Canadian Army recruiting video - 2024

[Furniture]

I've never seen anything, or even a hint of anything, pointed at the Log, Fin, and HR worlds.

Not the first foggiest idea how you'd present that, since it's even less immediately Cool™ than the cyber side of things, but not like the CAF doesn't need clerks and stores staff.

That's the problem most support occupations have, how do you market sitting at a desk doing paperwork or other support functions?

My trade resorts to shots of aircraft flying, guns shooting, etc., in our recruiting video, but the reality is Met Techs don't do that stuff. We sit at desks analyzing/forecasting weather data, then passing the important bits on to the people who do the cool stuff. It's critical work, but it isn't "cool".

I think @rmc_wannabe nailed it, we need people outside the stereotypical combat arms type, but we don't sell it. Maybe we need more videos of support people doing their actual jobs, explaining that it's important work, in a good work environment.

 

[quadrapiper]

That's the problem most support occupations have, how do you market sitting at a desk doing paperwork or other support functions?

My trade resorts to shots of aircraft flying, guns shooting, etc., in out recruiting video, but the reality is Met Techs don't do that stuff. We sit at desks analyzing/forecasting weather data, then passing the important bits on to the people who do the cool stuff. It's critical work, but it isn't "cool".

I think @rmc_wannabe nailed it, we need people outside the stereotypical combat arms type, but we don't sell it. Maybe we need more videos of support people doing their actual jobs, explaining that it's important work, in a good work environment.

Not sure what the required intake is for Met Techs, but it seems niche enough to actually be easier to recruit for, if you get the right sort of material in front of the right eyes, in whatever spaces Environment Canada and civvy academic, scientific, and forecasting organizations and programs draw from.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

That's the problem most support occupations have, how do you market sitting at a desk doing paperwork or other support functions?

My trade resorts to shots of aircraft flying, guns shooting, etc., in our recruiting video, but the reality is Met Techs don't do that stuff. We sit at desks analyzing/forecasting weather data, then passing the important bits on to the people who do the cool stuff. It's critical work, but it isn't "cool".

I think @rmc_wannabe nailed it, we need people outside the stereotypical combat arms type, but we don't sell it. Maybe we need more videos of support people doing their actual jobs, explaining that it's important work, in a good work environment.

And the thing we dont sell is that none of those planes dropping bombs, guns shooting etc. without the support behind it.

C4ISR, J2, IO, Cyber, are all Force Enablers. That Infantry Coy is going to hammer that enemy position; but it first needs to know where it is, what toys the enemy has to play with, get some eyes on it, shape the IO campaign, and be able to have the TacC2IS to coordinate and control combat effects. Russia has been decimated in Ukraine by thinking it can throw meat to the grinder and overwhelm with firepower. The Ukranians are out thinking them and have shaped the battlespace around Force Enablers vice Force Projection.

If the CAF were slick, it would make that aspect of the CAF attractive to the Comicon, D&D, Gamer groups of our population and delineate from the "every CAF member a Warrior" mantra from the early Afghanistan days.

 

[dapaterson]

If the CAF were slick, it would make that aspect of the CAF attractive to the Comicon, D&D, Gamer groups of our population and delineate from the "every CAF member a Warrior" mantra from the early Afghanistan days.

What's wrong with "He may not know how to boil an egg, but this cook is a warrior!"

 

[Furniture]

Not sure what the required intake is for Met Techs, but it seems niche enough to actually be easier to recruit for, if you get the right sort of material in front of the right eyes, in whatever spaces Environment Canada and civvy academic, scientific, and forecasting organizations and programs draw from.

We tried that, it has failed miserably...

We don't pay enough, and the work isn't about the latest and greatest in the field of science. It's about the daily drudgery of looking at data and seeing if there is anything important in it that might impact the operations/training planned for the next 72 hours. Most days you're completely irrelevant, and the only time your work is noticed is when you get it wrong... It's a hard sell for me, and I've been doing it for nearly 23 years.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

We tried that, it has failed miserably...

We don't pay enough, and the work isn't about the latest and greatest in the field of science. It's about the daily drudgery of looking at data and seeing if there is anything important in it that might impact the operations/training planned for the next 72 hours. Most days you're completely irrelevant, and the only time your work is noticed is when you get it wrong... It's a hard sell for me, and I've been doing it for nearly 23 years.

This is part of the problem with being a Luddite organization that doesn't adopt technology early.

Additionally, if all youre going to do is shit on your enablers when something goes awry, especially when its out of their control, you see why no one wants to do the job.

Conversely, if you value these enablers and provide them with the latest in tools to help defeat our enemies, you change the narrative.

It doesn't help that we shoulder a large weight from our Southern neighbours after 20 years of GWOT that youre either a Grunt or a FOBbit, CIB or CAB chaser, to have any relevance in the conversation.

It gets in the way of attracting, recruiting, and retaining talent

 

[Good2Golf]

That's the problem most support occupations have, how do you market sitting at a desk doing paperwork or other support functions?

My trade resorts to shots of aircraft flying, guns shooting, etc., in our recruiting video, but the reality is Met Techs don't do that stuff. We sit at desks analyzing/forecasting weather data, then passing the important bits on to the people who do the cool stuff. It's critical work, but it isn't "cool".

I think @rmc_wannabe nailed it, we need people outside the stereotypical combat arms type, but we don't sell it. Maybe we need more videos of support people doing their actual jobs, explaining that it's important work, in a good work environment.

Take a page from the Association of Combat Professional Accountants (CPAs):

 

[quadrapiper]

We tried that, it has failed miserably...

We don't pay enough, and the work isn't about the latest and greatest in the field of science. It's about the daily drudgery of looking at data and seeing if there is anything important in it that might impact the operations/training planned for the next 72 hours. Most days you're completely irrelevant, and the only time your work is noticed is when you get it wrong... It's a hard sell for me, and I've been doing it for nearly 23 years.

So noted. Wasn't sure where CAF pay and benefits fell compared to "other than government" work in the field.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

So noted. Wasn't sure where CAF pay and benefits fell compared to "other than government" work in the field.

See the IT pay scale of the PS compared to the Spec 1 category our CIS specialists make.

The retention conundtum solved...

 

[dapaterson]

See the IT pay scale of the PS compared to the Spec 1 category our CIS specialists make.

The retention conundtum solved...

Not really. The number of underpaid CAF members is overwhelmed by the number of overpaid CAF members.

 

[Cloud Cover]

IOW, they could have used a clip from this movie?

In fact, Recruiters should try cutting off one of their hands, and adding a biometric prosthetic hand that reaches out into the street and randomly picks hapless pedestrians to shake hands with. All those who fail the grip test are sent to Parliament. Those who pass the grip test are yanked inside where they are stencilled by The Hand as Applicants. Once inside, Applicants who bolt from The Hand and make it to the exit door are considered already fit for duty, while those who don’t even try are sent to be instructors in military procurement school.

 

[Cloud Cover]

I've never seen anything, or even a hint of anything, pointed at the Log, Fin, and HR worlds.

Not the first foggiest idea how you'd present that, since it's even less immediately Cool™ than the cyber side of things, but not like the CAF doesn't need clerks and stores staff.

Well, well. I guess someone is anticipating your posts Quadrapiper!!

https://x.com/CanadianForces/status/1746937363882782770?s=20

 

[lenaitch]

Take a page from the Association of Combat Professional Accountants (CPAs):

My dad was a CPA (GGA actually, the old designation) and he did exactly none of that. He did work on defence contracts so got to hang around AVRO Canada and some of their cool projects.

 

[RedFive]

Not bad, actually.

Cool.

Now they need to do underfunded Reserve units in other parts of the country with obsolete, dilapidated kit, no spare parts or spare vehicles and no cool missions like a Jump company.

No? Strange...

 

[dimsum]

Edit. Deleted by mistake

Basically, you can create a set of ads tying in the integral role of J2, etc.

1. “Knowledge is Power”: Inf Coy gets ready for an attack. Zoom in to the Coy Comd, then the Int briefing to that Coy
2. “No Comms, No Bombs”: CF-18 talks to JTAC. Zoom up to a satellite, then back to an ATIS/Sig Op setting up/maintaining a satellite dish.

 

[Good2Golf]

My dad was a CPA (GGA actually, the old designation) and he did exactly none of that. He did work on defence contracts so got to hang around AVRO Canada and some of their cool projects.

That sounds closer to the truth.

In fairness to the CPAs, at least she wasn’t cammed up and pointing out various operational accounting locations under NVGs…and she at least once used knife-hand…so Uncle Roger would give her a Fuiyoh!

 

[SeaKingTacco]

That's the problem most support occupations have, how do you market sitting at a desk doing paperwork or other support functions?

My trade resorts to shots of aircraft flying, guns shooting, etc., in our recruiting video, but the reality is Met Techs don't do that stuff. We sit at desks analyzing/forecasting weather data, then passing the important bits on to the people who do the cool stuff. It's critical work, but it isn't "cool".

I think @rmc_wannabe nailed it, we need people outside the stereotypical combat arms type, but we don't sell it. Maybe we need more videos of support people doing their actual jobs, explaining that it's important work, in a good work environment.

I think you are cool, Furniture…

 

[dapaterson]

I think you are cool, Furniture…

Cool, with a 30% chance of precipitation.

 

[daftandbarmy]

We tried that, it has failed miserably...

We don't pay enough, and the work isn't about the latest and greatest in the field of science. It's about the daily drudgery of looking at data and seeing if there is anything important in it that might impact the operations/training planned for the next 72 hours. Most days you're completely irrelevant, and the only time your work is noticed is when you get it wrong... It's a hard sell for me, and I've been doing it for nearly 23 years.

Until fog shuts down all helicopters on operations, and a crap ton of callsigns are still deployed in contact, and everyone is clamouring for miracles from the previously ignored Met Geek

 

[Cloud Cover]

Not sure what the required intake is for Met Techs, but it seems niche enough to actually be easier to recruit for, if you get the right sort of material in front of the right eyes, in whatever spaces Environment Canada and civvy academic, scientific, and forecasting organizations and programs draw from.

Well, the USN recognizes it’s Met Techs for great job!