I've really appreciated this forum over the last several months, and I'm hoping you guys can help me with some of my questions.
For background, my husband had his swearing in ceremony 2 weeks ago, and heads off to BMOQ on May 7th to begin his career as a Social Work Officer with the forces. As we've been given to understand, his BMOQ will go from May 9 - August 19, followed by up to 7 months (or more, depending on how long he takes to reach BBB) of Second Language training. After that, he'll be posted for OJT, and we'll be moved to join him (he has held his MSW for several years already).
After hearing him talk about this for several months, and his excitement in anticipation of joining, I'm starting to get a little bit of the bug. I've never had a job that had much meaning, and the idea of having a meaningful job is really appealing to me, so I'm really considering joining (or I should say, applying to join).
I understand that the best chance of being posted with my husband (but recognizing there are no guarantees) is to apply to the RMS Clerk trade. I could possibly qualify for LOG O, but honestly, I'm not sure I'm officer material.
So, here are my actual questions:
1. Given that hiring seems to be slow in general, would it make sense to put in my application prior to the completion of my husband's training (as in, once he's finished BMOQ), or would it instead be best, in your opinion, to wait until we've been posted, and settled in, and then put in my app? I do have teenagers, so if I was offered a position before he was done SLT, I'd have to turn it down, I imagine.
2. I have a 4-yr BSc degree, and have worked in a variety of administrative areas, as well as the last 10+ years in data analysis/information technology, but I have no formal training/certification in any of the specific fields that RMS Clerks appear to work in. Would it be of value to use the time between now and when I would apply to obtain credentials, such as a college certification in HRM, payroll admin, etc. Not just in terms of improving my application, but in being able to perform with excellence in the trade.
3. For those in the trade, is there a standard sequence of promotion? All things being equal, where, in rank, could an average RMS Clerk expect to be 10 years in? Would having specific credentials as mentioned above have any influence on promotions? I know for my husband, they told him that he will likely not be promoted beyond Captain, as there are only very few SWO Majors. Is there a similar NCM ceiling for RMS Clerks?
4. Since my husband has only 14 years until he reaches 60, I would anticipate having 7-8 years of career left at that point. Would there, at whatever rank I might reasonably attain by that point, still be opportunities for overseas postings? Or would I be too senior at that point. (Sorry, I really don't have a sweet clue how this stuff works).
Thanks!
For background, my husband had his swearing in ceremony 2 weeks ago, and heads off to BMOQ on May 7th to begin his career as a Social Work Officer with the forces. As we've been given to understand, his BMOQ will go from May 9 - August 19, followed by up to 7 months (or more, depending on how long he takes to reach BBB) of Second Language training. After that, he'll be posted for OJT, and we'll be moved to join him (he has held his MSW for several years already).
After hearing him talk about this for several months, and his excitement in anticipation of joining, I'm starting to get a little bit of the bug. I've never had a job that had much meaning, and the idea of having a meaningful job is really appealing to me, so I'm really considering joining (or I should say, applying to join).
I understand that the best chance of being posted with my husband (but recognizing there are no guarantees) is to apply to the RMS Clerk trade. I could possibly qualify for LOG O, but honestly, I'm not sure I'm officer material.
So, here are my actual questions:
1. Given that hiring seems to be slow in general, would it make sense to put in my application prior to the completion of my husband's training (as in, once he's finished BMOQ), or would it instead be best, in your opinion, to wait until we've been posted, and settled in, and then put in my app? I do have teenagers, so if I was offered a position before he was done SLT, I'd have to turn it down, I imagine.
2. I have a 4-yr BSc degree, and have worked in a variety of administrative areas, as well as the last 10+ years in data analysis/information technology, but I have no formal training/certification in any of the specific fields that RMS Clerks appear to work in. Would it be of value to use the time between now and when I would apply to obtain credentials, such as a college certification in HRM, payroll admin, etc. Not just in terms of improving my application, but in being able to perform with excellence in the trade.
3. For those in the trade, is there a standard sequence of promotion? All things being equal, where, in rank, could an average RMS Clerk expect to be 10 years in? Would having specific credentials as mentioned above have any influence on promotions? I know for my husband, they told him that he will likely not be promoted beyond Captain, as there are only very few SWO Majors. Is there a similar NCM ceiling for RMS Clerks?
4. Since my husband has only 14 years until he reaches 60, I would anticipate having 7-8 years of career left at that point. Would there, at whatever rank I might reasonably attain by that point, still be opportunities for overseas postings? Or would I be too senior at that point. (Sorry, I really don't have a sweet clue how this stuff works).
Thanks!