Backup Plan

[Alex10370]

Recently Ive been going through the recruiting process for ROTP this commng september (I applied for Infantry Officer, Armour Officer and Artillry Officer).  Now, I dont have any reason to beleive I am a weak applicant as I have good grades (high 70s-mid 80s), Im in Cadets, my interview went well and so on, however if there is one thing I have learned it is that having a plan B, C, D and even F can be a really good idea and as I understand that many people do not make the cut for ROTP, I have a few backup plans. 

with my end goal being to goto RMC no matter how many times I have to apply, what route would be best should I not get in this year and have to reapply next year? I've allready been accepted to a few civilian Colleges and Universitys so in any case I will be continuing my education should RMC not work out however I am also debating whether or not it would be worth it to join the reserves for a year and I have several questions regarding that. 

1 - I understand I will have to complete another interview, however I allready passed my CFAT and medical so I dont beleive I will have to redo those if im not mistaken?  I'm just wondering because If it will take me 6 months to redo everything for the reserves then I know it wont be worth it.

2 - should I decide to join the reserves does a Component Transfer to RMC take a long time or can it be done in the same ammount of time as a regular application to RMC? 

3 - If I will be attending a university can I go into the reserves as an Officer and if so would it be worth it or would you recommend going NCM?  I understand you can be a reserve OCdt so long as you are currently pursuing a university degree.

Sorry if this is confusing, please feel free to respond, any help would be greatly appreceated and I can answer any questions as they come up!


Thanks,
Alex

 

[wannabe_future_pilot]

Hi,

For your first question you don't need to redo the CFAT and for your medical you only need a visit to update your file. If nothing change it take like 5 mins. You only need to redo your interview but you already know what this consist about, so it will be easy

 

[Alex10370]

Thanks.  if anyone else has anything to add it would be very much appreceated!

 

[kratz]

or just read the site and check out the www.forces.ca

 

[Gunshark]

If you want to join the Reserves for only a year, it will likely not work. I got info and a tour at a local Army Reserve unit myself last night, and it seems you need about a couple of years to complete the training, and after that the unit would not like to lose you. You don't have an obligation to stay, but units don't like losing their guys quickly. That's the impression I got.

 

[shogun506]

It's true that units don't want to lose their people right after training them, but the training doesn't take as long as you think. Reserve training itself for the trades listed is only about 3 months total - 1 month each for BMQ, SQ, and DP1 in the summer months or 11(?) BMQ weekends spread out over the rest of the year + 2 months for SQ and DP1. The amount of time it takes you to get on the course is the big factor in how long it will be before you're trade qualified, but I wouldn't plan on trying to join just for a year.

 

[Alex10370]

Ok, thats what I was getting the impression of as well.  I mean, my "end goal" is to attend RMC and should I join the reserves I wouldnt really be looking at going very far with it, just using it to gain as much experience as possible but the overall opinon im getting is that id be better off not doing if its just for a year.

 

[kratz]

If you did NOT understand the meaning of the 'spoon feeding' post.

You are asking for a backup plan for not getting into the Regular Force.
You consider the Reserve Force as a fall back?

Most PRes units I am aware of, are not willing to hire a 'pre-recruit' who
plans on quitting in a few months.

[no spoon] Most Naval Reserves quit within five years. So, if you have a solid 5 year plan before you want
to CT into the RegF, it's a win win for NavRes.

If you just want your BMQ and then run, it's your choice but then you are not meeting the ethical pillars of the CF.

 

[Alex10370]

I do not consider the reserves a "fall back" as you put it.  I consider it a viable second option should my plan A not work out.  yes I am not planning on making a career out of the reserves but im not sure I understand what you mean by not meeting the ethical pillars of the CF?  with my end goal being to enter the CF its not exactly like im going to be doing my BMQ and "running."

I apologize if my post was ignorant in any way shape or form however I have spent most of my time researching the reg force and I am only beginning to think of the reserves as another option.  If going to the reserves for just over a year really wouldnt be worth it then im sure there are other things I could do.

Thanks all for your replies.

 

[SeR]

im not sure I understand what you mean by not meeting the ethical pillars of the CF?  with my end goal being to enter the CF its not exactly like im going to be doing my BMQ and "running."

What he meant by "not meeting the ethical pillars of the CF" was that you would be, in a way, 'using' the CF for your own gain. By the sounds of things, if you don't get into RMC, you intend to join the reserves in the hopes that it will give your resumé that extra little bit of gravy (but please correct me if I'm wrong).

Lets say you were to take this path and you did get into RMC your second time applying after completing BMQ or BMOQ with the reserves. By doing this, that unit would have lost a trained (at least BM(O)Q trained) member. Since each unit is only entitled to so many new recruits per year, they would have essentially lost one of those spots because you left. It is also unfair to someone else who might not have been accepted to that unit but the full intentions of staying with the reserves for a number of years.

Personally, I don't frown on others who do this, but many do. It's just something to think about.

 

[Alex10370]

I see.  So essentially joining for 1-1.5 years really would just piss off the reserve unit and wouldnt really give me that much more experience. 

 

[PuckChaser]

I see.  So essentially joining for 1-1.5 years really would just piss off the reserve unit and wouldnt really give me that much more experience.

And probably be a waste of time. You may not have accumulated enough time to have a BMQ/BMOQ bypass, which means you get to do basic training twice. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to me.

 

[Jarnhamar]

And to add to the pile;

You could lose or have some of your gear stolen thus having to repay your reserve unit or having to spend time dealing with administrative crap, which you can't be cleared out of the reserve unit until it's all taken care of.

Your reserve unit could mess up your paperwork, lose shit, not care about your RMC transfer thus it will take you longer to join them than you expected, putting you behind.

Get injured in the reserves while on class A or B training (part time, part time full time) then pull your hair out as you get introduced to how "well" injured reservists get treated by the CF medical system.


Joining the reserves for a year or two before RMC can give you a lot more than a little experience..

 

[SeR]

I see.  So essentially joining for 1-1.5 years really would just piss off the reserve unit and wouldnt really give me that much more experience.

You also probably know that leadership experience is something that is looked for in RMC applicants, but a year in the reserves as a Private (Recruit) or as an Officer Cadet doesn't really grant you that experience, mind you, it does give you valuable military experience, just next to none in the area of leadership. This however, is second hand information (from a recruiter), so I would recommend you talk to someone at a CFRC and ask them if this is true if you eventually do decide to take this course of action if you don't get into RMC.