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Am I too old, unfit or uncertain?

Just found out that I am too old.

I declined to proceed with anything else.

So that's that..  I'll take my USMC p.f.t score of 280 and be on my way......og over and out
 
You're too old to be a pilot, because you're too old to fulfill the basic engagement contract you'd have to sign. It has literally nothing to do with your physical fitness score.
 
commander-cb said:
I'll take my USMC p.f.t score of 280 and be on my way......og over and out

Self administered fitness test you did 7 years ago.  You could be in amazing shape right now; but unfortunately your age will hold you back in this case.
 
My application is active again.
:facepalm:
Not expecting to get the chance,  but willing to try.

I will be 51.





 
Keep in mind with age limits this is a limit imposed by the Government of Canada as a "Compulsory Retirement Age" (CRA).

CRA is 60; and the VIE (first contract) varies in length from 3 years to 13 years depending on the occupation and entry plan.  These contract lengths are to ensure that you are able to reach Occupational Function Point (the point at which you're qualified to do your job in the CAF) and get some actual work out of you before you reach CRA.

Pilot DEO for example, the VIE is 9 years; so a person must be enrolled prior to their 51st birthday.  Waivers can be completed if you have a qualification that is in high demand in the CAF.  Which might happen in your case when/if you reach the Competition List.
 
Hello. It is very interesting to read that it still might be possible. I have decided to try for a commercial  pilot license ( 60-100 k ).
I am just going through the motions at the moment. I would never play it like a waver is possible; I will just move forward ,do my thing. And take what comes. ...meh...

 
I'm looking for a career change, I'm currently 29 coming up to 30 quick.
I always wanted to join, but was talked out of it before, even from a friend who was enlisted at the time. Anyways life went on, im now a Dad and a career change means alot more now then before.
Biggest concern is finances, being able to be comfortable.
I know the question will be asked. I am probably looking at joining in as a combat engineer or heavy equipment technician. Since my current career is in infrastructure and heavy equipment operator.
I currently make 90k a year, I know I won't see that in the army but between millitary housing and such would a NCM rate be livable for a family of four?
 
AndrewJS said:
I currently make 90k a year, I know I won't see that in the army but between millitary housing and such would a NCM rate be livable for a family of four?

This may help,

Monthly Pay at BMQ / Basic Training [Merged] 
https://army.ca/forums/threads/13402.250
11 pages.

Pay Deductions [Merged]
https://army.ca/forums/threads/44740.50.html
3 pages.

Regular Force NCM and Class C Pay Rates
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/caf-community-pay/reg-force-ncm-class-c-rates.page

See also,

Pay
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aarmy.ca+pay&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&ie=&oe=&rlz=1I7GGHP_en-GBCA592&gws_rd=ssl

AndrewJS said:
I am probably looking at joining in as a combat engineer or heavy equipment technician. Since my current career is in infrastructure and heavy equipment operator.

You may also wish to consider,

Mobile Support Equipment Operator
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/caf-jobs/career-options/fields-work/administration-support/mobile-support-equipment-operator.html
•Operate buses, automobiles, trucks and tractor-trailers
•Operate specialized mobile equipment such as fuelling tankers, snowplows, tractors and all-terrain vehicles
 
AndrewJS said:
I'm looking for a career change, I'm currently 29 coming up to 30 quick.
I always wanted to join, but was talked out of it before, even from a friend who was enlisted at the time. Anyways life went on, im now a Dad and a career change means alot more now then before.
Biggest concern is finances, being able to be comfortable.
I know the question will be asked. I am probably looking at joining in as a combat engineer or heavy equipment technician. Since my current career is in infrastructure and heavy equipment operator.
I currently make 90k a year, I know I won't see that in the army but between millitary housing and such would a NCM rate be livable for a family of four?

If I were you, I’d look at joining the Reserves. 

Canadians Forces pay scale
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/caf-community-pay/reg-force-ncm-class-c-rates.page

You would start at Private, pay increment 1.

There will be various deductions to your pay while you are in training.  Once you are trained and at a unit, if at a field unit you will get a Land Duty Allowance(LDA), and depending on what bass you are at, a Post Living Differential(PLD) allowance.

Financially, it’s doable but if you have money saved up that can supplement your Private’s pay.  Might be tight though. As well, if your spouse has an income that’s a bonus(depending on your posting, and her career it may be hard for her to find work, at least at first).

As well, Military housing(PMQs) are not free, but are an option once you’re at your posting after you’re trained.  Depending on the base and the PMQs offered, they may not be the greatest. Living in the local town/city may be a better option.


For trades of interest for you, in addition you Combat Engineer you might be interested in Construction Technician. 
 
Pickle Rick said:
If I were you, I’d look at joining the Reserves. 

He could, but that would be adding a part-time job to a full-time job. A full-time job that may already include overtime.

It is not a career change.

AndrewJS said:
I'm looking for a career change, I'm currently 29 coming up to 30 quick.

Anyways life went on, im now a Dad and a career change means alot more now then before.

AndrewJS said:
I currently make 90k a year,

Doesn't say if that is base pay for a 40-hour week, or if it includes overtime.

If it includes OT, how much time will the individual have available for the PRes?



 
mariomike said:
He could, but that would be adding a part-time job to a full-time job. A full-time job that may already include overtime.

It is not a career change.

Doesn't say if that is base pay for a 40-hour week, or if it includes overtime.

If it includes OT, how much time will the individual have available for the PRes?


I’m not posting to seek your approval or opinion.  I just posted another option for CF service for AndrewJS. His decision to look into it, or just focus on Regular Force.
 
Pickle Rick said:
His decision to look into it, or just focus on Regular Force.

If he does look into the PRes, he may also wish to consider if he has time available from his full-time job for BMQ ( full-time or weekend ) and trade training.

 
Thinking about it, I'm 34 now, would be 35 by the time BMOQ comes around. I'd most likely be a decade or so older than the average, but since I've had experience with that in my last college program (returning to pick up new skills, when most classmates were just out of high school), the only real difference I can see myself needing to adjust to is that I'm "younger than I should be" due to being a twin.

I mean, I wasn't allowed by my parents to get my driver's license until I was 19, because I still looked like I was 12 at 16.... :)
 
Just wanted to share my story with my 2nd application.

Long story short, I applied once before when I was 30 years old, then life and family happened.

Fast forward for Nov 2017 and the itch came back to apply.  Sent messages to Facebook Recruiting Team but they did not answer my specific questions, so idea of reapplying dead in the water.

May 2018 rolls around and I attend my kid's FunFair at school and to my surprise, I see the CAF there from a local Reserve Unit.  I had time to kill so I started asking them a bunch of questions that were lingering from Nov 2017.  They answered them and talked it over with my wife about reapplying.

I had just missed an Open House with the Unit I was interested in but still managed to book a "private" tour and once again, I asked my escort the same questions from the FunFair to confirm the validity of their (FunFair) answers.

I made it loud and clear with the Recruiter with the Unit I'm on my wife and kid's schedule in regards to future potential training and they were cool and understanding with my situation given one officer I spoke to also had wife and kids.

With that in hand, i jumped in with both feet with the online application in the last week of May 2018 to get the ball rolling.

FORCE Fitness test booked for first week of July 2018.  Having been through the process before, I requested I speak with the MedTech after my FORCE fitness test and I let the MedTech know my full situation with my health and he gave me all the required formed in advance to speed up the application process.

Here's where it gets interesting, being that I'm 40, any applicant between 40-50 years old will be required to get blood work and an ECG done.  I also wear glasses and already have tinnitus.

In hindsight, I should have gotten the ECG done first as if there is anything "wrong" with my heart, I'm pretty much medically unfit as my ECG showed an abnormal blip and my family doctor wanted an ultrasound done as they are more accurate.  To this point, I had already gotten my eyes reexamined, ($120), had the family doctor fill out another form ($35).  As everyone knows, when any medical stuff is required, we're working on their schedule and it may take a long time to get booked in by any medical professional.  This whole process took me awhile  to get everything checked out due to scheduling conflicts.

Medical and Interview booked for 4th week of July 2018. 

By the 2nd week of Aug 2018, I had completed everything for the application process, mainly my medical files were submitted to Ottawa for further review and I was given the heads up by the MedTech it would take about 3 weeks to hear back from them.  Which would suggest I should hear back after Labour Day long weekend.  Low and behold, I receive an email on a Wednesday stating I've been accepted and was Sworn in by Friday.

So here I am, a 40 year old recruit joining the Army and found out its very common for people my age to do this kinda thing, call it a mid life crisis if you like, my wife thinks so.  But better to give it a shot then regret it my whole life wondering "what if...".

I'm booked in for part time BMQ starting 2 Nov 2018 and gonna take it week by week.  my biggest concerns are the ruck marches and the switching between normal day life to weekend military life.

Been doing 5k runs every 3 days or so since June 2018 to maintain my gains, cardio has always been a weak point for myself but now I  don't mind running. Hello morning PT! lol

Keeping track of my run stats is super important to me, I average about 5:20-5:30 min / km comfortably,  running an average of 5:15-5:10 min/ km is more challenging as my last 1.0-1.5km, my heart rate is pretty much running at peak form at 180 bpm.  My average cadence is 160-165 and read the magic number to hit is 180 which I'll give it a shot on my next run.

Gonna slowly introduce resistance training as well.  Need to keep in mind not to over train and cause injury as that seems to be a very common problem.

Either way, gonna be interesting now that I'm in, it still has not hit me yet.
 
I'd vary your running up a bit, running 5k's 3x a week isn't optimal training, and it's certainly not what people who want to improve their 5k's do. Add some LISS running into the mix, and a substantially shorter track interval workout and I guarantee you'll see substantial improvements to your run times. Mileage isn't necessarily the answer when it comes to getting better at those middle distances, your heart/lungs need sustained efforts at low intensities to improve, and to run a 5k fast requires leg strength development you'll get best from sprint work. Start sloooow with sprint work if you haven't done it before, takes a while for everything to get used to the stresses, and it's really easy to pull a hamstring.
 
I believe in following your dreams, no matter what you feel may be 'limiting' you.

I know people who have returned to school to obtain not only their bachelor's degree but their masters, too. Law school, medicine, etc - well into their 50s. I also know people who have applied for the CAF within that age range, too. My father-in-law was an "older" recruit, but it's not really fair to say that considering at 34, he was not even close to the youngest person there.

Follow your heart. I don't believe that there is such a thing as "too old". Only too afraid to execute their dreams!

Best of luck with whatever you choose to do - I beg of you not to limit yourself.
 
I do not see it. I think my application was tossed again. I have to assume my file is flagged and I will never get a chance. I used to think it was a good idea to join, but, my application  started ... long ago.. maybe 8 years. I think I've waited long enough.
 
commander-cb,

Your current application has been pending for 1.5 years.
Inflating your wait time is a dishonest representation for others who are waiting for their own files.

commander-cb said:
I do not see it. I think my application was tossed again. I have to assume my file is flagged and I will never get a chance. I used to think it was a good idea to join, but, my application  started ... long ago.. maybe 8 years. I think I've waited long enough.

From the Waiting Game topic:


PuckChaser said:
No you're not. You're at just over a year.

commander-cb said:
Hello

I am now 50. I started my application , i think it was about 7 years ago - cfat / medical / interview and some other things.

I decided to reopen the application. I am trying not to get excited about it, it has already been a roller coaster ride.

You let your application lapse the last time, that's not the CAF's fault. As far as I'm concerned your "wait time" counts from the day you reopened, which is around October 2017 depending on your delay in posting here.

The system sucks, it takes too long, but don't make it sound worse than it is because of your own personal decisions.
 
Hi there,

I am planning on joining the Primary Reserve. My inclination was for Intelligence Officer but it seems that trade has specific academic requirements (degrees) that are not mine; so now I'm thinking on Armour Officer. I have heard many people saying that arms trades are more physically demanding, which makes sense. If everything goes right, I would be starting BMQ when I am 41-42 years old. And then after BMQ, I know I would have to go through the common army phase. I would like the opinion of some of you guys to see if at my age, trying to go through arms trade is a doable thing or a far fetch. I am aware that everything depends of the level of fitness of every individual, but I am just looking for any tip, advice or comment.

I would really appreciate any type of information in that regard. Thank you very much.
 
Juliandam26 said:
Hi there,

I am planning on joining the Primary Reserve. My inclination was for Intelligence Officer but it seems that trade has specific academic requirements (degrees) that are not mine; so now I'm thinking on Armour Officer. I have heard many people saying that arms trades are more physically demanding, which makes sense. If everything goes right, I would be starting BMQ when I am 41-42 years old. And then after BMQ, I know I would have to go through the common army phase. I would like the opinion of some of you guys to see if at my age, trying to go through arms trade is a doable thing or a far fetch. I am aware that everything depends of the level of fitness of every individual, but I am just looking for any tip, advice or comment.

I would really appreciate any type of information in that regard. Thank you very much.

If you haven't talked to someone at the CFRC I would sugest that you do. They have alot of answers to alot of questions like the ones you've posed.

And no, being over 40 won't be a problem in the Combat Arms if you're fit enough, and the CFRC can tell you more about what is required.
 
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