Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TECO]

It seems that there are some ex military people here on the forums. Anyone here ever serve in the Canadian Armed Forces as an officer? I checked their site but wanted to get the scoop first-hand from someone with experience. I'm hoping to finish my doctoral degree next summer and am considering all options.

For example, anyone know what the possibilities for travel or long-term international postings, aside from Afghanistan? How long do you need to serve before you get your pension (I thought it was 15 years - 20 years)? What is the mandatory retirement age - 55? With a post-grad education, is it likely that one would have more promotional and job opportunities? Trades I've looked at were police / intelligence officers and training officer. I wouldn't be too interested in fighting in Afghanistan but wouldn't mind training their soldiers / police officers.

Am also wondering about jobs with CSIS - any ex CSIS members out there?

[sammi]

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Uncle Sugah needs fresh meat to feed the grinder. Soldier on.

[Homer]

With the CF you have two real choices: Officer or enlisted.

If you Enlist you can raise as high a Chief Warrant Officer (or its equivalent in the Navy or Air force) but that typically takes a career to achieve.

You get a very good pension after 20 years in.

As for postings, you may not necessarily go to Afghanistan...it will depend on your trade and on which branch of the CF you are in.

If you want to go in as a officer, you need to take the officer qualification course and might earn a higher rank if you have the qualifications for it and choose (or if it is available) a career that needs such qualifications. Otherwise you start as a Lieutnenant and have to move up. You can move up to Major relatively quickly but there is a choke point after this rank. To go higher than Major you will now need to be completely billingual (they are now applying the CF billinguism act with full force).

If you want more info check out the CF website at: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/home_e.asp

As for pay, it varies with rank but it is generally pretty good but you do work your butt off.

The CF is also offering more and mor educational opportunities to its members. This is a result of a shift in policy post Somalia scandal. They are now working on Core 2020 as a guiding document and it emphasises training and education for all CF members.

In short the CF offers opportunities but also asks a lot of its members as the operational tempo is very high.

[TECO]

Thanks a lot for the info!

[jlb]

This is all just second-hand info and not really factual at all but I'll share it anyway. Back when I was hiking the West Coast Trail last year, I ran into a married couple who were in the miliatary. They both graduated from engineering and signed up. They got some crazy up-front bonus. They also had nothing but good things to say abou the benefits and pay (I have a feeling this might be different though if you were a grunt as opposed to a skilled worker).

They were also happy about how interesting their jobs were. Some of the desk stuff but also a lot of time out in the field, travel, etc. Never the same things twice.

[TECO]

Yeah, I've heard that also.

On a CF forum that I found, a new Engineer who graduated from university wrote that he signed up and received a $40,000 Cdn. bonus right off the bat. The money up front is even more for the Dentists and Doctors.

He wrote that he has to put in 4 years of obligitory service for the cash they gave him up front. $40,000 grand in his pocket and 4 years of training and work experience. Not a bad deal, in my view.

[igotthisguitar]

I looked into joining the reserves, was toying with the idea of becoming a medic. On the home front, disaster relief & contributing to DEFENSE where it works best: INSIDE one's national borders & not part of a phony global crusade.

Serve as part of the imperial WAR machine in exotic places such as Afghanistan?

No, the regular forces is DEFINITELY NOT in the cards for this boy scout.

[Homer]

Guitar while I can understand your feelings here...it has never happened in the history of state armies that people who join up dictate to the army where the armed forces should be deployed and what missions they undertake.

If you cannot deal with the fact that when you join you accept unlimited liability and the fact that you can be deployed anywhere in the world then you made the right choice by not joining.

[Wrench]

I got accepted in the forces as Mil Int but I just could sit the 6 month waiting period which was bs. I'd never join the Canadian armed forces there is just to much BS in the recruitment stage.

I rather join the marines or the FFL.

Then again I don't want to be an officer either. Just a 3 year stint for me. Get in get out, go do merc thing and get paid stupid amount of money.

[Green Tea]

[igotthisguitar]

[Alias]

Join the navy. I've been told its an easier life and more enjoyable than the army. But I think the guys who told me that were gay so.........

[mindmetoo]

[igotthisguitar]