- Rank 2
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:02 am
Lots of respect for the military, Its important to have pride it what your doing and do it well. It is definately a tough, and competitive spot to be, and probably worth it in many ways. And then again, not so much in others...
I considered it years ago, but now Im so politically jaded I couldnt even consider it. It would be hard to back up Ottawa's bullshit politics, and do it with limited or substandard equipment to boot (helicopters). I wish they would do right by you boys and girls and give you some budget. So lots of respect from the people, too bad you dont get any from your government, just like the rest of the country.
I considered it years ago, but now Im so politically jaded I couldnt even consider it. It would be hard to back up Ottawa's bullshit politics, and do it with limited or substandard equipment to boot (helicopters). I wish they would do right by you boys and girls and give you some budget. So lots of respect from the people, too bad you dont get any from your government, just like the rest of the country.
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Pindunder Jeep
- Rank 2
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- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:11 pm
- Location: Canada
