As this is my final addition to my post in this thread, I am moving it to the end of the thread and editing my previous entries accordingly.
Recruiting Centre: Calgary
Regular/Reserve: Regular
Officer/NCM: DEO
Trade Choice 1: AERE
Trade Choice 2: CELE (Air)
Trade Choice 3: Sig O
Application Date: Dec 17, 2003
First Contact: Jan 9, 2004
Date for CFAT: March 2, 2004 - Passed
Medical completed: March 29 - No problems, file sent to Borden; May 26 - Med back. All good.
Interview completed: March 29 - Recommended as very strong candidate
PT Test completed: June 24
Position Offered: June 18 - AERE
Swearing-in Ceremony: Aug 25
Basic Training Begins: Sept 13
This will likely be a very slow process. Have to wait on verification of former service to show up at the CFRC. I'll probably do the medical and interview soon, and the PT test after the VFS shows up.
Update, March 4: Well, I just booked my medical and interview for March 29. Seems that they have already obtained my VFS! It was in the computer system. How about that! So this pushes my expected timeline ahead by about 1 year! Better get moving on preparation for the PT test...
Update, March 29: Completed my interview and medical today. Interview was first. Took close to 2 hours and 45 minutes. Went well and was told I am a very competitive candidate. 10 minutes after my interview completed I did the medical, Parts I & II. No issues. File sent off to Borden. Now I'm just waiting for my medical to be approved by the docs in Borden and I'll do the PT test. Hopefully this will all be completed for the next selection board, which is supposedly later this month (April) or sometime in May. So, one interesting thing I learned today is that when I enrolled into the Reserves in '91 my vision was V1. Now it's V3. Glad it isn't worse.
Update, April 21: Learned today that my file has been sent to the selection boards. My medical still hasn't returned from Borden, but I guess that isn't such a huge deal since they are expecting it back very soon. The deadline for officer candidate files to get to Borden for the selection committees is April 26. I'm very pleased mine has been sent. I was also instructed
not to book my PT test until I receive an offer for employment from the selection boards. The offer would be pending successfully passing the PT test.
Update, May 26: Queried my file manager and got a response that my medical came back and I was found suitable for my selected trades. Was also told that some DEO boards have sat, but no offers are issued to anyone until all the boards are done their selections.
Update, June 9: Received a phone call from an LT at the CFRC indicating that my name is on the list to receive an offer package for Sig O. Now, this occupation was my 3rd choice, but it doesn't bother me because my education and experience are actually directly applicable to this position (right down to working on comms systems for the Army) and not at all applicable to the other two positions, especially AERE. The only disapointment I have whatsoever is that I wanted Air Force, but that's minor. I'll update again when I get more info.
Update, June 18: Contacted by my recruiting officer and offered AERE. This is a change from my update on June 9, but I'm not complaining. I was told a few particulars, asked a few other particulars, and was given 14 days to accept the offer. I will accept it on Monday (June 21). The offer is conditional on me passing the PT and I am supposed to make an attempt at it ASAP. So, one last hurdle. I'm on cloud 9 right now. What a trip!
Update, June 24: Passed PT today, nothing is left outstanding. Here's how I did on the PT, in the order they were completed:
- Step Test - Needed a VO2 of at least 39, got 42.2 -- Did 3 stages
- Pushups - 27
- Situps - 25
- Grip - 106 (left 51, right 55)
Update, August 9: A few weeks ago my swearing-in ceremony was changed from Sept 1 to Aug 25. Just means I'll officially be a member of the CF that much sooner. ;D
Update, August 25: My swearing-in ceremony was today. My wife was there for it and seemed to get a better understanding of things just from that little session. 6 new DEO candidates (including myself) were sworn in today.
- 2 Engineer (Army)
- 1 Systems Engineer (Navy)
- 1 Aerospace Engineer (Air Force, that would be me!)
- 1 Military Police Officer (Army, the only female)
- 1 Infantry (Army, obviously)
Not sure of everyones' ages. Two were 25, one was 34 (me again!) and the other three looked to be mid- to late-20's. An Air Force captain did the swearing-in. He started out by just addressing everyone present and talking about the challenges that we were about to embark upon. Hardships, rewards, the usual spiel. It was a good speech and I think the family and friends present appreciated it. They he swore everyone in, one at a time. I went first (alphabetical, I think). He just says a few words at a time and you repeat after him. Then a little handshake (which he called our first CF test, the "grip test") with the certificate presentation as a photo op. I took a pic of the Infantry guy, who was there by himself (had to travel a ways, I guess), doing his grip test. I'll give him a copy. That was it. Simple and straight forward. Once our ceremony was done there were 6 OCdt Pilots that showed up for a meet and greet with us, as we'll all be on the same flight out of here. The 6 pilots were all sworn in on March 29th in order to make the fiscal year. They've all been working on OJT at the CFRC for the past couple of months and apparently have really been put through the paces by the various CF pers in Calgary. Three of the pilots were CEOTP intake, with the other three DEO. One of the CEOTP pilots is female.
All in all, pleased as punch to offically be a member of the CF!
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